South Carolina Trailer Laws and Regulations

If you often find yourself towing heavy loads around your state you probably have some idea of the state laws and rules that apply to do this. Some people may not be aware however that sometimes laws can differ state by state. This can mean you might be legal in one state but crossing the border you might well get pulled over for an infringement you were not expecting.

In this article we are going to look at the laws for South Carolina which may vary from the state you might be driving in from. There may also be regulations you were not aware of as a native to the state which might catch you out. So read on and let us try to keep you from costly tickets.

Do Trailers Need to Be Registered in South Carolina?

In the state of South Carolina the law states that all vehicles driven, operated or moved on the highways must be registered and licensed. This includes all motor vehicles, trailers, semi trailers and pole trailers. The important thing to remember is that these trailers will require a license plate affixed to the back.

Failure to register your trailer or display proof of registration can result in fines. Additionally, allowing your registration to lapse can cause issues when you eventually re-register the trailer at a later date.

Unlike motor vehicles, trailers do not by law require insurance but neither are they covered by your auto insurance. If you have a valuable trailer or will be moving something expensive, insuring your trailer might be a good idea.

South Carolina General Towing Laws

These are general rules in South Carolina regarding towing that you might come foul of if you were not aware of them. Sometimes you may get away with an infringement of these rules because you did not know them but you can not assume this will be the case.

There are no rules in this category but in the absence of this we must assume that general rules of the road should be adhered to. If it is something that would be illegal without a trailer the high likelihood is that you also should not do it with a trailer.

South Carolina Trailer Dimension Rules

It is important to know the state laws governing the sizes of loads and trailers. You may need permits for some loads while others may not be allowed on certain types of roads.

• The total length of the tow vehicle and trailer is not specified.
• The maximum length of the trailer is 48 ft.
• The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches. (excess width due to an appurtenance is allowed)
• The maximum height of a trailer and load is 13 ft 6 inches.

South Carolina Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in South Carolina that relate to the trailer hitch and safety signals displayed by the trailer. It is important to be aware of these laws as they are safety based so may carry potentially large fines.

• The drawbar or any other connection between tow vehicle and trailer can not exceed 15 ft in length. It must also be strong enough to support the weight of everything being towed.
• A white flag or cloth that is at least 12 inches square has to be displayed on any chain, rope or cable being used as the connection between vehicles.

South Carolina Trailer Lighting Laws

When you are towing something that will obscure the rear lights of your tow vehicle it is important to be able to communicate your upcoming and present actions in the form of lights. This is why there are rules regarding trailer lighting.

All vehicles including trailers must have tail lights, license plate lights, brake lights, turn signals and reflectors.

South Carolina Speed Limits

When it comes to speed limits this varies and depends on the posted speeds of the specific area. You obviously should not exceed the posted speed limit in any area. When it comes to normal towing there are no specific different limits but it is expected that the speed is kept at a sensible level.

If your trailer is being caused to sway or lose control due to speed you may be pulled over even if you are within the posted limits. This is because the trailer may be posing a threat to public safety and you will be asked to slow down.

• Manufactured, modular, or mobile homes can not be towed any faster than 10 mph below the posted speed limit for the road.
• If towing a house trailer the driver can not exceed 45 mph.

South Carolina Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in South Carolina are not specified although they are likely required and you may be pulled over if you do not have any or they are unusable. If your view is compromised by the width of your load you may want to consider extensions to your existing mirrors. These can be in the form of mirror extenders that slot onto already existing wing mirrors.

Drivers who are towing must be able to see at least 200 ft of the road behind their vehicle. If the trailer and load obscure this view then mirrors must be configured in such a way as to allow this.

South Carolina Brake Laws

The brakes on your tow vehicle and potentially on your trailer are important to the safety of any towing operation. Ensure that they meet state guidelines and adhere to the stated rules for use on the road with a trailer.

• Vehicles must have service brakes that are both effective and able to control the movement of, stop, and hold the vehicle with any load on any grade that it is operated on.
• Vehicles made after June 7^th 1949 must have brakes on all wheels. The only exceptions to this are trailers and semi trailers weighing less than 3,001 lbs. as long as the weight of the trailer's wheels does not exceed 40% of the towing vehicle's gross weight when connected to the trailer.
• Any motor vehicle made after July 1^st 1964 that is used to tow a trailer or semi trailer needs to be equipped with a way of proving that the towing vehicle can stop by using its service brakes.
• Every car, trailer, or semi trailer must have brakes that are all controlled by one device.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in South Carolina that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. The process for registering your trailer in South Carolina is relatively easy and rules for towing are not too complicated either.

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