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Trailer brake threshold laws by state

People search “Trailer brake threshold by state”, “Trailer brake threshold laws by state”, and “Trailer brakes map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for trailer brake threshold. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Trailer brakes difference map

How states differ

When independent trailer brakes are required.

  • Brakes required at ~1,000–2,000 lb
  • Brakes commonly required at ~3,000 lb
  • Higher threshold (~4,000–10,000 lb)

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • Trailer brake threshold by state
  • Trailer brake threshold laws by state
  • Trailer brakes laws by state
  • Trailer brake threshold map
  • Trailer brake threshold traveling across state lines
  • does trailer brake threshold change by state
  • trailer brake laws by state
  • when do I need trailer brakes
  • 3000 lb trailer brake requirement
  • Trailer brake threshold in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is trailer brake threshold legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Ala. Code § 32-5-212). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: 5,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Alaska Stat. § 28.35.155). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (A.R.S. § 28-952). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Ark. Code § 27-37-501). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
California (CA)
California: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (Cal. Veh. Code § 26301). Breakaway at 3,000 lb (CVC 26304).
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (C.R.S. § 42-4-223). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-80h). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: 4,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (21 Del. C. § 4304). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Florida (FL)
Florida: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Fla. Stat. § 316.261). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-50). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-31). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (Idaho Code § 49-914). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (625 ILCS 5/12-301). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Ind. Code § 9-19-3-4). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Iowa Code § 321.430). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: 2,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Kan. Stat. § 8-1734). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (KRS § 189.090). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (La. R.S. 32:341). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Maine (ME)
Maine: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (29-A M.R.S. § 1903). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Md. Code, Transp. § 22-301). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: 10,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (MCL 257.705). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Minn. Stat. § 169.67). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: 2,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Miss. Code § 63-7-51). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.170). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Montana (MT)
Montana: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Mont. Code § 61-9-221). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,246). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (NRS 484D.250). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 266:29). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.J.S.A. 39:3-67). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.M. Stat. § 66-3-846). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
New York (NY)
New York: 1,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(1)).
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: 4,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-124). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-32). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: 2,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.20). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (47 O.S. § 12-301). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.125). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (75 Pa.C.S. § 4502). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: 4,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-4). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (S.C. Code § 56-5-4850). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-18-1). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: 1,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (Tenn. Code § 55-9-205). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Texas (TX)
Texas: 4,500 lb trailer-brake trigger (Tex. Transp. Code § 547.401). Breakaway and a controller still apply at that weight.
Utah (UT)
Utah: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Utah Code § 41-6a-1623). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (23 V.S.A. § 1307). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Va. Code § 46.2-1066). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Washington (WA)
Washington: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (RCW 46.37.340). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (W. Va. Code § 17C-15-31). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Wis. Stat. § 347.35). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: 3,000 lb trailer-brake trigger (Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-952). Independent brakes operated from the tow vehicle; breakaway when the statute requires it.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.