Towing and your licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain what a car (class C) licence lets you tow.
• You can describe the NSW towing rules for learners and P1 drivers.
• You can explain why towing rules for L and P plate drivers vary by state.
• You can tell when a towing vehicle or combination needs a heavy vehicle licence.
• You can display L or P plates correctly when towing is allowed.

What you need to know and understand

• A car (class C) licence covers a towing vehicle up to 4.5 tonnes GVM. The licence class itself does not set a trailer weight limit, but the vehicle's towing capacity and towbar rating do.
• If the towing vehicle has a GVM over 4.5 tonnes, you need a heavy vehicle licence such as LR, MR or HR for that vehicle.
• A combination with a trailer over 9 tonnes GVM needs an HC licence.
• In NSW, learner drivers are not allowed to tow.
• In NSW, P1 drivers can tow only a light trailer with an unladen (empty) mass of up to 250 kg. P2 drivers do not have this limit.
• Other states set their own L and P plate towing rules. Some are more relaxed than NSW and Victoria is stricter for P1 drivers, so check your state road authority.
• You may tow only one trailer at a time with a car.

What a car licence covers

With an open (full) car licence you can generally tow a trailer or caravan as long as the combination stays within the limits set by the vehicle maker, the towbar and the trailer. Those weight limits are covered in the next topic.

The licence class changes only when the towing vehicle itself is heavy (over 4.5 tonnes GVM), or when the trailer is over 9 tonnes GVM. A few large motorhomes and four-wheel drives with upgraded GVMs can cross the 4.5 tonne line, so check the compliance plate if you are unsure.

L and P plate drivers: varies by state

NSW is a clear example of tight rules. Learners cannot tow at all. P1 drivers can tow a small trailer only if its unladen mass is 250 kg or less, which covers a typical empty box trailer but not a caravan. Once you move to P2, the 250 kg limit no longer applies.

Rules elsewhere differ. Some states allow learners to tow with their supervisor, while Victoria limits P1 drivers to narrow work-related situations. Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT each publish their own conditions, so read your state handbook or road authority page before towing on L or P plates.

• Where towing is allowed, your L or P plate must be visible from behind, which usually means fitting one to the back of the trailer.
• Other L and P conditions, such as speed limits and zero alcohol, still apply while towing.

Before you tow for the first time

1. Check your licence class and any L or P conditions in your state.
2. Check the vehicle's towing capacity and the towbar rating.
3. Check the trailer's registration and weight plate.
4. Practise in a quiet area with an experienced driver before going on busy roads.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a P1 licence lets you tow a caravan in NSW. The 250 kg unladen limit rules out most caravans.
• Assuming another state's rules match yours. L and P towing rules vary by state.
• Forgetting to put an L or P plate on the trailer when it hides the car's plates.
• Thinking a car licence covers any vehicle that tows. A towing vehicle over 4.5 tonnes GVM needs a heavy licence.
• Towing two trailers behind a car. Only one is allowed.

Test yourself: Towing and your licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.