Horse trailer towing calculator

Check a car and horse trailer combination against your vehicle's towing limit and the licence rules where you drive, before you load up. Pick your country, then enter the vehicle's maximum braked towing capacity, optional kerb weight and gross train weight, the trailer's empty weight and plated maximum, and the weight of each horse and your kit. Weights are in kilograms, or pounds for the United States.

How the check works

• The trailer's plated maximum (MAM in the UK and Europe, ATM in Australia, GVWR in North America): the laden trailer must not exceed it.
• The vehicle's maximum braked towing capacity, from the registration document or the handbook.
• The gross train weight (GCM or GCWR): the most the vehicle and trailer together may weigh.
• A stability guideline: towing advice commonly suggests the laden trailer should be no more than about 85% of the vehicle's kerb weight.

Licence rules by country

• Great Britain: since 16 December 2021 anyone with a car (category B) licence can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM; category B+E was added to licences automatically. Check GOV.UK.
• Northern Ireland, Ireland and the EU (also Switzerland and Norway): a car (B) licence covers a trailer up to 750 kg MAM, or a heavier one if the car's and trailer's MAMs add up to 3,500 kg or less. Code 96 (B96) allows up to 4,250 kg combined after extra training or a test; category BE covers trailers up to 3,500 kg MAM. Check nidirect or your national licensing authority.
• United States: most private horse trailers need no special licence, but rules vary by state. A commercial driver's licence (CDL) can apply when the combined weight rating exceeds 26,000 lb with a trailer over 10,000 lb, especially for commercial use, and some states require a non-commercial Class A or B for heavy combinations. Check your state DMV.
• Canada: set by each province. In Ontario, for example, a G licence covers combinations up to 11,000 kg where the trailer is 4,600 kg or less; beyond that needs Class A. Check your province.
• Australia: a car (C) licence covers a vehicle up to 4.5 t GVM towing a trailer within the vehicle's rated towing capacity and tow-ball limits. Check the trailer's ATM, the car's GCM and your state or territory transport authority.
• New Zealand: a Class 1 licence covers combinations up to 6,000 kg GCM with a vehicle up to 4,500 kg GLW. Check NZTA Waka Kotahi.
• Other countries: the weights are checked; check your local licensing authority for what your licence allows.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special licence to tow a horse trailer?

In Great Britain, since 16 December 2021 anyone with a car (category B) licence can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM; category B+E was added to licences automatically. In Northern Ireland, Ireland and the EU a car licence only covers a trailer over 750 kg if the car's and trailer's MAMs add up to 3,500 kg or less, so most horse trailer combinations need B96 or BE. Rules differ elsewhere, so check your licensing authority.

How do I work out my horse trailer's laden weight?

Add the trailer's unladen weight, the weight of each horse, and everything else you load such as tack, hay and water. The total must not exceed the trailer's plated maximum or your vehicle's maximum braked towing capacity.

Use the plated and registration figures for your own vehicle and trailer, and a public weighbridge for the real laden weight. This is a guide, not legal advice.

Horsepower keeps your yard's vehicles and trailers with reminders for servicing, roadworthiness tests and trailer checks.

Related: horse weight calculator · cost of keeping a horse.

More free horse tools. Made by Horsepower, the yard and stable management app — free for up to 3 horses.