Licence categories
Boat trailer: does the licence use the boat’s weight or the trailer rating?
For the licence, check the TATS trailer’s maximum authorised mass, not only the boat’s current weight.
When an Italian TATS trailer carries a boat, the licence calculation uses the authorised maximum masses shown in the documents, not just the actual weight of the boat and trailer on that trip. The towing car’s technical limits and the trailer’s payload remain separate checks.
Use the authorised mass for the licence
TATS refers to trailers for tourist and sporting equipment, such as boats. Under the MIT circular and Article 116, the relevant trailer figure for choosing between B, code 96 and BE is its maximum authorised mass, not the weight of the boat when it is loaded on a particular day. An empty trailer that weighs little can still trigger a higher licence category if its authorised rating crosses the relevant threshold.
For B, a trailer rated up to 750 kg follows the specific statutory branch. With a heavier trailer, the authorised total matters: code 96 covers specified combinations above 3,500 kg and up to 4,250 kg, while BE applies above that within its own conditions, including a trailer rating no higher than 3,500 kg. These are licence thresholds; they do not state how much the car can technically tow.
Example: the boat trailer is authorised for 1,200 kg, while the boat loaded today weighs 700 kg. Do not calculate the licence from 700 kg. Use the authorised maximum for the trailer and add the car’s authorised maximum as required. The actual boat, equipment and trailer load must still stay within payload, axle and technical limits.
Check towing approval and load
Read the registration documents for both car and TATS trailer. Check maximum authorised mass, towing mass, payload, hitch approval and identification. A correct licence does not make a combination technically safe if the car cannot tow the trailer or the hitch is incompatible.
Secure the boat and equipment so they cannot shift, and respect axle and vertical-load limits. If the trailer documents are unclear, ask the motor vehicle authority or manufacturer. A scale can confirm actual weight, but it does not change the licence category based on authorised masses. Quiz Patente Ufficiale lets you review categories and trailer rules through quizzes and incorrect-answer review.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you review common rules for licence categories, B96 and BE through quizzes and error review.
Frequently asked questions
If the boat is light, can I use its actual weight for the licence?
No. The licence calculation uses the authorised maximum masses; the actual load still has to remain within payload and technical limits.
Does BE make any boat trailer towable by my car?
No. BE does not raise the car’s approved towing mass or remove hitch, approval and load restrictions.