Texas Trailer Laws & Trailer Regulations

Texas's laws and regulations for trailers are listed below:

Texas Trailer Brake Laws

A trailer or pole trailer is required to have brakes if its gross weight exceeds 4,500 lbs. A trailer with a gross weight between 4,500 lbs. and 15,000 lbs. is not required to have brakes if it is towed at a speed of not more than 30 mph. 

Texas Trailer Dimension Laws

Total length: 65 feet (includes bumpers); trailer length: not specified; width: 102 inches (excludes mirrors and safety devices); height: 14 feet.

Texas Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

The drawbar or other connection between a vehicle towing another vehicle and the towed vehicle must be strong enough to pull all weight towed and may not exceed 15 feet between the vehicles except for the connection between 2 vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural nature that cannot be readily dismembered.

A driver towing another vehicle and using a chain, rope, or cable to connect the vehicles must display on the connection a white flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square.

A driver of a passenger car or light truck may not tow a trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved by the DPS are attached in an approved manner from the trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or towed motor vehicle to the towing vehicle.

Texas Trailer Lighting Laws

A trailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles must be equipped with at least 2 tail lamps, at least 2 stop lamps, electric turn signal lamps, and at least 2 red reflectors.
A trailer that is at least 80 inches wide must be equipped with 2 front clearance lamps, 1 on each side; 2 rear clearance lamps, 1 on each side; 4 side marker lamps, 1 on each side at or near the front and 1 on each side at or near the rear; 4 reflectors, 1 on each side at or near the front and 1 on each side at or near the rear; and hazard lamps.

A trailer that is at least 30 feet long must be equipped with 2 side marker lamps, 1 centrally mounted on each side; 2 reflectors, 1 centrally mounted on each side; and hazard lamps.

A pole trailer must be equipped with 2 side marker lamps, 1 at each side at or near the front of the load; 1 reflector at or near the front of the load; and 1 combination marker lamp that emits an amber light to the front and a red light to the rear and side and is mounted on the rearmost support for the load to indicate the maximum width of the trailer.

Texas Trailer Mirror Laws

A motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle used to tow another vehicle, must be equipped with a mirror located to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet from the rear of the vehicle. 

Texas Trailer Speed Limit Laws

Same as for passenger cars/trucks.

Texas Trailer Towing Laws

A person may not ride in a house trailer while it is being towed.