It's Not Only Where You Live, It's Also Where You are Going.

Select the States/Provences that you are traveling through to find the minimum towing weight requirement. If what you are towing exceeds the weight, an auxiliary braking system is required.

U.S. STATES WITH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Delaware

Every motor vehicle when operated on a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement, and to stop and hold such vehicle and any trailer attached thereto, including 2 separate means of applying the brakes.

Brakes are required for any vehicle and load with a gross weight over 4,000 lbs.

Kansas

Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.

Kentucky

Kentucky law does not specifically require brakes on any passenger car trailers, regardless of weight. However, vehicles singular or in combination must be able to stop within distance specified by statute.

Massachusetts

Every trailer having an unladed weight of more than 10,000 lbs shall be equipped with air or electric brakes.

Michigan

Independent braking system required when gross weight exceeds 15,000 lbs.

Missouri

Independent braking system not required except on trailers coupled by a 5th wheel and kingpin.

Nebraska

All commercial trailers with a carrying capacity of more than 10,000 lbs. shall be equipped on each wheel with brakes that can be operated from the driving position of the towing vehicle.

All recreational trailers having a gross loaded weight of 3,000 lbs. or more but less than 6,500 lbs. shall be equipped with brakes on at least 2 wheels.

All trailers with a gross loaded weight of 6,500 lbs. or more shall be equipped with brakes on each wheel. The brakes shall be operable from the driving position of the towing vehicle. Such trailers shall also be equipped with a breakaway, surge, or impulse switch on the trailer so that the trailer brakes are activated if the trailer becomes disengaged from the towing vehicle.

New Jersey

Every trailer and semitrailer must have brakes that can be automatically applied upon break-away from the towed vehicle, and means shall be provided to stop and hold the vehicle for adequate period of time.

New Hampshire

Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 30 feet at 20 mph.

North Carolina

Every semitrailer, trailer, or separate vehicle attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle of at least 4,000 lbs, and every house trailer weighing at least 1,000 lbs, shall be equipped with brake controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle.

North Dakota

Every trailer operated at a speed in excess of 25 mph must have safety chains or brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to hold such vehicle and designed so that they can be applied by the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab, and must be designed and connected so that in case of an accidental breakaway the brakes are automatically applied.

Ohio

Brakes are required if the trailer has an empty weight of over 3,000 lbs.

Oregon

Combination of vehicles must be able to stop within legal limits.

Utah

Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.

Wyoming

Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.

0 lb. limit

1,000 lbs (455 kg) limit

1,500 lbs (682 kg) limit

2,000 lbs (910 kg) limit

3,000 lbs (1,360 kg) limit

4,500 lbs (2,045 kg) limit

5,000 lbs (2,273 kg) limit

10,000 lbs (4,545 kg) limit

Special Requirements

State/Provence

Min. Weight

4,000 lbs (1,800 kg) limit