Is a category B licence enough to tow a light trailer?

With category B, you can tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of up to 750 kg; for a heavier trailer, B is sufficient only if the combined maximum authorised mass does not exceed 3,500 kg. From 3,500 to 4,250 kg you need code 96; above that, you need BE.

What “light trailer” means

The term 'light trailer' usually means a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of no more than 750 kg. A category B licence allows you to tow one with a category B vehicle, but this does not mean that every car can tow any trailer within that limit. Check the car's registration document, its permitted towing mass, the tow bar and the load limits for both vehicles.

Maximum authorised mass is not the weight of the empty trailer, and it is not the load you are carrying that day. A trailer approved for 750 kg remains in that category even when empty; an 800 kg trailer does not become a light trailer because it is carrying only a few bags. With a trailer over 750 kg, category B may cover the combination if its total maximum authorised mass does not exceed 3,500 kg. If it exceeds that figure but is no more than 4,250 kg, code 96 may be required; above 4,250 kg, BE may be required.

Licence limits apply alongside the vehicle’s technical towing capacity. If the car’s manual and registration documents specify a lower towing mass than the trailer’s permitted mass, you must not exceed it just because you hold B96 or BE. Also comply with the permitted nose weight, axle limits, tyre pressures and the manufacturer’s instructions.

The licence limit does not replace the technical limits: the car’s registration document gives its permitted towing mass and the maximum mass of the combination. Even an empty trailer may require a higher licence category if its maximum authorised mass takes the combination over a threshold. Check the trailer document, not just its sales label.

• Up to 750 kg maximum authorised trailer mass: category B generally covers the combination.
• Over 750 kg: check the combined maximum authorised mass.
• Over 3,500 kg and up to 4,250 kg, code 96 may be required; above 4,250 kg, check whether BE is needed.
• Your licence does not increase the car’s technical towing capacity.

Checks before hitching up

Compare the details in both vehicle documents and follow the car’s manual: make sure the tow bar is approved and that electrical connections and safety devices are in good order. Distribute and secure the load evenly; do not exceed the trailer’s maximum mass, the combination’s maximum mass or the permitted nose weight. If the trailer carries a boat, motorbike or materials, also consider its size and rear visibility.

Before your first journey, practise manoeuvres in a suitable, clear area at low speed, allowing for the wider turning space and longer braking distance. If the trailer sways or the combination behaves unusually, slow down gradually and stop somewhere safe to check the load and hitch; do not make sudden corrections.

To practise the rules for trailers, study the chapters in Quiz Patente Ufficiale, take timed quizzes and review mistakes about weight limits.