Transporting Your Mini Digger: Towing, Trailers and the Law
Moving a mini digger between sites means getting the trailer, towing vehicle and licence requirements right, and the rules depend on the combined weight of your trailer and machine, not just the digger's weight alone.
Trailer size for each machine weight
A 0.6 tonne micro digger fits comfortably on a small plant trailer with a gross weight well under 2,000kg. A 1.0 to 1.2 tonne mini digger needs a trailer rated appropriately higher, and an 1.8 tonne compact excavator needs a trailer and towing vehicle combination rated for the additional weight, including the trailer's own weight, not just the machine.
UK licence rules that actually apply
For most car licence holders (category B) who passed their test after 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer as long as the combined weight of the towing vehicle and loaded trailer does not exceed 3,500kg. Anyone who passed before that date generally has wider entitlement under category B+E. Always check your specific licence categories, since entitlements vary by test date and any additional categories you hold.
Practical towing checks
- Confirm your vehicle's towing capacity, not just the trailer's rated weight
- Check trailer brakes are working and rated for the load
- Secure the machine properly using rated chains or straps rather than relying on the trailer's own tie-down points alone
See our licence requirements guide for operating rules once the machine is on site, or browse our full mini digger range to check exact machine weights.