RTL Fact Check: Towing trailers - what is allowed and how do licences work?

Driver’s licence plays a role Before considering what a car can or may tow, the first step is to check whether the driver holds the correct licence. A standard category B licence allows the holder to tow a trailer provided the combined weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg. In addition, a trailer with a maximum authorised mass (MMA) of up to 750 kg may be towed with a B licence.“If the trailer has an MMA of more than 750 kg, this is only permitted with a B licence if the car and trailer together do not exceed 3.5 tonnes MMA,” the Ministry clarified.If the combined weight exceeds this limit, between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes, the driver requires a category B licence with code 96. Anything above 4.25 tonnes requires a BE licence or another specialised driving permit. What weights can be towed? Using the example from our reader, a trailer with an MMA of 3.5 tonnes, a BE licence would be required to tow it. Even if the trailer were empty and weighed only 500 kg, a driver with a standard B licence would not be permitted to tow it. The trailer’s registered MMA of 3.5 tonnes exceeds the 750 kg limit for category B, and therefore does not fall under that category even when empty. “If a trailer of 3.5 tonnes MMA is registered, the owner needs a BE permit,” the Ministry stated.A driving school told RTL that this applies only when the combined weight of the car and trailer, loaded or empty, exceeds 4.5 tonnes. Otherwise, a B licence or a B licence with code 96 would be sufficient.With the correct permit, a driver may tow such a trailer, but only if the towing vehicle is capable of handling the weight. The towing vehicle’s MTMA must therefore also be taken into account. Pay attention to the length Holding the correct permit is not enough. The towing vehicle must be approved to tow the trailer, and the trailer itself must comply with rules on height, width and length. A trailer may be no wider than 2.55 metres and no higher than 4 metres. Its maximum length is 12 metres, provided the total length of the towing vehicle and trailer does not exceed 18.75 metres. Conclusion: check everything Before towing a trailer, drivers must check both their licence and the technical specifications of the car and the trailer. “You may only drive if you have the appropriate licence, which is why the MMA of the vehicles is relevant. Whether the trailer is loaded is not,” the Ministry of Mobility explained. The towing vehicle’s MTMA must be higher than the actual weight of the trailer, loaded or not.To answer the original question: yes, you may tow a trailer registered for 3.5 tonnes with a car that has a GVW of two tonnes, provided you hold the appropriate permit and the trailer plus its load does not exceed the towing capacity stated in the vehicle’s documents.