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North Carolina Trailer Laws & Trailer Regulations

North Carolina's laws and regulations for trailers are listed below:

 

North Carolina Trailer Brake Laws

Every semitrailer, trailer, or separate vehicle attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle of at least 4,000 lbs., and every house trailer weighing at least 1,000 lbs., shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle. 

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Dimension Laws

Total length: 60 feet; trailer length: 48 feet; width: 96 inches (excludes mirrors and safety devices; 102 inches permitted on designated roads); height: 13 feet 6 inches.

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Hitch Laws

The towed vehicle, if the primary towing attachment is a hitch, shall also be attached to the towing unit by means of safety chains or cables of sufficient strength to hold the gross weight of the towed vehicle in the event the hitch fails or becomes disconnected.

Trailers or semitrailers having locking pins or bolts in the towing attachment and semitrailers in combination with vehicles equipped with 5th-wheel assemblies, do not need the safety chains or cables.

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Signal Laws

Trailers whose load does not obscure the directional signals of the towing vehicle from the view of a driver approaching the vehicle from the rear within 200 feet, and trailers with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or less, do not need turn signals.

Trailers with a gross weight of less than 4,000 lbs. need not be equipped with a rear tail lamp, provided that the trailer is equipped with 2 red rear reflectors with a diameter of at least 3 inches that are visible from a distance of at least 500 feet when opposed by a vehicle with lighted headlamps.

Every trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or more must also have: on the front, 2 clearance lamps, with 1 on each side; on each side, 2 side marker lamps and 2 reflectors, with 1 of each at or near the front and at or near the rear; and on the rear, 2 clearance lamps and 2 reflectors, with 1 of each at either side, and 1 stoplight.

Every pole trailer with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or more must also have: on each side, 1 side marker lamp and 1 clearance lamp (which may be in combination) to show the front, side, and rear; and on the rear, 2 reflectors, with 1 on each side.

Every trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with a gross weight below 4,000 lbs. must also have: 2 reflectors, with 1 on each side, on the rear of the vehicle.

On every trailer or semitrailer 30 feet or more in length and weighing at least 4,000 lbs., 1 combination marker lamp showing amber and mounted on the bottom side rail at or near the center of each side of the trailer is required.

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Lighting Laws

Vehicles that have an obstructed view of the rear of the vehicle must place a mirror so that it can reflect the view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle. 

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Mirror Laws

Vehicles that have an obstructed view of the rear of the vehicle must place a mirror so that it can reflect the view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle. 

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Speed Limit Laws

55 mph unless otherwise posted. 

 


 

North Carolina Trailer Towing Laws

No trailer, semitrailer, or other towed vehicle shall be operated unless such trailer is firmly attached to the rear of the towing unit, and unless so equipped that it will travel in the path of the vehicle towing it without snaking.  

 


 

 

  

 

Disclaimer:
The United States Trailer Laws and Regulations by State by Trailers.com is not an inclusive list of laws, regulations and it should be used by reference only and not used for any other purpose. Trailers.com is not liable for incorrect or incomplete information. To report an error, incomplete or incorrect information, please send an email to statelaws@trailers.com