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Can I Use Gloss Paint Inside My Food Trailer and What Can I Legally Tow?

by Julie grayson
(Fleetwood)

Inside of a clean catering trailer ready for use

Inside of a clean catering trailer ready for use

Hi
Could I gloss inside my food trailer. Also i have had my licence for 10 years what is the legal weight that i can tow on. Thanks

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Mar 28, 2026
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starstarstarstarstar 		Painting Your Trailer and Towing Weights
by: MobCater

Hiya Julie,

Good questions and I'll cover both for you.

On the painting side — yes, gloss is absolutely fine inside a food trailer and it's actually a good choice. The EHO wants to see surfaces that are smooth, easy to clean, and in good condition. Gloss ticks all those boxes because you can wipe it down easily. A lot of caterers use white or light-coloured gloss inside their trailers because it looks clean and you can spot any dirt straight away. Just make sure you let it dry and air out properly before you start working in there. Bare wood is a no-go for food areas, so painting over it with gloss is exactly the right thing to do.

On the towing side — since you've had your licence for about 10 years, you would have passed your test after January 1997. The good news is that since November 2021, the rules changed and anyone with a standard category B car licence can now tow trailers up to 3,500kg without needing a separate towing test. Before that change you would have needed a B+E test for bigger trailers, but that requirement was dropped.

So the key numbers to check are the MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) of your trailer and the towing capacity of your vehicle. Your car's V5C document and the manufacturer's handbook will tell you the maximum it can tow. As long as the trailer doesn't exceed 3,500kg and your vehicle can handle it, you're fine on a standard licence.

If your food trailer is a standard single-axle catering trailer, it'll most likely be well under 3,500kg — most come in around 1,000 to 2,000kg depending on the size and how much equipment is fitted. But always check the plate on the trailer for the actual weight.

This is general guidance for UK mobile catering. Rules can vary between councils, so always check with your local authority. For towing rules specifically, the gov.uk website has the latest information.

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Licensing rules vary between councils, so always check with your local authority's street trading or licensing team before you start.

Best of luck
David

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