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Towing guide

Caravan towing courses in Australia

Near Brisbane, RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland) runs a caravan towing workshop at Mount Cotton.
Tow-Ed runs one-day towing courses in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia, including Bayswater North in Melbourne.
In Western Australia, RAC (WA), the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia, runs Tow Safe sessions.

Courses near youWhat each course covers

Published . 5 min read • Technical Guide

The short answer
  • Brisbane: RACQ at Mount Cotton, and Tow-Ed at Beenleigh and Caboolture.
  • Sunshine Coast: Tow-Ed at Nambour.
  • Sydney: Tow-Ed at the Equestrian Centre.
  • Melbourne: Tow-Ed at Bayswater North.
  • Adelaide: RAA (Royal Automobile Association of South Australia) at a place you choose, and Tow-Ed.
  • Perth: RAC (WA) Tow Safe sessions.
In this guide
Top
By place

Courses near you

Brisbane and south-east Queensland
RACQ at Mount Cotton. Tow-Ed at Beenleigh, Caboolture, Nambour, Esk and Cabarlah.
Regional Queensland
Tow-Ed at Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Maryborough.
Sydney and New South Wales
Tow-Ed at the Equestrian Centre in Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Ourimbah, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
Canberra
Tow-Ed in Canberra.
Melbourne and Victoria
Tow-Ed at Bayswater North and Geelong.
Adelaide and South Australia
RAA, at a place you choose. Tow-Ed in Adelaide.
Perth and Western Australia
RAC (WA) Tow Safe sessions.

Some driving schools also run caravan towing courses. If you book with one, ask whether its course leads to a nationally recognised unit.

The courses

What each course covers

RACQ: Caravan workshop

Royal Automobile Club of Queensland

RACQ Mobility Centre, Mount Cotton, about half an hour south of Brisbane city

  • •A 5-hour towing workshop with practical manoeuvring exercises.
  • •It runs in a controlled area with no traffic.
  • •RACQ says its caravan courses include a weight assessment to help drivers understand safe weight limits.
RACQ caravan workshop, Mount CottonOpens their site ↗

Source: RACQ's course page, read 29 Oct 2026.

Tow-Ed: On Road Towing Course

Venues in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia

  • •A one-day (8-hour) practical course, with up to three vehicles per instructor.
  • •Checking, loading and securing a trailer, connecting and disconnecting it, and spotting towing problems.
  • •Driving forward and reversing with a trailer, towing in traffic and on the open road, then parking and unhitching.
  • •Tow-Ed says the course is accredited, for the unit AURTGA001 Drive and manoeuvre trailers. The certificate also needs 4 to 7 hours of online learning and assessment.
Tow-Ed On Road Towing Course, choose a venueOpens their site ↗

Source: Tow-Ed's course page, read 29 Oct 2026.

RAA: Safe caravan and trailer use

Royal Automobile Association of South Australia

South Australia, at a place you choose

  • •A 4-hour caravan course, or a 2-hour trailer course, for couples or one person.
  • •Weight limits, checking your car suits your van, and preparing the van for travel.
  • •Hitching and unhitching, setting up mirrors, driving and manoeuvring, and reversing with mirrors and a guide.
  • •Electrics and brakes, anti-sway controls and ABS (anti-lock brakes).
RAA safe caravan and trailer use courseOpens their site ↗

Source: RAA's course page, read 29 Oct 2026.

RAC (WA): Tow Safe

Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia

Western Australia. Venues change, so check the page for the next session.

  • •A two-hour session with a professional instructor.
  • •Vehicle weights, hand signals for reversing, hitching up, parking and unhitching, and electric trailer brakes.
  • •Practical demonstrations with a car and trailer. RAC (WA) says you may get to try it yourself.
  • •After a Tow Safe session, you can take Advanced Tow Safe: 6 hours, mostly practical, in your own caravan.
RAC (WA) Tow Safe sessionsOpens their site ↗

Source: RAC (WA)'s course page, read 29 Oct 2026.

Before you book

Do you bring your own car and van?

  • •RACQ. Ask RACQ whether to bring your own car and van when you enquire.
  • •Tow-Ed. Tow-Ed says you bring your own car and caravan or trailer. It hires out vans at its Sydney Equestrian Centre venue and some Queensland venues. To tow a hired van, your car must be able to tow 2.5 tonnes, with a towbar and tow ball, and be set up to tow a van with electric brakes.
  • •RAA. RAA says the course can take place at a location of your choice. Ask RAA whether to bring your own car and van when you book.
  • •RAC (WA). RAC (WA) says Tow Safe uses demonstrations with a car and trailer set up for the session. Advanced Tow Safe is in your own caravan.

If you take your own van, check it is within your car's ratings first. Our tow calculator compares your car and van, and a public weighbridge tells you what the van weighs loaded.

Licence

The licence you need to tow

A class C (car) licence covers a car up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (gross vehicle mass) that seats up to 12 adults, including the driver. Licence classes are the same in every state and territory.

In New South Wales, learners can't tow. P1 licence holders can tow small trailers up to 250kg unloaded.

Your car's towing ratings still apply. Our caravan towing rules guide covers the limits, brakes and lights.

After the course

Keep practising before a long trip

Practise hitching and reversing somewhere quiet, with someone outside the car guiding you. Our first-time towing guide covers hitching, loading, driving and reversing step by step.

Quick answers

Towing course questions

Is there a caravan towing course near me?

Tow-Ed runs courses at venues in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia. RACQ runs a workshop at Mount Cotton near Brisbane. RAA runs courses in South Australia at a place you choose, and RAC (WA) runs Tow Safe sessions in Western Australia.

What do you learn on a caravan towing course?

Between them, the courses listed here cover hitching and unhitching, reversing, driving with a van behind, and weights. RAA's course also covers mirrors, electrics, brakes and anti-sway controls.

Can I do caravan towing lessons in my own car and van?

Tow-Ed says you bring your own car and van, or hire one at some venues. RAA teaches at a place you choose, so ask whether to bring your own car and van. RAC (WA)'s Tow Safe uses a car and trailer set up for the session, and Advanced Tow Safe uses your caravan.

Do I need a special licence to tow a caravan?

A class C (car) licence covers a car up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (gross vehicle mass). Licence classes are the same in every state and territory. Your car's towing ratings still apply.

Is a caravan towing course accredited?

Tow-Ed says its course is accredited for the unit AURTGA001 Drive and manoeuvre trailers. If you book with a local driving school, ask whether its course leads to a nationally recognised unit.

Related

How to tow a caravanHow to measure tow ball weightWeight distribution hitchesTowing rules by stateFind a public weighbridge

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