Do I Need A Breakaway Cable On My Trailer? Is It Required?

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Do I need a breakaway cable on my trailer?” you’ve come to the right place. You may have seen our post on how to connect a trailer breakaway cable, but are braking systems for trailer breakaways required?

In this post, we address this question specifically as it pertains to the laws and regulations in North America as of this writing.

What Is a Trailer Breakaway Cable?

A trailer breakaway cable is a small safety cable that connects from your towing vehicle to the breakaway switch attached to the trailer, travel trailer, or 5th wheel. Cars towed behind motorhomes also utilize the same type of safety system.

If a trailer breaks loose from the towing vehicle, you will of course no longer have normal braking control of the trailer.

The purpose of the breakaway cable is to ensure that the trailer brakes are activated automatically if the trailer should become disconnected from the towing vehicle. The moment the distance between the towing vehicle and the trailer increases (due to a breakaway), the cable will pull the pin that activates the trailer’s brakes, bringing it to a stop.

It’s important to clarify that the breakaway cable differs from the heavy-duty safety chains (or cables) designed to hold the trailer to the towing vehicle in the event of a hitch failure. That’s a completely different safety device.

It’s important to properly connect the trailer breakaway cable to ensure the breakaway system works when it’s needed. Correctly installed, the cable can prevent accidents and potential injury by activating the trailer’s brakes should the trailer become disconnected. For more on that topic, we refer you again to our post on how to connect a trailer breakaway cable.

Here are a few different types of breakaway cables that can be installed on virtually any trailer:

Is a Trailer Breakaway Cable Required by Law?

So, if you’ve wondered “Do I have to have a breakaway cable on my trailer?” the answer is that it depends on where you’re traveling. Most U.S. States and Canadian Provinces do require a breakaway cable, though this is generally based on weight.

For a trailer that’s required to be equipped with a breakaway cable system, it must automatically activate emergency brakes should the trailer become separated from the tow vehicle. In the U.S., there are both state and federal regulations that require breakaway kits on certain types of trailers.

For instance, federal law states that if you’re towing a trailer with a gross weight of 3,000 lbs or more, it must have a breakaway kit installed. So, while there are states whose regulations apply to trailers with higher weights than 3,000 lbs, you still need to be in compliance with federal law.

That said, some states may have additional requirements or exceptions related to a trailer brake system, so you may want to also check the laws in your home state or wherever you intend to travel. But overall, you need a breakaway cable on any trailer over 3,000 lbs towed in the United States.

According to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, trailers with a gross weight of over 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) that are equipped with electric brakes must have a breakaway system installed.

But here again, some provinces and territories may have additional requirements or exceptions, so you’ll want to check with your local transportation authority to make sure you’re following all appropriate laws and regulations in all Canadian provinces and territories.

While you of course want to ensure that you’re legal in any state/province you travel through, we suggest that the best way to think about these sorts of RVing questions is from a safety standpoint first and foremost.

In our opinion, regardless of the regulations where you travel, it’s a good idea to have a breakaway cable system on all trailers.

A breakaway system is a critical safety feature of any trailer. While it may only be required by law for certain types or weights of trailers, it’s highly recommended for all trailers.

If you add a breakaway kit to your towing system, you’re not only increasing your safety and that of your property, you’re also increasing the safety of everyone traveling with and around you when you’re towing. This alone is reason enough to have a breakaway kit installed.

Installing a breakaway system isn’t difficult, but it’s important to follow proper guidelines and instructions to ensure it’s done properly. You’ll also want to maintain and regularly test your breakaway cable to ensure that it’ll work when you need it.

For more information regarding installation and some important notes on what to avoid when you install a breakaway system, please see our post, How to Connect a Trailer Breakaway Cable the Right Way.

And if you want to be sure your trailer is able to stop quickly and under control, be sure to read our article, The Best Trailer Brake Controllers: Safely Stop Your Trailer.

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