Caravan towing rules
A car licence, the car's weight limits, and brakes, chains and lights to suit the van.
A car licence covers cars up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass).
The loaded van must fit the car's tow rating, towball limit and GCM (Gross Combination Mass).
Published . 6 min read • Technical Guide
A car licence covers cars up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass). The loaded van must fit the car's towing limits.
Those are the tow rating, towball limit and GCM (Gross Combination Mass). The van needs brakes, safety chains and lights to suit its weight. Speed limits and P-plate rules differ by state.
- Licence - a car (class C) licence covers cars up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (Transport for NSW licence classes)
- Brakes - needed over 750kg GTM, on every wheel over 2,000kg (VSB 1, the national light trailer standard)
- Safety chains - one up to 2,500kg ATM, two above (VSB 1)
The licence you need to tow a caravan
A car (class C) licence covers vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM that seat up to 12 adults, including the driver. Transport for NSW says licence classes are the same in every state and territory. A car over 4.5 tonnes GVM needs a heavy vehicle licence.
In NSW, learner drivers can't tow. P1 drivers can tow small trailers with up to 250kg unloaded weight. Other states set their own learner and P-plate rules. The border law checker lists them for each state.
The weight limits
Transport for NSW says the loaded van must not weigh more than the lowest of these:
- the car's towing capacity
- the towbar and coupling ratings
- the van's ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), the most it may weigh loaded
- the tyres' rated carrying capacity
The van's ball weight must also fit the car's towball limit. The loaded car and van together must fit inside the GCM. Our caravan weights guide explains each figure and where to find it.
Brakes, safety chains and lights
VSB 1, the national standard for light trailers, sets these by the van's weight. Brake rules use GTM (Gross Trailer Mass), the weight on the van's own wheels.
Up to 750kg GTM
No brakes needed. If brakes are fitted, they must comply.
751 to 2,000kg GTM
Brakes on both wheels of at least one axle. Overrun brakes are allowed.
Over 2,000kg GTM
Brakes on every wheel, plus breakaway brakes that stop the van if it comes off the car.
Electric brakes are worked by a brake controller in the car. The brake controller guide covers how they work.
Safety chains
A van up to 2,500kg ATM needs one safety chain. Above 2,500kg ATM, it needs two. Over 3,500kg ATM, the chains must be Grade T. Transport for NSW says to cross two chains and keep them as short as practicable.
Lights and number plate
Every van carries two tail lamps, two brake lamps, two amber indicators and red rear reflectors. They must work with the matching lights on the car. Larger vans also need front, side and clearance lamps.
The number plate sits at the back, no higher than 1,300mm from the ground, and must be lit at night.
Speed, passengers and mirrors
Speed limits when towing differ by state. In WA, you must not go faster than 100km/h when towing. In NSW, you must not go faster than 100km/h when the car's GVM or the car and van's GCM is over 4.5 tonnes.
In NSW, you must not tow more than one trailer at a time. NSW also bans anyone from travelling in a caravan while it is towed. In NSW, the car, van and load together must be no more than 19m long.
Transport for NSW says extra mirrors may be needed when towing a large trailer. Before each trip, it says to check that all lights work and the safety chains are connected.
If you cross a border, the border law checker shows how speed limits, learner and P-plate rules and breakaway brake rules change on your route.
Check your car and van
The towing check for your car shows which vans fit its tow rating, towball limit and GCM. The standards changes guide tracks changes to the standards vans are built to.
This guide is general information. Your state's transport department sets the rules that apply to your car and van.
Common questions
What are the rules for towing a caravan?
Your licence must cover the car. The loaded van must stay within the car's tow rating, towball limit and GCM (Gross Combination Mass), and within the towbar's rating. The van needs brakes, safety chains and lights to suit its weight. Speed limits and P-plate rules differ by state.
Do I need a special licence to tow a caravan?
Transport for NSW lists no separate towing licence for car drivers, and licence classes are the same in every state. A car (class C) licence covers cars up to 4.5 tonnes GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass). Over 4.5 tonnes GVM, the car itself needs a heavy vehicle licence. In NSW, learners can't tow and P1 drivers have a towing limit.
Is there an age limit for towing a caravan?
In NSW, the limits are set by licence stage. Learner drivers can't tow. P1 drivers can tow small trailers with up to 250kg unloaded weight. Other states set their own learner and P-plate rules, so check them in our border law checker.
Are caravan towing laws different in each state?
Some are. The brake, chain and light rules come from VSB 1, the national standard for light trailers. Speed limits when towing, and learner and P-plate rules, are set by each state. Our border law checker shows what changes at each border.
Are there new caravan towing regulations?
The latest change is VSB 1 Revision 6, published in August 2026. VSB 1 is the national standard for building light trailers, and it sets how vans are built and plated. The brake, chain and light rules on this page come from it. Our standards changes guide tracks other changes.