What procedures are required for towing a travel trailer?
2 Answers
As long as the travel trailer is licensed, no additional procedures are required to tow it on the road with a passenger car. Below are the relevant details: 1. Relevant regulations: Insurance is mandatory. To register a towable travel trailer, you need to bring the customs import certificate with Chinese labels and the motor vehicle sales invoice issued by the sales unit. Follow the new vehicle registration process, pay the purchase tax, undergo vehicle inspection for license plate registration, and obtain a yellow trailer license plate. The travel trailer must undergo an annual inspection once a year. 2. Notes: Driving a tractor head without towing a semi-trailer requires an A2 license, not a C license, because regardless of whether it is towing or not, its nature as a freight vehicle tractor cannot be changed. Similarly, driving a small passenger car towing a travel trailer does not change its nature as a passenger vehicle. Therefore, a C license holder can drive a car towing a travel trailer.
As a frequent RV tower, I can tell you the paperwork is quite involved and needs to be done step by step. Your driver's license is crucial—a regular Class C might not suffice; you'll likely need to upgrade to at least a C1 license, or you could face serious trouble if stopped on the road. Vehicle registration is mandatory—bring the purchase invoice and certification of your trailer to the DMV for inspection and to obtain the vehicle license. Don’t forget to mount the license plate properly. Insurance is non-negotiable; get separate third-party liability coverage for your trailer to protect against potential accidents. The hitch must be safety-certified, and the lighting system (like brake lights) should be synchronized and tested. Watch the weight limits—check how many tons your license allows you to tow, as exceeding this can lead to loss of control. Reversing is tricky, so practice in open spaces. Before long trips, check tire pressure and brakes, and ensure even weight distribution. I always plan routes to avoid steep grades and pack a toolkit for emergencies. With all these formalities sorted, your journey will be worry-free, letting you fully enjoy the RV lifestyle.
