Can My Car Tow a Horse Trailer? | Vehicle Towing Capacity

So you’re thinking about buying or hiring a horse trailer — good on ya. But before you hitch up and roll out, there’s one important question to ask: Can your car actually tow it?

Let’s break it down nice and simple.

Find Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

Every vehicle has a maximum towing limit, and thankfully, it’s not a guessing game. You can usually find it in:

• Your car’s owner’s handbook

• The VIN plate (also called the chassis plate), usually found under the bonnet or near the driver’s door

You’re looking for a number that tells you how much weight your car can legally and safely tow — both with and without brakes.

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What the Numbers Mean

The VIN plate usually lists 3 or 4 numbers. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

  This is your car’s max weight when fully loaded — including fuel, passengers, dogs, snacks... the lot.

• Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)

  This is the combined max weight of your car and whatever you’re towing.

• Axle Loads

  These are the max weights for your front and rear axles — good to know, but not essential for basic towing maths.

How to Work Out Your Towing Limit

To work out how much you can tow, use this simple formula:

GTW - GVW = Max Towing Capacity

So if your GTW is 4200kg and your GVW is 2505kg, your maximum towing capacity is:

4200 - 2505 = 1695kg

That’s your car’s limit including a fully loaded trailer (horse and all).

Important Notes

• The trailer must be within this limit — going over can void your insurance, get you fined, or worse, cause a serious accident.

• This weight includes everything inside the trailer — horses, tack, hay bales, and anything else you chuck in.

• Some cars — especially smaller city cars, hybrids, or performance models — aren’t designed to tow at all. If there’s no GTW listed on your VIN plate, it likely means your car isn’t rated for towing.

  
  

Get In Touch

Need a Hand?

Still not sure? No worries. If you’re booking a trailer through Brent, our team’s always happy to help you double-check. We’ve helped plenty of first-time towers get sorted without a sweat.

Final Thought: Know Your Numbers Before You Tow

Before you hire or buy a horse trailer, check your car’s towing limits. It’s quick, easy, and could save you a ton of trouble. After that, you're ready to get your hoofin' passengers moving.

Need a horse trailer? You know where to click!

-Brent