Photo: Bull-Doser, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whether a new driver can tow a trailer in Canada depends on the province or territory and on your graduated licence stage. Manitoba learners and Yukon learners and novices may not tow at all. Ontario G1, G2 and G drivers, and BC Class 7 drivers, may tow trailers up to 4,600 kg, with the usual stage rules still applying. This guide shows the rule in each jurisdiction where an official source is clear, the weight limits on a car licence, the trailer equipment the law requires, and how to handle a trailer safely. It is for learners and novices, and for parents lending them a car with a hitch.
Key facts
- No towing: Manitoba learners (towing allowed from the Intermediate Stage), and Yukon learners and novices.
- Towing allowed: Ontario G1, G2 and G (trailer up to 4,600 kg); BC Class 5 and Class 7 (up to 4,600 kg).
- Learner conditions still apply when towing: supervisor, passenger, curfew and zero-alcohol rules.
- Trailers must be registered and plated before use on a public road.
- Trailer brakes are required at 1,360 kg (Ontario and NWT handbooks).
- Nobody may ride in a trailer being towed (Ontario, Saskatchewan and NWT handbooks).
Can a learner or novice tow a trailer? Province by province
| Jurisdiction | Learner | Novice / probationary | Car-licence weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | No towing | Towing permitted (Intermediate Stage) | Check MPI’s Class Licence System |
| Yukon | No towing | No towing | n/a until full licence |
| Ontario | G1 may tow | G2 may tow | Trailer up to 4,600 kg gross |
| British Columbia | Class 7 permits towing | Class 7 permits towing | Trailers up to 4,600 kg |
| Saskatchewan | No towing ban in the handbook’s GDL rules | As learner | Class 5: towed units up to 4,600 kg |
| Alberta | Class 7 may drive any Class 5 vehicle, including one towing a trailer, with a qualified supervisor | Class 5-GDL: same vehicles as a full Class 5 | A two-axle vehicle towing a trailer with one or more axles, as long as the trailer has no air brakes (Driver’s Guide, Spring 2023, p. 13) |
| Northwest Territories | No towing ban in the manual’s GDL conditions | As learner | Class 5: towed vehicles up to 4,500 kg |
| Prince Edward Island | No towing ban in the handbook’s GDL restrictions | Check Stage 2 rules | Class 5: towed vehicle up to 4,500 kg |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No towing ban on the GDL page | As learner | Class 5 endorsement: two axles, up to 4,500 kg |
| Nunavut | Check with Motor Vehicles | Check with Motor Vehicles | Class 5 includes towing within 4,500 kg total. A trailer over 680 kg gross needs brakes and two separate hitches (Nunavut Driver’s Manual, p. 68) |
| Nova Scotia | May drive for training with a supervising driver (N.S. Reg. 226/2026, s. 6). Check towing limits with Service Nova Scotia | 5N is defined by Class 5 vehicles (N.S. Reg. 226/2026, s. 3) | Class 5 covers a motor vehicle towing a light trailer (4,500 kg or less) with a combined gross vehicle weight of 14,000 kg or less (N.S. Reg. 226/2026, s. 2; N.S. Reg. 221/2026, s. 3). A heavy trailer needs a heavy trailer endorsement (N.S. Reg. 226/2026, s. 10) |
| Quebec, New Brunswick | Check with SAAQ or Service New Brunswick | Check with SAAQ or Service New Brunswick | Check with SAAQ or Service New Brunswick |
“No towing ban” means the official GDL restrictions do not list one. It is not a promise that no rule exists. Ask your licensing office before you hitch up, especially in the provinces marked “check”.
Stage rules still apply
Towing does not suspend any learner condition. An Ontario G1 towing a boat still needs a qualified accompanying driver, and still may not drive on 400-series highways with a limit over 80 km/h (unless the accompanying driver is a driving instructor) or between midnight and 5 a.m. A BC L driver still needs a supervisor. For each stage’s conditions, see Canadian graduated licensing compared.
When a car licence is not enough
A standard car licence (Class 5 in most provinces, Class G in Ontario) has a towing weight limit. Heavy travel trailers can exceed it.
- Ontario: a G licence covers a vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg combined, provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg. The handbook also notes a pickup towing a house trailer over 4,600 kg is treated as a Class G vehicle if the combined weight stays within 11,000 kg. Larger loads may need a higher class or an oversize permit.
- British Columbia: above 4,600 kg you need a Class 1, 2 or 3 licence, or a Class 4 or 5 with a heavy trailer endorsement (code 20) or house trailer endorsement (code 07).
- Saskatchewan: towing more than 4,600 kg moves you into a higher licence class.
- NWT, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut: the car-class limit is 4,500 kg.
The weight that counts is the trailer plus its load, not the empty trailer. Check the plate on the trailer and weigh a loaded camper if you are unsure.
Trailer equipment the law requires
| Item | Rule | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | The trailer must be registered and plated before use on a public road | Ontario (one-time fee), NWT (plate renewed yearly), PEI, Alberta (registered and plated, with the registration carried) |
| Brakes | Required if the trailer and load weigh 1,360 kg or more. NWT also requires brakes if the trailer’s GVWR is 50% or more of the towing vehicle’s weight. Alberta: brakes are needed unless the trailer’s gross weight is 910 kg or less, or less than half the unloaded weight of the towing vehicle | Ontario, NWT, Alberta (Driver’s Guide, p. 120) |
| Second attachment | Two separate means of attachment. Safety chains crossed under the tongue (Alberta: all trailers except fifth-wheel trailers) | Ontario, NWT, Alberta |
| Lights | Tail lights, brake lights and turn signals worked from the towing vehicle (NWT). Ontario also requires a white licence plate light and two rear red reflectors, plus clearance lights on trailers wider than 2.05 m | Ontario, NWT |
| Mirrors | Extra or extension mirrors if the trailer or load blocks your view to the rear (Alberta: extension mirrors when the trailer is wider than the towing vehicle) | Ontario, NWT, PEI, Alberta |
| One trailer only | Towing more than one trailer behind a non-commercial vehicle is illegal | Ontario |
| Passengers | No one may ride in a trailer being towed, including house and boat trailers | Ontario, Saskatchewan, NWT |
Hitching up: a pre-trip checklist
- Confirm your licence stage allows towing and that the loaded trailer is within your class limit.
- Check the hitch class matches the trailer’s gross weight, and the ball sits level when coupled.
- Latch the coupler, cross the safety chains under the tongue, and hook up any breakaway brake system as the maker instructs.
- Plug in the lights. Have someone confirm tail, brake and both turn signals work.
- Load so more weight sits in front of the trailer axle. Ontario’s handbook suggests about 5 to 10% of the trailer’s total weight on the hitch.
- Strap everything down, inside and out. A load that can fall off is an offence.
- Check tire pressures with the trailer loaded and the tires cold.
- Adjust or fit mirrors so you can see past the trailer on both sides.
Driving with a trailer: what changes
- Following distance: PEI’s handbook says to increase your gap to four seconds when pulling a trailer. You need more time to stop, and a sudden stop can jackknife the trailer.
- Merging and passing: you accelerate slowly and the rig is much longer. Only pass with plenty of room, and do not cut back in too soon, which can start a sway.
- Turns: for a right turn, move ahead until the front wheels are well past the curb before turning. For a left turn, drive well into the intersection and swing wide. Watch the trailer’s wheels cut inside the path of the car.
- Lanes: keep out of fast lanes and stay right on multi-lane highways.
- Being passed by trucks: the wall of wind from a large truck or bus can push the trailer sideways. Ontario’s handbook says do not brake; steer back into position, and a slight increase in speed may help.
- Holding up traffic: signal, pull over safely and let vehicles pass.
Backing up a trailer
Back very slowly, with someone outside guiding you. Steer the opposite way to where you want the back of the trailer to go: to back to the right, steer left. Use small steering movements and do not hold a turn for long, or the trailer jackknifes. Practise in an empty parking lot before you need to do it at a boat launch or campsite.
Towing a broken-down car
Use a tow truck. Ontario’s handbook warns that towing a car with power steering and brakes whose engine will not run is difficult and can lead to a collision, and that trying to start a car by towing it is dangerous.
Common questions
Can a G1 driver tow a trailer in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario’s handbook says a G1, G2 or G licence lets you tow a trailer with a gross weight up to 4,600 kg. All G1 conditions still apply.
Can a Manitoba learner tow a utility trailer?
No. MPI’s handbook says no towing is permitted in the Learner Stage. Towing is permitted once you reach the Intermediate Stage.
Can a Yukon novice tow a camper on a summer trip?
No. Yukon does not allow towing in the learner or novice stage.
Does my trailer need its own insurance?
Rules vary. Newfoundland and Labrador’s handbook, for example, says an insurance certificate is not required when licensing a trailer. Ask your insurer how the trailer is covered before the trip.
Is a trailer part of the road test?
Not for a standard car road test. Do not bring a trailer, and check the vehicle rules in road test vehicle requirements across Canada.
Do I need special mirrors?
Yes, if the trailer or load blocks your rear view. Extension mirrors are required when the trailer is wider than the towing vehicle (NWT manual).
Related: learning to drive in Canada (full guide), Canadian graduated licensing compared, Manitoba learner stage rules, Yukon novice drivers, buying your first car in Canada.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Towing” and “Getting your driver’s licence” (ontario.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Driver’s Handbook: Graduated Driver Licensing Class 5” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart”, chapter 9, licence classes and towing (icbc.com)
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook 2026-27”, licence classes and rules of the road (sgi.sk.ca)
- Government of Alberta, “Class 7 learner’s licence” and “Alberta Driver’s Guide”, Spring 2023 (alberta.ca)
- Government of Nova Scotia, N.S. Reg. 221/2026 and N.S. Reg. 226/2026 (novascotia.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Nunavut Driver’s Manual” (gov.nu.ca)
- Government of the Northwest Territories, “NWT Driver’s Manual”, Chapter 1 and Chapter 10 Towing a Trailer (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
- Government of Prince Edward Island, “Driver’s Handbook”, February 2022 (princeedwardisland.ca)
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Driver’s Handbook” and “Graduated Driver Licencing Program” (gov.nl.ca)
- Government of Yukon, “Get a driver’s licence” (yukon.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Driver’s Licence Regulations, Consolidation of” (nunavutlegislation.ca)