Towing a trailer in the Netherlands: licence, weight and speed
With a B licence you may tow a trailer of up to 750 kg, or a heavier one if car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg. With B+ (code 96) the combination may weigh up to 4,250 kg; beyond that you need BE. With a trailer of at most 3,500 kg you drive 90 km/h at most. Nobody may ride in a trailer.
Which licence for which trailer
| Licence | What you may tow |
|---|---|
| B | A trailer of up to 750 kg; or a heavier trailer if car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg |
| B+ (code 96) | Any trailer, as long as car and trailer together weigh no more than 4,250 kg; separate theory and practical exam |
| BE | A trailer of up to 3,500 kg |
Source: Rijksoverheid. A BE licence obtained before 19 January 2013 follows older, broader rules.
Speed with a trailer
Cars, vans and motorcycles with a trailer of at most 3,500 kg may go 90 km/h at most, wherever a higher limit applies (article 22). Other motor vehicles with a trailer: 80 km/h. On a motorway with three or more lanes, combinations longer than 7 metres may only use the two right-hand lanes (article 43).
Towing another car
When you tow a motor vehicle, the distance between the back of the towing vehicle and the front of the towed one may be 5 metres at most (article 53). Someone steers the towed car from the driver's seat.
Passengers
Nobody may ride in or on a trailer behind a car (article 61b). More about passengers and seat belts: seat belts and child seats.
The exam trap: a 1,000 kg trailer behind a car of 2,600 kg on a B licence. Together that is 3,600 kg, over the 3,500 kg limit, so you need B+ or BE.
Frequently asked questions
What trailer can I tow with a B licence in the Netherlands?
A trailer of up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer as long as car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg.
What is B+ (code 96)?
An extension of the B licence, with its own exam, that lets you tow any trailer as long as car and trailer together weigh no more than 4,250 kg.
How fast may I drive with a trailer?
A car with a trailer of at most 3,500 kg may go 90 km/h at most, also on the motorway.
How far apart may a towed car be?
When you tow another motor vehicle, the distance between the back of the towing vehicle and the front of the towed one may not be more than 5 metres.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.