Towing Limits, Brakes and Rego: Check Before You Buy
The most expensive trailer mistake is buying one your car can't legally tow. Run through these checks before you sign anything.
The weights that matter
- ATM (aggregate trailer mass): the most the trailer can weigh fully loaded. It's on the trailer's compliance plate.
- Towing capacity: the heaviest trailer your vehicle can tow, from your owner's manual.
- Towball download: how much weight the trailer puts on the towball. Many vehicles are limited to around 10% of the towing capacity.
- GCM (gross combination mass): the maximum for your vehicle and trailer together, including passengers and gear.
The trailer's loaded weight must sit within all of them, not just the headline towing capacity.
Brakes
Under Australian rules, light trailers need brakes once they pass certain weights, and heavier trailers need brakes that work from the driver's seat, usually electric brakes with a brake controller in your car. Larger trailers also need a breakaway system. Check what applies to the trailer you're buying.
Want to talk it through? Send a free enquiry and we'll pass it to a broker who does trailer loans every day. Enquiring doesn't affect your credit score.
Your licence
A standard car licence covers most trailers behind a car, but check your state's rules if the combination is heavy or if you're on a provisional licence.
Registration
Trailers used on public roads must be registered in your state. Buying from another state usually means re-registering it at home, sometimes after an inspection. Budget for rego when working out how much to borrow.
Why this matters for your loan
If your car can't tow the trailer, you may face extra costs to upgrade the car, or be stuck with a trailer you can't use. Lenders also need clear identification, a VIN or serial number, to register their security on the PPSR. Sort these details out before you apply.