Australia's free towing compliance checker. Enter your vehicle and trailer specs — get an instant breakdown of GVM, GCM, towball mass, brake requirements and more. Built for caravanners, tradies and anyone who tows.
No fluff. Enter your numbers, hit check, get results. Built around Australian towing law with plain-English explanations of every check.
Enter your numbers, hit check. Here's an example result for a Ford Ranger towing a 3,300 kg loaded caravan.
Example only — not a real check. The payload fail here is the most common issue: the rig is within tow capacity, but the vehicle is over its legal payload limit due to passengers, cargo and ball weight combined.
The TowCheck AU is provided as a general information guide only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, a certified weighbridge check, or confirmation from a licensed vehicle engineer or towing specialist.
Results produced by this tool are estimates based on the figures you enter. The accuracy of any result depends entirely on the accuracy of the data you provide. Always verify your vehicle's actual tare weight, payload capacity and towing specifications from your vehicle's compliance placard, owner's manual, or your dealership.
Australian towing laws and weight requirements vary by state and territory. This tool references general national guidelines. You must confirm the applicable rules with your state or territory road authority (e.g. VicRoads, TfNSW, TMR QLD, DPTI SA, MRWA, NTMFR, DPAW TAS, ACTTO) before towing.
This tool does not account for vehicle modifications, aftermarket suspension or towing accessories, load distribution hitches, or any factor that may affect the legal or safe towing capacity of your specific vehicle and trailer combination.
The creator of this tool accepts no liability for any loss, damage, injury, fine, or legal consequence arising from use of or reliance on this tool. Always seek advice from a qualified professional before towing.
This tool is free to use and is maintained on a best-efforts basis. If you find it useful, consider supporting its development.
This Australian towing compliance calculator helps caravanners, tradies and 4WD owners check whether their tow setup is within Australian legal limits before hitting the road. It covers the key numbers that matter: GVM, GCM, towball mass, brake requirements and vehicle payload.
Why does this matter? In Australia, exceeding your vehicle's GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) or GCM (Gross Combined Mass) is illegal and can void your insurance — even if your vehicle feels fine on the road. Payload is the most commonly overlooked factor: a fully loaded caravan plus passengers and gear can push a vehicle over its legal limit without the driver realising.
How to use this towing calculator: Enter your trailer's ATM (from its compliance plate), your vehicle's tow rating, GVM and GCM (from your owner's manual or compliance placard), plus your current load. The tool runs seven compliance checks and gives you an instant pass/warn/fail result with plain-English notes for each item.
Who is this for? This tool is used by caravanners checking a new setup, travellers preparing for long trips, buyers at caravan dealerships, and anyone towing a boat, horse float, car trailer or box trailer. It's designed for real-world use on a phone at the dealership or campground.
Australian towing laws vary by state. While national guidelines from the NTC apply broadly, each state and territory (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT) has its own specific rules around brake requirements, speed limits when towing, and maximum tow ratios. Always confirm with your local road authority before towing.
This tool references guidance from the National Transport Commission (NTC), Australian Design Rules (ADR), and state road authorities. It is a guide only and does not replace a certified weighbridge check or professional advice.
Free. No signup. Takes 2 minutes. Works on your phone.
Effective date: January 2025
TowCheck AU is a free, browser-based tool. We are committed to your privacy. This policy explains clearly what data we collect — and what we don't.
No data is collected
TowCheck AU does not collect, store, transmit or share any personal information or vehicle data. All calculations are performed entirely within your browser. Nothing you enter is ever sent to a server. When you close the page, your data is gone.
No accounts or login
There is no account system, no login, and no requirement to provide any personal details to use this tool.
No cookies
TowCheck AU does not use cookies, tracking pixels, or any form of persistent local storage. No data is written to your device.
No third-party analytics
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other third-party tracking or advertising service.
External links
This page contains links to external websites (state road authorities, NTC, ADR). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their policies independently.
Donations (PayPal)
If you choose to support TowCheck AU via the PayPal donation button, you will be directed to PayPal's platform. Any payment data is handled entirely by PayPal under their own privacy policy. TowCheck AU does not receive or store any payment information.
Children
TowCheck AU is intended for use by adults operating motor vehicles. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Questions? Contact us via the GitHub repository linked in the footer.