About driving

Key driving skills

Towing

To tow a trailer on a car licence (a Class 1 licence), the weight of your vehicle plus the weight of the trailer must not exceed 4500 kg (including the load you are carrying).

You must take extra care when towing a trailer or another vehicle. This is because, with the extra weight behind it, your vehicle will feel different to drive.

Follow the safe towing guidelines below whenever you tow a trailer or another vehicle.

Note: the term 'trailer' includes caravans, boat and horse trailers.

Safe towing guidelines

• Refer to the car manufacturer's recommendations before towing a trailer, in particular the weight limits recommended.
• Refer to the loading limits for the tow bar you are using.
• Be aware that overloading and uneven loading of car trailers can seriously affect a car's handling.
• When driving a light vehicle (for example, a car or light truck), you must not tow more than one trailer or vehicle at a time.
• You must be able to see behind the towed trailer or vehicle. If you can't see behind with your rear-view mirrors, you may need to fit a special mirror.
• There must be no more than 4 metres between your vehicle and the trailer or vehicle it is towing.
• The maximum speed for a light vehicle towing a trailer on the open road is 90 km/h.
• The maximum speed for towing a motorcycle is 30 km/h.
• You must not tow a motorcycle unless it is mechanically disabled.
• At night, the back of the trailer/towed vehicle must show a red light.
• If you're towing a disabled vehicle at night, its headlights must light up the towing connection.
• Remember, you will be slower and less stable than other traffic when towing. Check behind often to see if other vehicles are held up behind you.
• If the road is winding or narrow and vehicles can't pass you, stop at a safe place and let them pass.
• Leave more space than usual between your vehicle and the one in front, so that others can pass you.
• Remember that the added weight behind you means you will need more space to stop. Increase your following distance from two seconds to four seconds.
• The towing connection and safety chain or cable that holds the trailer/vehicle must be secured.
• If you are towing another vehicle without a rigid towing system, eg with a rope or a strop, the maximum allowable speed is 50km/h.
• If you are towing another vehicle with a rigid towing connection the maximum speed is 90km/h.

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Last updated: 13 May 2010