The answer options
- Fit a secondary coupling deviceCorrect
- Grease the hitch and tow ball
- Ensure the trailer can be seen in the mirrors
- Turn off the towing vehicle's reversing sensors
Why the other options are wrong
- “Grease the hitch and tow ball” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which fit a secondary coupling device does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
- “Ensure the trailer can be seen in the mirrors” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which fit a secondary coupling device does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
- “Turn off the towing vehicle's reversing sensors” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which fit a secondary coupling device does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
Why that is the answer
When hitching a trailer, you must attach a secondary coupling device, such as a breakaway cable. If the main hitch detaches while driving, this cable automatically applies the trailer's brakes before snapping, stopping the trailer safely. Checking your mirrors is essential before moving off, but it does not physically secure the load. Additionally, greasing the tow ball is incorrect for modern stabiliser hitches, as it stops them working properly.
What vehicle loading covers
- · Driver responsibility for load security and legal weight limits
- · Loading a trailer or caravan and the effect on stability
- · Stabilisers, breakaway cables and towing mirrors
- · Roof racks, roof boxes and the effect on fuel consumption
Mistakes learners repeat on this topic
- · Loading heavy items high or towards the rear of a trailer
- · Assuming a stabiliser corrects a badly distributed load
- · Believing the passenger is responsible for a child's seat belt
- · Forgetting that a roof load raises the centre of gravity in crosswinds
Instructor tip: Any snaking-trailer question resolves to slowing down gently — never brake hard or accelerate out of it.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from vehicle loading appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.
More vehicle loading questions
- A trailer braking system must have a safety device fitted. What is this device?
- A vehicle should never be overloaded. Who is responsible for ensuring this?
- Are passenger allowed to travel in a caravan when been towed?
- How will the handling of your car change if you have a large load on your roof rack?
- Sometimes you may need to increase your tyre pressure to above the normal value. When would this be necessary?
- What is the maximum authorised mass (MAM) you can tow in any trailer, having just passed your driving test?