How to check your car's towing capacity
Reviewed by an experienced Leicester towbar fitter Last updated
To find your car's towing capacity, check the weight (VIN) plate, your V5C or, most reliably, the owner's handbook. The quickest sum: on the weight plate, your braked towing capacity is roughly the gross train weight minus the gross vehicle weight. The handbook gives the exact braked and unbraked limits and the maximum noseweight. Always check the figure for your precise engine, gearbox and model year, because it varies.
Here is how to find and read each figure, with a worked example.
Where to find your towing capacity
| Source | What it gives you | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (VIN) plate | Gross vehicle weight, gross train weight, axle weights | High (do the sum) |
| V5C (logbook) | Braked towable mass | High |
| Owner's handbook | Braked, unbraked, noseweight, restrictions | Definitive |
| Manufacturer website | Full spec by variant | High (match the variant) |
| Registration lookup tools | A quick estimate | Check against the above |
Reading the weight plate
The weight (or VIN) plate is usually inside the driver's door frame, under the bonnet, or visible through the base of the windscreen. It typically lists four weights from the top: maximum gross vehicle weight, maximum gross train weight, then the maximum front and rear axle weights.
To get your braked trailer limit:
Gross train weight − gross vehicle weight = maximum braked trailer weight
Then check it against your V5C and handbook, and use the lowest of the figures. The handbook is the final word if anything disagrees.
Braked, unbraked and noseweight
- Braked capacity is the maximum for a trailer with its own brakes. This is the figure most people need for a caravan or larger trailer.
- Unbraked capacity is for trailers without brakes, legally capped at 750kg in the UK and often lower for your car (commonly around half the kerb weight).
- Noseweight is the maximum downward load on the towball, usually 50 to 100kg. It is the lower of your car's limit and your towbar's limit, and it governs how you load the trailer. Our towing weights guide explains the maths in full.
Are "towing capacity by registration" tools accurate?
They are a useful starting point, but treat them as an estimate. They can return generic or out-of-date figures, so always confirm against your V5C and handbook before you buy a caravan or trailer against them.
A worked example
Say your weight plate shows a gross vehicle weight of 2,200kg and a gross train weight of 4,400kg:
4,400 − 2,200 = 2,200kg maximum braked trailer weight.
Note
But check the V5C. If it lists a braked towable mass of 2,000kg, then 2,000kg is your limit, because the lower figure always applies. And remember gross train weight caps the combined weight, so a fully loaded car with passengers and luggage leaves less headroom for the trailer than the headline capacity suggests.
Legal capacity vs safe towing (the 85% guideline)
Your legal capacity is not the same as a comfortable, stable tow. For less experienced drivers, the widely used guidance is to keep a loaded caravan no more than 85% of your car's kerb weight. For a 1,500kg car that is about 1,275kg. It is best-practice advice, not law, but it gives you a safety margin in crosswinds and emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
On the weight (VIN) plate, your V5C, and the owner's handbook. The handbook is the most reliable and also lists the unbraked limit and maximum noseweight.
Subtract the gross vehicle weight from the gross train weight. Both are on the weight plate. Check the result against your V5C and handbook and use the lowest figure.
Use them as a quick estimate only. They can be generic or out of date, so confirm against your V5C and handbook before committing to a caravan or trailer.
750kg by law, and often lower for your specific car (frequently around half the kerb weight). Use the braked figure only if the trailer has its own brakes.
Yes. A towbar has a rated capacity (its D-value and S-value). It must be rated at or above your intended towing weight and noseweight, so make sure the towbar suits the job, not just the car.
Not sure what your car can tow?
Get the right towbar for your vehicle and towing needs. Request quotes from local Leicester fitters and get advice against your registration.
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