How to drive a car with a trailer

The motorcycle or luggage trailer is a very useful tool for any trip, as it significantly increases the load capacity of what can be transported. But before driving with a trailer, it’s essential to follow some recommendations to ensure safe driving.

Type of Trailer to Be Used

It’s important to know the type of trailer you’re using, as certain types require special permits. For light trailers (GVWR less than 750 kilograms), no specific driving license or separate trailer registration is required. If the trailer has a GVWR over 750 kg, it needs a permit and its own registration, along with mandatory insurance.

Pre-trip Checks

Once the trailer is attached to the car, several checks are necessary to ensure a safe trip. The most important step is to confirm the trailer is correctly installed and to check that the vehicle’s lighting system has no burnt-out bulbs.

Tips for Driving a Car with a Trailer

Driving with a loaded trailer differs greatly from driving with an empty one. Therefore, it’s important to follow a few recommendations to avoid any issues on the road.

How Much Weight Your Car Can Tow

Before attaching a trailer to the car, consult the vehicle’s technical sheet for the maximum weight and load capacity. As a general rule, the trailer weight (including load) should never exceed half of the vehicle’s weight.

Braking Distance

With an external load, the braking distance will increase by 15% to 20%. Therefore, it’s necessary to increase the safety distance to compensate for the inertia generated by the load.

Driving Through Tight Curves

Curves are another challenge when driving with a trailer, as it will follow a different trajectory based on the curve’s radius. It’s advisable to make the turn as wide as possible, when feasible, to reduce this effect.

Adjusting Weight Transfer

When driving a car with a trailer, tire pressure should be adjusted according to the extra load, following the manufacturer's recommendations.

Driving Uphill with a Trailer

If driving uphill with a trailer, it’s recommended to downshift to ensure the vehicle has enough power to pull the trailer. This will also better prepare the engine for the incline and reduce strain on it.

Overtaking with a Trailer

To overtake in a car with a trailer, two factors must be considered: the extra weight and the longer total vehicle length. This means more distance is needed to safely complete the maneuver.

Wind

Driving in strong wind gusts is challenging, and it’s even more difficult with a trailer. If facing strong wind gusts, it’s advisable to reduce speed to have better control over the car or even pull over if the wind is too strong.

Speed

Keep in mind that speed limits change when towing a trailer. On highways and expressways, the limit is set to 90 km/h for vehicles with trailers. In urban areas, the limit remains at 50 km/h, the same as for other vehicles.

Visibility

If the trailer obstructs visibility, additional mirrors should be installed to ensure complete visibility.

If it’s your first time driving a car with a trailer, we recommend practicing to get used to the vehicle’s dimensions and perform maneuvers such as reversing.