We know that towing can be an unwanted expense, especially if you are dealing with a broken down vehicle. Many people consider whether there may be a way to do this without the help of a professional, but is it a good idea? Is it legal to tow your car? We discuss these questions and more below to help you decide whether you should give it a go yourself.
Is it legal to tow your own car?
In NSW, towing is legal if you have a full licence and your vehicle meets all necessary safety requirements. P1 car licence holders can tow small trailers with an unloaded weight of up to 250kg, while learner drivers and learner and provisional motorcycle riders are not allowed to tow.
When towing a trailer or caravan, extra knowledge and skill are required compared to normal driving. Failing to tow safely or legally can result in fines and demerit points.
Learn more from the NSW Government website.
What requirements does my car need to tow?
Your car must be fitted with the correct towbar and couplings of suitable capacity, you must have electrical sockets set up correctly for lighting the caravan, car or trailer. You will likely need extra mirrors unless you are towing a very small trailer. If your car is automatic you may need an extra transmission oil cooler, and some vehicles also require structural reinforcements and other amendments such as load-distributing devices. If your car is not set up with all of these amendments and you are doing a one-off towing job, it will likely be more cost effective to hire a professional.
What are the rules and regulations around towing?
There are regulations in NSW around the towing capacity of your vehicle depending on the vehicle, the tow bar and coupling, and the weight and size of the vehicle being towed. You can check these with Service NSW.
Is it easy and safe to tow a caravan or trailer?
Towing a vehicle is a difficult thing to do if you haven’t got much experience, it’s not the same as driving a car normally. Your vehicle will become much heavier and longer than usual, so you will need to drive slowly and take extra care on hills, and when merging in traffic. If you try to do this without experience you risk damaging both the vehicle leading and the vehicle being towed.
Tow truck drivers have years of experience at handling and towing vehicles, so they can ensure no damage is done to the vehicle being towed. When you consider how much the vehicle you’re towing is worth, it’s usually worth investing in a professional tow truck driver to transport your vehicle safely and get it to its destination unharmed.
If you need a vehicle towed, you can trust the team at Select Tilt Tray Group. Our drivers take the utmost care in looking after your vehicle and delivering it safely. Give us a call or send us an enquiry to get a quote.