Trailer Towing Laws By State 2026

Trailer Brake and Safety Chain Rules

Trailer brake rules change a lot from state to state, and weight is usually what triggers them. In many states, brakes are required once a trailer hits 3,000 pounds, but some states are much stricter. New York requires trailer brakes at just 1,000 pounds, while California and Nevada set the cutoff at 1,500 pounds.

On the other end of the spectrum, states like Texas (4,500 lbs) and Massachusetts (10,000 lbs) allow much heavier trailers before brakes are mandatory. A few states don’t list a clear weight threshold at all, instead requiring trailers to meet stopping-distance rules.

Safety chains are required in most states when towing, but the details vary. Some states mandate chains in all cases, while others only require them for certain trailer weights or hitch types. Even where chains aren’t explicitly required, they’re often expected in practice—and failing to use them can still result in a citation if something goes wrong. When towing across state lines, drivers are required to follow the rules of the state they’re traveling in, not just the state where their vehicle is registered.

Maximum Trailer Size and Combination Limits

States also limit how big a trailer—or a full vehicle and trailer combination—can be. Width limits are fairly consistent nationwide, usually topping out around 8.5 feet, while height limits tend to fall between 13.5 and 14 feet. Length is where things really start to differ.

Some states allow very long setups, such as Wyoming, which permits vehicle combinations up to 85 feet, and North Dakota, which allows up to 75 feet. Other states are far more restrictive, with overall limits closer to 55 to 65 feet.

In several states, trailer length is regulated separately from total vehicle length, meaning a setup that’s legal in one state could exceed the limit just a few miles down the road. For RV owners, boat haulers, and anyone towing longer trailers, checking both trailer size and overall length limits before traveling can prevent costly surprises.