Moving a tiny house: licence, weight, dimensions and delivery

A tiny house on wheels is designed to be moved. But a house weighing several tonnes is not towed like a garden trailer: licence, registration, dimensions and towing vehicle are all subject to precise rules. Here is what you need to know in France before delivery or a move.

Which licence do you need to tow a tiny house?

It all comes down to the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating, PTAC in French), shown on each vehicle’s registration certificate. You add the GVWR of the car to that of the trailer:

• B licence alone: a trailer of no more than 750 kg, or a car + trailer combination whose combined GVWR does not exceed 3,500 kg.
• B licence with code 96 (B96): a trailer of more than 750 kg and a combined GVWR between 3,500 and 4,250 kg. The code is obtained after a 7-hour training course at an approved driving school, with no test. The training certificate is not enough: it is the addition of code 96 to the licence that entitles you to drive.
• BE licence: a trailer of more than 750 kg and no more than 3,500 kg, and a combined GVWR above 4,250 kg. You must be 18, hold a B licence and pass a practical test.

A practical example

The Skywood sits on a 3.5 tonne twin-axle trailer. Even towed by a vehicle with a GVWR of 3,500 kg, the total exceeds 4,250 kg: you therefore need a BE licence, and a towing vehicle approved to tow such a load. That is a good reason to entrust delivery to a professional.

Does a tiny house trailer need its own registration certificate?

Yes, as soon as its GVWR exceeds 500 kg, which is always the case for a tiny house. The trailer must then have its own registration certificate (carte grise) and its own number plate, with its own number. Below 500 kg, it would simply carry the same number plate as the towing vehicle.

Keep the trailer’s registration certificate and the type-approval documents provided by the builder in a safe place: you will be asked for them at a roadside check, by your insurer and when you sell.

What are the maximum dimensions on the road?

• Width: 2.55 m maximum (article R312-10 of the Code de la route, French highway code). Beyond that, the move falls under the rules for abnormal loads (transports exceptionnels), with an authorisation and a set route.
• Height: the Code de la route does not set a maximum height for cars and their trailers. The limit is set by structures (bridges, tunnels), trees and overhead lines: the route must be checked in advance.
• Length: it is regulated for vehicle combinations; the length of the trailer and that of the towing vehicle are added together.

The Skywood and the Sharewood sit on an 8 m trailer that is 2.5 m wide: they stay within the standard road gauge. The dimensions of each model are on its page: see our models.

Does the tiny house need to be insured during transport?

A trailer on the road must be covered by third-party liability insurance, through the towing vehicle’s policy or a specific policy depending on the case: check this with your insurer. The house itself, its equipment and its contents are not necessarily covered during the journey: ask your insurer for a precise certificate before any move, and check who is liable in the event of damage if you use a haulier.

Delivery by a professional: how does it work?

1. Checking the access: width and condition of the track, bends, slope, gate, overhead obstacles. Photos and measurements sent to the builder avoid unpleasant surprises.
2. Preparing the site: level, load-bearing ground, kept clear, with utilities brought to the spot ready for connection if the house is to be connected.
3. Transport: by an authorised vehicle and driver, with the route checked.
4. Setting up: positioning, chocking and levelling, then utility connections by professionals.

Our prices are shown excluding transport, as the cost depends on the distance and access conditions. It is costed in your quote: see our prices.

Can a tiny house be moved often?

Technically, yes: it is one of its strengths. But each move requires preparation (securing belongings, shutting off utilities, checking tyres and lights) and a suitable vehicle. A tiny house is not a touring caravan: it is designed to be moved from time to time, not every weekend.

Also bear in mind the three-month rule: on the same plot, parking periods add up over the year. See our guide tiny houses and regulations.

Key points

• The licence depends on the combined GVWR: B up to 3,500 kg, B96 up to 4,250 kg, BE above that (trailer of no more than 3,500 kg).
• A 3.5 tonne tiny house requires a BE licence and a suitable towing vehicle.
• The trailer has its own registration certificate from 500 kg.
• Maximum width: 2.55 m; no regulatory maximum height, but obstacles to check.
• Check whether the advertised price includes transport, and get the delivery costed.