State rankings

Trailer Towing Laws By State

Massachusetts has the highest Brakes Required for Trailers Over (10,000 lbs), followed by Alaska (5,000 lbs) and Texas (4,500 lbs). New York has the lowest (1,000 lbs).

LawTravel51 states · 7 metricsUpdated Dec 13, 2025Original page
49 sources
45 of 51 states
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Brakes Required for Trailers Over

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 45 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
3,000 lbs
Middle half 3,000 lbs – 3,000 lbs
Average
3,044 lbs
45 states
Highest
10,000 lbs
Massachusetts
Lowest
1,000 lbs
New York

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Brakes Required for Trailers Over
#
1MassachusettsYes10,000 lbs
2AlaskaYes5,000 lbs
3TexasYes4,500 lbs
4North CarolinaYes4,000 lbs
4Rhode IslandNo4,000 lbs
4DelawareNo4,000 lbs
7FloridaYes3,000 lbs
7PennsylvaniaYes3,000 lbs
7IllinoisYes3,000 lbs
7GeorgiaNo3,000 lbs
7MichiganYes3,000 lbs
7New JerseyYes3,000 lbs
7VirginiaYes3,000 lbs
7WashingtonYes3,000 lbs
7ArizonaNo3,000 lbs
7IndianaYes3,000 lbs
7MissouriYes3,000 lbs
7MarylandYes3,000 lbs
7ColoradoYes3,000 lbs
7WisconsinYes3,000 lbs
7MinnesotaYes3,000 lbs
7South CarolinaYes3,000 lbs
7AlabamaNo3,000 lbs
7LouisianaYes3,000 lbs
7OklahomaYes3,000 lbs
7ConnecticutYes3,000 lbs
7IowaYes3,000 lbs
7ArkansasYes3,000 lbs
7New MexicoNo3,000 lbs
7NebraskaYes3,000 lbs
7West VirginiaNo3,000 lbs
7HawaiiNo3,000 lbs
7MaineYes3,000 lbs
7MontanaYes3,000 lbs
7South DakotaYes3,000 lbs
7District of ColumbiaYes3,000 lbs
7VermontYes3,000 lbs
38OhioYes2,000 lbs
38MississippiYes2,000 lbs
40CaliforniaYes1,500 lbs
40TennesseeYes1,500 lbs
40NevadaYes1,500 lbs
40IdahoNo1,500 lbs
40New HampshireYes1,500 lbs
45New YorkYes1,000 lbs
—KentuckyNo—
—OregonYes—
—UtahYes—
—KansasNo—
—North DakotaYes—
—WyomingNo—

What correlates with Brakes Required for Trailers Over?

Pearson r against 2,099 other state metrics sharing at least 27 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Brakes Required for Trailers Over tend to score higher on these

  1. Lowest BracketTax Rates by State
    r = +0.92 · very strong · n = 29
    Plot
  2. LLC Filing FeeLLC Cost by State
    r = +0.53 · strong · n = 45
    Plot
  3. MisdemeanorsStatute of Limitations by State
    r = +0.51 · strong · n = 43
    Plot
  4. % of State Covered in State and Nat'l. ParksMost Beautiful States
    r = +0.50 · moderate · n = 44
    Plot
  5. Median Price per AcreBest States To Homestead
    r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 44
    Plot
  6. Executions 1976-2023Executions by State
    r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 30
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Brakes Required for Trailers Over tend to score lower on these

  1. Bar Exam TakersHardest Bar Exams by State
    r = −0.46 · moderate · n = 34
    Plot
  2. Rural Land AreaMost Rural States in the U.S.
    r = −0.43 · moderate · n = 44
    Plot
  3. Clothing Sales Tax RateSales Tax on Clothing by State
    r = −0.39 · moderate · n = 34
    Plot
  4. Off-Grid Living Overall ScoreOff-Grid Living Legal States
    r = −0.36 · moderate · n = 44
    Plot
  5. Walnut Acres BearingWalnut Production by State
    r = −0.34 · moderate · n = 29
    Plot
  6. Scary Bridge HeightScariest Bridge by State
    r = −0.34 · moderate · n = 34
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Brakes Required for Trailers Over?
Massachusetts has the highest Brakes Required for Trailers Over, at 10,000 lbs, followed by Alaska (5,000 lbs) and Texas (4,500 lbs).
Which state has the lowest Brakes Required for Trailers Over?
New York has the lowest Brakes Required for Trailers Over, at 1,000 lbs.
What is the median Brakes Required for Trailers Over across US states?
The median is 3,000 lbs across the 45 US states with data.
Where does this trailer towing laws by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Trailer Towing Guide – Ehlert Publishing Group; 2012 Indiana Code - Justia US Law; AAA Towing Laws - AAA Public Affairs; Alaska Chapter 4 - Motor Vehicle and Driving Offenses: Vehicle Equipment and Inspection - Cornell Law.