Car with trailer
Licence, weights, speed and handling
Which licence do you need?
- B: trailer up to 750 kg permissible total mass
- B: heavier trailers too, if the combination is at most 3,500 kg
- B96: combination up to 4,250 kg – after training, no test
- BE: trailer up to 3,500 kg permissible total mass
- What counts are the permissible masses in the papers – not actual weight
Combination calculator
Enter the permissible total masses of car and trailer – the calculator shows whether B, B96 or BE is required.
Educational rules of thumb, not a measurement of a vehicle.
Your car has limits too
Besides your licence, your car's towing capacity counts – braked and unbraked, listed in the registration certificate Part I (fields O.1 and O.2). Unbraked trailers may weigh at most 750 kg. Also observe the nose weight limits of the tow bar and trailer. The lowest value always applies.
Speed and rules with a trailer
- 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside – also on the Autobahn
- 100 km/h only with a Tempo‑100 sticker, on Autobahns and expressways
- Outside towns with three marked lanes per direction: not the left one
- No people may ride in the trailer
- Trailer without towing vehicle: park on the road for two weeks max.
- Trailers over 2 t: no residential parking at night, Sundays, holidays
Hitching up and pre‑departure check
- Lower the coupling onto the ball and let it lock – check the indicator
- Attach the breakaway cable of a braked trailer
- Connect the plug, check all lights
- Wind up and secure the jockey wheel
- Release the trailer's parking brake
- Check load, tyre pressure and door mirrors
Driving with a trailer
With a trailer, braking distance increases and overtaking takes much longer. Swing wider when turning – the trailer cuts the corner. Crosswinds and the suction of trucks unsettle the combination. Load heavy items low and over the axle and use the permitted nose weight – too little makes the combination unstable.
When the trailer starts to sway
Don't steer against it and don't accelerate! Brake firmly and hold the wheel straight – this pulls car and trailer back into line. Causes are usually excessive speed, poor loading, too little nose weight or crosswinds.
Signs for car‑and‑trailer combinations
Remember: reversing with a trailer
Put one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Move that hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Small steering inputs, very slowly – and if in doubt, get someone to guide you.
Combination in a crosswind
Keep right, slow down, hold the wheel firmly – this keeps the combination steady even when gusts and truck suction tug at it.
This source question references an image or scene that is not yet supplied. Do not use it for scored practice.
Your car has a permissible total mass of 1,900 kg, your trailer 1,300 kg. What is the minimum licence you need?
- Class B
- Class B with code 96
- Class BE
Check answer
Class B
The combination totals 3,200 kg permissible mass – up to 3,500 kg is allowed with class B.
What is the maximum speed with a car and trailer without Tempo‑100 approval on the Autobahn?
- 80 km/h
- 100 km/h
- 130 km/h
Check answer
80 km/h
Car with trailer: max. 80 km/h outside towns – including the Autobahn. 100 km/h only with approval and sticker.