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Trailer hire in South Africa
By CarRentalZA editorial team · 6 min read · Updated 25 July 2026
- Luggage or box trailer
- The common small trailer, for boxes, garden waste and moving oddments
- Car trailer
- Flat or tilt bed for moving a vehicle; heavier and needs a properly rated towbar
- Licence
- Code B covers a trailer up to 750kg; heavier combinations need an EB code
- Towbar
- Must be fitted, rated for the load and have working electrics
- Cheapest option
- Usually the lowest-cost way to move a load if you already have a tow vehicle
- Where to hire
- National trailer hire chains and local hire yards in most towns
Trailer hire is the cheapest way to move a load in South Africa, because you supply the engine, so a box or luggage trailer behind a car you already have costs a fraction of a van, and a car trailer moves a vehicle for far less than a tow truck.
The catch is that towing has its own licence rules, its own towbar requirements and its own way of going wrong at speed. This guide covers the trailer types, the legal side, what to check on the hitch and where to hire.
We are an independent information site and take no bookings.
Trailer types and what each is for
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Luggage or box trailer | Small covered or open box. Garden waste, boxes, camping gear, a move of oddments |
| Open utility trailer | Flat sided, for building material, furniture and awkward loads |
| Car trailer, flat bed | Moves a vehicle. Needs a heavy-duty towbar and a tow vehicle with the capacity |
| Car trailer, tilt bed | Tilts to load a non-running vehicle without ramps. Heavier again |
| Closed or furniture trailer | Weatherproof, the sensible choice for a move in the rainy season |
Car trailer hire is one of the most searched trailer categories in South Africa, and it is the one with the strictest towbar and licence requirements.
Towing licence rules in plain terms
A code B licence allows you to tow a trailer with a gross combination mass that keeps you inside the limits for that code, and in practice a light trailer up to 750kg is the straightforward case.
Heavier trailers and combinations push you into the EB code, which is the articulated version of a code B licence. If you are hiring a car trailer to move a vehicle, the combined weight of your tow car, the trailer and the car on it adds up quickly, so check the numbers rather than assuming.
The hire company should tell you what class you need for the specific trailer. If they will not, that is a reason to go elsewhere.
Towbar, electrics and the tow vehicle
Your car needs a towbar rated for the load, not just any towbar. A tow rating that suits a small box trailer does not suit a loaded car trailer.
The electrics must work. Before you leave the hire yard, have someone stand behind the trailer while you test the indicators, brake lights, tail lights and hazards. A trailer with dead lights is both a fine and an accident.
Check the coupling is fully seated and locked, the safety chain or breakaway cable is attached, and the jockey wheel is raised and secured. Then check the tyre pressures on the trailer, which are usually higher than car pressures and are almost always neglected.
Driving with a trailer
Three things change the moment a trailer is behind you.
Stopping distance grows, considerably, and more so on a wet N-road. Leave twice the following distance you normally would.
Speed limits are lower for vehicles towing trailers in South Africa, and the trailer's own tyre rating may be lower still. Check both.
Snaking at speed is the one that hurts people. It comes from a load that is too far back or too light on the nose. Load heavy items over the axle and slightly forward, so there is downward weight on the coupling, and if the trailer begins to sway, ease off the accelerator smoothly rather than braking hard.
What trailer hire costs
Trailer hire is priced per day or per half-day and is the cheapest load-moving option in South African rental, because the trailer has no engine, no fuel and no driver.
Expect a refundable deposit, which on car trailers is higher than on box trailers. Ask whether the rate is per day or per 24 hours, what a late return costs, and whether there is a kilometre limit at all, since many trailer hires do not have one.
Also ask what happens if a tyre fails on the road, because roadside cover on hired trailers varies widely and a trailer puncture on the N1 is not something you fix with the car's spare.
Where to hire a trailer
National trailer hire chains are the most searched option in South Africa and have the widest branch coverage, which matters because you want to collect a trailer close to where you will use it.
Local hire yards and equipment hire firms carry trailers in most towns, often cheaper, and some national car rental operators list trailer hire alongside their vehicle fleets.
Check whether one-way trailer hire is possible on your route before you plan around it. Most local yards want the trailer back where it came from.
Frequently asked questions
What licence do I need to tow a trailer in South Africa?
A code B licence covers towing a light trailer, with 750kg the straightforward threshold. Heavier trailers and combinations need an EB code. If you are moving a car on a trailer, add up the tow vehicle, trailer and load before assuming.
How much does trailer hire cost?
Trailer hire is priced per day or per half-day and is the cheapest load-moving option in South African rental, since there is no engine, fuel or driver involved. A refundable deposit applies, and it is larger on car trailers than on box trailers.
Can I hire a car trailer to move a vehicle?
Yes, flat bed and tilt bed car trailers are widely available. You need a towbar rated for the combined load and, in most cases, a licence code that covers the combination weight. Confirm both before you book.
Do I need a special towbar for a hired trailer?
You need one rated for the load, not just any towbar. A rating that suits a small box trailer will not suit a loaded car trailer. The electrics must also work, so test the indicators and brake lights before leaving the yard.
What speed can I drive when towing in South Africa?
Lower than the ordinary limit. Vehicles towing trailers have reduced speed limits, and the trailer's own tyre rating may cap you lower still. Check both, and remember that stopping distance grows considerably with a trailer behind you.
Why does a trailer sway at speed?
Usually because the load is too far back or too light on the coupling. Load heavy items over the axle and slightly forward so there is downward weight on the nose. If it starts to sway, ease off the accelerator smoothly rather than braking hard.
Can I do a one-way trailer hire?
Sometimes with national chains, rarely with local yards, which generally want the trailer returned where it was collected. Confirm the route before you plan a one-way move around it.
