Arizona Trailer Laws and Regulations

Arizona requires brakes on any trailer 3,000 lb or more, caps combination length at 65 ft, max width 96 in, max height 13 ft 6 in. Speed limits are 65 mph on interstates while towing, 55 mph on other roads. Personal trailers register for a one-time fee that varies by weight. Detail below.

Rule	Threshold
Brakes required	3,000 lb gross or more (ARS 28-952)
Max combination length	65 ft
Max trailer length	40 ft including bumpers
Max width	96 in (8 ft)
Max height	13 ft 6 in
Tow speed on interstates	65 mph
Tow speed on other roads	55 mph
Drawbar length	15 ft max
License plate flag	12 in white flag on rope/chain/cable connections

Registration

Arizona requires plates on trailers, not just stickers. Registration length depends on owner-certified weight and use:

Non-commercial trailer under 10,000 lb: $125 first registration, plates renewed or permanent depending on selection
Commercial trailer under 10,000 lb: Permanent registration eligible
Non-commercial trailer over 10,000 lb GVW: $800 first registration. $500 if it’s previously registered in another state and under 6 years old. $195 if over 6 years old
Converting commercial to non-commercial: reduced fee of $75

The trailer plate has to be visible and lit at night, like the truck plate.

Size limits (ARS 28-1095 and 28-1096)

Combination length: 65 ft for tow vehicle plus trailer.
Trailer length alone: 40 ft, bumpers included.
Width: 96 in (8 ft). Wider loads need a permit.
Height: 13 ft 6 in including any load.

Arizona allows doubles when the middle unit has a fifth wheel and brakes, weighs at least as much as the rear unit, and the rear unit weighs at least 3,000 lb. That setup is uncommon for hobby use but matters for commercial RV transport.

Brakes (ARS 28-952)

Any trailer or semi-trailer with a gross weight of 3,000 lb or more must have brakes:

Adequate to control and stop the trailer
Either driver-applied from the tow vehicle’s cab, or automatic when the tow vehicle’s service brakes are applied
Designed to apply automatically if the trailer breaks away (breakaway switch)

The brakes have to work on enough wheels to actually stop the trailer.

Hitch and connections

Drawbar or connection length: 15 ft maximum.
Towing with a chain, rope, or cable: a 12 in white cloth or flag must be attached to the connection so it’s visible.
Safety chains aren’t explicitly named in statute the way they are in some states, but federal interstate rules (49 CFR 393.70) require an equivalent for any towed unit not coupled by fifth wheel.

Speed limits while towing (ARS 28-709)

Interstate highway: 65 mph maximum while towing a trailer.
All other roads: 55 mph unless posted lower.

Arizona is one of the states that caps your speed when towing, regardless of the posted limit. A 75 mph interstate posting still means 65 mph for you if there’s a trailer behind you.

Lighting

Trailers over 3,000 lb gross need:

One clearance light on each side
Two side marker lamps on each side
Two reflectors on each side
Two clearance lamps on the rear
Two reflectors on the rear
At least one stop light

Smaller trailers need the federal minimum: tail lamp, brake lights, turn signals, side reflectors.

Mirrors

Drivers must have rearview mirrors providing a view of at least 200 ft of roadway behind the vehicle. If the trailer blocks the factory mirrors, extension mirrors or clip-ons are required to maintain that 200 ft view.

A note for Ford owners in 2026

If you tow a 2021 to 2026 F-150, 2022 to 2026 Super Duty, 2024 to 2026 Ranger, 2022 to 2026 Expedition, 2022 to 2026 Maverick, 2022 to 2026 Lincoln Navigator, or 2026 Transit, check recall 26C10 (NHTSA 26V104000). The Integrated Trailer Module fault can disable trailer stop lamps, turn signals, and electric trailer brakes at startup. In Arizona, where trailers over 3,000 lb are required to have functioning brakes, that fault is a safety violation and a citation risk. The OTA fix started rolling out in May 2026.