For towing, should I check my licence or the car’s towing capacity?

You need to check both the licence category, based on maximum authorised masses, and the towing mass approved for that specific car. The stricter limit controls; a higher licence does not increase the vehicle’s technical capacity.

Two separate checks

The licence answers this question: which vehicle combination may you drive? For category B, Article 116 uses the maximum authorised masses shown for the car and trailer. A trailer up to 750 kg falls under one B rule; above 750 kg, the total authorised mass and the 3,500 kg and 4,250 kg thresholds determine whether code 96 or BE is needed. The actual weight on a particular trip does not replace these figures when choosing the category.

The car’s towing mass is a technical limit for that vehicle. Read it in the vehicle registration document and check that it is compatible with the trailer and intended use. You must also respect the car’s maximum mass, axle limits, permitted vertical load on the tow ball and approval conditions. A licence does not change any of those values. If the car is approved to tow no more than 1,200 kg, a BE licence does not authorise a heavier trailer under the vehicle’s technical limit.

Example: the car has a maximum authorised mass of 2,000 kg and the trailer 1,500 kg, making a declared combination of 3,500 kg. That total may fit category B, but you must still check that the car documents permit that towing mass and that the hitch and loads are within their limits. If the car’s towing capacity is below 1,500 kg, having the right licence is not enough to make the combination legal.

Read the documents before hitching

Write down the car’s and trailer’s maximum authorised masses and add them to choose the licence category. Check the 750 kg threshold and whether the combination exceeds 3,500 or 4,250 kg. Then read the car’s maximum towing mass and inspect the trailer document and the hitch plate. These are independent checks, and every limit must be compatible.

Do not replace document figures with a scale reading taken before a trip. A lower actual mass does not automatically change the licence category, and the loaded combination must still respect its technical limits. Ask the manufacturer or the motor vehicle office about unclear fields or approval codes. Quiz Patente Ufficiale can help you review B, B96 and BE categories and the theory behind towing.

Quiz Patente Ufficiale lets you review licence categories and towing quizzes, then revisit mistakes to understand the difference between B, B96 and BE.