UK Tow Fleet Ages
The UK’s towed vehicle fleet is aging, sparking a ‘maintenance crisis’ that’s offsetting improvements in road safety, according to new research by the UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA).
Breakdowns Surge, Overall Incidents Drop
Despite a 17% decrease in traffic collisions involving towed vehicles between 2022 and 2025, the number of towing-related incidents has risen by 23%. This significant increase is largely due to a surge in breakdowns, which now account for a staggering 77% of all such incidents on UK roads. This shift highlights a growing concern for road safety, as preventable mechanical failures are on the rise, overshadowing the positive news of fewer collisions.
“It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towed vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices,” said a UKTSA spokesperson. However, the spokesperson emphasized the growing challenge of mechanical failures, stating, “The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”
Leisure vs. Commercial: Incidents Vary
Incident rates among horseboxes and caravans have generally fallen, though not consistently across all UK regions. However, this positive trend is not universal, with some regions experiencing increases in incidents involving these leisure vehicles.
Related: UK Broker M&A Slows Future Outlook Uncertain
Conversely, utility trailers—open-topped, flatbed trailers—have seen incidents rise significantly, accounting for nearly half of all towing callouts in 2025. This amounts to roughly 3,000 incidents, a troubling figure that shows the growing maintenance crisis in this segment of the towing fleet.
The UKTSA’s research also highlighted a disparity between incident rates between vehicles towed for commercial reasons and those towed for leisure reasons. Incidents involving horseboxes, for example, have fallen year-on-year, as have caravan incident rates, though not across every UK region. In contrast, incident rates among utility trailers have risen in recent times.
The UKTSA indicated that the ageing nature of vehicles was a major contributor to what it termed the growing “maintenance crisis”. The trend of retaining older vehicles – driven in part by economic pressures – leads to issues such as deteriorating tyres, worn suspension components, ageing braking systems, damaged couplings, and deteriorating electrical systems can quickly develop into roadside breakdowns.
