Are only tow trucks allowed to tow other vehicles?

"Only tow trucks are allowed to tow other vehicles" is one of those driving myths that keeps circulating, and like most of them, it's partly true and partly misleading — especially for anyone who simply wants to hitch a trailer to their car. Here's an updated 2026 look at what Spanish traffic law actually says, when that restriction applies, and why it has nothing to do with towing a homologated trailer — like your motorcycle trailer — behind your car.

Is it true that only tow trucks can tow broken-down vehicles in Spain?

Yes, with nuances. Article 130 of Spain's Reglamento General de Circulación (General Traffic Regulation) states that towing a broken-down or crashed vehicle on the road should, as a rule, be done by a vehicle built for that purpose (a tow truck). There is one exception: any private driver can tow another vehicle, but only to the nearest point where it can be parked without obstructing traffic — never all the way to a distant garage. That exception also does not apply on motorways or dual carriageways (autopistas/autovías).

Doing it incorrectly — towing too far, on a motorway, or without the required safety precautions — is treated as a minor offence, with fines of up to €100.

Important: towing a broken-down car and pulling a hitched trailer are not the same thing

This is where most confusion comes from, and it's the reason many motorcyclists wonder whether they need a special permit to tow their bike trailer. These are two completely different situations:

• Towing a broken-down vehicle (with a rope, bar or cable) is an exceptional, temporary manoeuvre limited to moving a car that can't drive under its own power to a safe spot.


• Driving with a hitched trailer — like your motorcycle trailer, a caravan or a bike rack — is a completely normal, legal and common practice, governed by different rules: not Article 130, but the regulations on vehicle combinations (Reglamento General de Vehículos and driving licence requirements).

If what you want is to transport your motorcycle on a trailer, you're not "towing a broken-down vehicle" — you're simply driving a car + trailer combination, exactly as legal as pulling a caravan.

Requirements for driving with a motorcycle trailer in Spain in 2026

• Driving licence: a standard category B licence allows light trailers as long as the combined weight (car + trailer + load) doesn't exceed 3,500 kg MAM, which covers virtually every motorcycle trailer on the market.


• Homologation: the trailer must be CE-homologated and have its own technical documentation; if its MAM exceeds 750 kg, it also needs its own registration plate and circulation permit.


• Lights and reflectors: mandatory, and must be wired to work in sync with the towing vehicle's lights. Full details in mandatory towing lights: everything you need to know.


• Maximum speed: with a light trailer hitched, the limit drops to 80 km/h on conventional roads (instead of 90 km/h) and 90 km/h on motorways/dual carriageways (instead of 120 km/h).


• Roadworthiness test (ITV): trailers with a MAM above 750 kg need their own periodic inspection; below that weight, they're normally checked together with the towing vehicle.

If your question is more specific — exactly which car you can use, based on its MAM and towable mass, to tow a motorcycle — we have a dedicated guide: what car do you need to tow a motorcycle? Guide on weights and maximum masses.

The legal (and more practical) alternative to improvising

Since improvised towing — with a rope or a tow bar, unhomologated — is only allowed in that exceptional breakdown scenario and over a very short distance, the only way to move your motorcycle safely and legally over longer distances is a homologated trailer like the one from Little Way Team. Unlike a conventional trailer, our foldable motorcycle trailer folds down in seconds and stores upright in any corner of your garage, while fully meeting the homologation, lighting and weight rules covered above.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tow my own broken-down car with another private car in Spain?

Yes, but only exceptionally and only as far as the nearest safe spot where it can be parked without obstructing traffic; never to a distant garage, and never on a motorway or dual carriageway. For longer distances, calling a tow truck is the correct option.

Whats the fine for towing a broken-down vehicle incorrectly?

It's classed as a minor offence, punishable with fines of up to €100, if you tow beyond what's allowed, on a motorway/dual carriageway, or without the required safety precautions.

Do I need a special licence to tow a motorcycle trailer?

No. A standard category B licence is enough, as long as the car + trailer combination doesn't exceed 3,500 kg MAM — a limit met by virtually every motorcycle trailer on the market, including ours.

Whats the maximum speed with a hitched trailer?

80 km/h on conventional roads and 90 km/h on motorways/dual carriageways, compared to 90 and 120 km/h respectively without a trailer.

Can I drive on the motorway with a motorcycle trailer?

Yes, without any issue: the motorway restriction only applies to the exceptional towing of a broken-down vehicle, not to driving with a homologated hitched trailer, which is normal and permitted on any type of road.