What procedures are required for a car to tow a trailer?
2 Answers
Any trailer driven on the road must be registered and licensed. The owner needs to provide the manufacturer's production certificate and a formal invoice to the vehicle management office to complete the registration process. According to the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," when handling motor vehicle registration, the inspection department must verify the whole vehicle factory qualification certificate for domestically produced motor vehicles or the import certificate for imported motor vehicles. The following are additional regulations regarding motor vehicles towing trailers: Trucks, semi-trailer tractors, and tractors towing trailers: Trucks, semi-trailer tractors, and tractors are only allowed to tow one trailer. The trailer's lighting signals, brakes, connections, safety protection devices, and other equipment must comply with national standards. Small passenger cars towing trailers: Small passenger cars are only allowed to tow travel trailers or trailers with a total mass of less than 700 kilograms. Trailers must not carry passengers; the load capacity of the trailer towed by a truck must not exceed the truck's own load capacity. Other motor vehicles towing trailers: Large and medium-sized passenger cars, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled vehicles, and other motor vehicles are not allowed to tow trailers.
Last time I helped a friend with the procedures for towing a trailer on the road, it took two trips to the DMV to figure it out. First, the trailer must be properly registered—bring the certificate of conformity and invoice to get the license plate. The towing vehicle must be equipped with a tow hook and a circuit interface that meets national standards, whether factory-installed or retrofitted, and proof documents are required. The key is to check the 'permitted towing mass' section on the towing vehicle's registration certificate—if it's blank, towing is not allowed! Drivers with a Class C license can only tow trailers under 700 kg; for heavier trailers, a C6 license is required. The most troublesome part is insurance—the primary vehicle insurance doesn’t cover the trailer, and many insurers are reluctant to provide separate compulsory traffic insurance for the trailer, so it’s advisable to contact them at least a month in advance.
