Road Rules 2014

A driver must not drive a motor vehicle (the towing vehicle) that has a motor vehicle, trailer or other vehicle attached to it for the purpose of being towed (the towed vehicle), if the laden weight of the towed vehicle exceeds—

the capacity of the towing attachment fitted to the towing vehicle, or

the maximum laden weight for the towed vehicle.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Note.

Motor vehicle, towing attachment and trailer are defined in the Dictionary, and vehicle is defined in rule 15.

For the purposes of subrule (1), the maximum laden weight for a towed vehicle is—

the maximum laden weight for a towed vehicle that the manufacturer of the towing vehicle has specified in respect of the towing vehicle, or

if the manufacturer of the towing vehicle has not specified such a maximum, the manufacturer cannot be identified or the towing vehicle has been modified to the extent that the manufacturer’s specification is no longer appropriate—

one and a half times the unladen weight of the towing vehicle if the towed vehicle is fitted with a braking system that is working properly, or

the unladen weight of the towing vehicle in any other case.

A driver of a towing vehicle does not contravene subrule (1) if—

the towing vehicle is driven or used in accordance with the prior written permission of Transport for NSW and any conditions set out in the document giving the permission, and

a copy of that document is carried by the driver of the towing vehicle when using the vehicle otherwise than in accordance with subrule (1).

This rule does not apply to any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a GVM or GCM over 4.5 tonnes.

Note 1.

Combination is defined in the Dictionary, vehicle is defined in rule 15, and GCM and GVM are defined in the Act.

Note 2.

This rule is an additional NSW road rule. There is no corresponding rule in the Australian Road Rules.