Can You Tow with an Electric Car? Here’s What You Need to Know

🚙 Guide: Can You Tow with an Electric Car?

You’ve made the switch to an EV – or you’re thinking about it – but now you’re wondering: Can I tow with it?

Maybe you’ve got a caravan, a trailer, or just the occasional IKEA haul that calls for something with a bit of muscle. The short answer is: yes, some electric cars can tow. But there’s a bit more to it than that.

Let’s walk through what you need to know.

Can electric cars tow things like trailers or caravans?

Some can. Some can’t.

Towing isn’t standard across all EVs – many entry-level or smaller electric cars aren’t certified to tow anything. That’s not because they’re weak – it’s because manufacturers haven’t designed or tested them for towing.

But the good news? More and more EVs are being built with towing in mind, especially larger models like SUVs.

📋 Things to check before towing with an EV

If you’re planning to tow, you’ll need to check a few key things:

1. Is the car rated to tow?

Not all electric cars are type-approved for towing. Check the manufacturer’s specs — if the towing capacity says 0 kg, then it’s a no-go.

2. What’s the maximum towing weight?

If it’s approved for towing, your EV will have a maximum braked and unbraked towing weight. Make sure your trailer or caravan is comfortably within that limit.

3. Tow bar compatibility

Not all EVs can be fitted with an aftermarket tow bar. Some need a specific type, or have a fixed towing package option from the manufacturer.

⚡ What’s towing like in an electric car?

Honestly? Pretty great – when the car’s built for it.

EVs have a few things going for them when towing:

• Instant torque: makes pulling away smooth and easy

• No gears: automatic drive means less faffing

• Low centre of gravity: gives you solid stability on the road

• Regenerative braking: helps manage downhill stretches with better control

That said, there are a couple of trade-offs…

⛽ What about range?

This is the biggie. Towing will reduce your EV’s range – sometimes quite noticeably, depending on:

• How much weight you’re towing

• Your driving speed

• Road conditions and weather

Just like with petrol or diesel cars, towing puts more demand on the vehicle. So if you’re towing something chunky, expect to stop and charge more often.

🔌 Charging while towing – is it a faff?

It can be. One thing to bear in mind is charger access – especially at public charging stations. Reversing in with a trailer or caravan can be awkward, and not all chargers have space to accommodate long setups.

Some EV drivers unhook the trailer before charging. Others look for drive-through chargers (they’re popping up more often on newer charging sites).

Which electric cars can tow?

Here are a few EVs that are approved for towing (as of now — more are being added all the time!):

• Tesla Model X – up to 2,250 kg

• BMW iX – up to 2,500 kg

• Kia EV6 – up to 1,600 kg

• Hyundai IONIQ 5 – up to 1,600 kg

• Skoda Enyaq iV – up to 1,000 kg

• Audi Q4 e-tron – up to 1,200 kg

• Volkswagen ID.4 – up to 1,000–1,200 kg depending on variant

• Mercedes EQC – up to 1,800 kg

If you’re looking to lease an EV and want to tow with it, just give us a shout and we’ll help you pick something with the right towing capacity for your needs.

✅ The takeaway

You can tow with an electric car – but you’ll need to check the specs first.

Not every EV is built for towing, but the list of capable models is growing fast. If you’ve got a caravan, trailer, or small business load to move, there’s probably an electric car that can handle it – and make it look easy.

Need help finding one? We’ll sort you out with a lease deal that suits your lifestyle (and your trailer).