Towing a trailer by car | Traficom
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Transport and Communications Agency

Towing a trailer by car

Towing a trailer requires carefulness and precision. A trailer that has been loaded and attached incorrectly is a risk in traffic.

There are two things that regulate towing a trailer

  • Driving licence requirement defined by the maximum permissible (theoretical) total mass of the towing vehicle and the trailer 
  • Maximum permissible mass of the trailer = information that can usually be found on the registration certificate of the towing vehicle. This means the mass imposed on the road by the wheels of the trailer (total mass).

A trailer can be towed with a category B (towing vehicle: a passenger car or van with a total mass not exceeding 3,500 kg) driving licence with certain weight restrictions:

  • a trailer with a maximum total mass of 750 kg (category O1) can be attached to the vehicle. 
  • a trailer with a total mass of over 750 kg (category O2) can also be attached to the vehicle. However, in this case, the total mass of the vehicle combination can be a maximum of 3,500 kg.

With a B/96 combination driving licence a person is entitled to drive a vehicle combination where the towing vehicle is a passenger car or van, the trailer’s mass exceeds 750 kg and the total mass of the vehicle combination exceeds 3,500 kg but not 4,250 kg. If you want to get a B/96 combination licence, you need a permit to upgrade your driving licence. You can apply for it only at a service point of Traficom’s service provider Ajovarma.

Book an appointment with Ajovarma

With a category BE driving licence a person is entitled to drive a vehicle combination where the towing vehicle is a passenger car or van and the total mass of the towed vehicle does not exceed 3,500 kg (category O2). In this case, the total mass of the vehicle combination can be a maximum of 3,500 + 3,500 = 7,000 kg.

Read more about driving licence categories

In a towing situation, the maximum permissible mass of a trailer of passenger car A is 1,500 kg (information on the registration certificate). The total mass of trailer P is, according to the registration certificate, 1,800 kg. Towing trailer P by passenger car A is allowed if the real mass of the trailer does not exceed 1,500 kg in the towing situation and if the mass of towing vehicle A does not exceed 1,700 kg. In this case, a person can tow the vehicle combination in question with a category B driving licence (the total mass of the vehicle combination can be a maximum of 3,500 kg).

Thus, if the mass of towing vehicle A exceeds 1,700 kg, a B96 or BE driving licence is needed. With a B96 driving licence, the weight of towing vehicle A could in this case be a maximum of 2,450 kg. A person driving with a BE driving licence must, on the other hand, only take into account that towing vehicle A is a passenger car or van when the total mass of trailer P is 1,800 kg.

Permissible driving speed

When towing a trailer whose total mass does not exceed 750 kg (category O1), the highest permissible driving speed is 100 km/hour, also when the trailer is empty. The highest permissible speed of trailers of other categories is 80 km/h.

More information on loading a trailer

Watch on ruutu.fi webside a video about loading a trailer (in Finnish) (HS.fi and Traficom)
Read more about loading a trailer (in Finnish) (Finnish Road Safety Council)
Watch on YouTube a video about loading a trailer (in Finnish) (Kauppalehti and the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland)
Read more about loading a trailer (in Finnish) (Traficom)  

Reversing a trailer

Watch on YouTube a video about reversing a trailer (in Finnish) (the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland)
Watch on YouTube a video about reversing a trailer (in Finnish) (Aamulehti) 

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