Is towing capacity listed on a vehicle?

Usually, no single label on a vehicle shows its exact towing capacity; most vehicles list GVWR/GAWR and payload on the door jamb, while the precise maximum trailer weight is in the owner’s manual or manufacturer towing guide. On many late‑model trucks and some SUVs, a VIN‑specific “trailering” label on the driver’s door jamb does list towing figures, and the trailer hitch itself carries its own limits, but these are not universal across all vehicles or model years.

Where to find towing information on your specific vehicle

Automakers publish towing data in several places. Some are on the vehicle, others are in documentation or online tools. The availability and detail vary by brand, model year, and region.

• Owner’s manual and OEM towing guides: The authoritative source for model- and configuration-specific maximum trailer weight, tongue weight, and equipment requirements (tow package, cooling, axle ratio, brakes).
• Driver-side door jamb labels: Always include GVWR (vehicle), GAWR (axles), tire/loading info, and payload; some newer trucks/SUVs add a trailering label with GCWR, max trailer weight, and tongue weight for that exact VIN.
• Hitch receiver label: Shows that hitch’s maximum trailer and tongue weight (often separate ratings for weight-carrying vs. weight-distributing setups). This can be lower than the vehicle’s rating and is not the whole-vehicle tow rating.
• Manufacturer VIN lookup or window sticker (Monroney): Many brands provide tow ratings and packages when you enter the VIN; the window sticker lists factory tow packages and axle ratio.
• Regional documentation: In many markets outside North America, registration documents or the manufacturer plate list braked and unbraked trailer limits or a gross train weight figure.

If your vehicle lacks a dedicated trailering label, rely on the manual and OEM guides; treat the hitch label as a component limit that must not be exceeded even if the vehicle could theoretically tow more.

What the common weight ratings mean

Understanding the labels you do see on the vehicle helps you interpret towing limits and calculate a safe, real-world number.

• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Max allowed weight of the vehicle itself when loaded with people, cargo, and tongue weight.
• GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): Max allowed load on each axle; front and rear are listed separately.
• GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Max allowed combined weight of the tow vehicle plus trailer and all cargo/passengers.
• Payload: How much weight you can add to the vehicle (people, cargo, and tongue weight) without exceeding GVWR.
• Tongue weight: Downforce on the hitch from the trailer; typically about 10–15% of the trailer’s weight for conventional travel trailers (often 8–12% for boats).
• Unbraked vs. braked trailer rating: Many vehicles have a very low unbraked limit (often around 1,000 lb/450 kg); the headline tow rating assumes trailer brakes.

These ratings interact: tongue weight consumes payload, and the combined weight of vehicle and trailer must stay at or below GCWR while each axle remains within its GAWR.

How to determine your real-world maximum trailer weight

Even when a max tow number exists, your usable capacity depends on your exact configuration, cargo, and hitch. Use the following steps to get a realistic limit.

1. Confirm equipment: Verify engine, axle ratio, tow package, cooling, and hitch class match the rating in your manual or OEM towing guide.
2. Find GCWR and vehicle weight: Use the manual/trailering guide for GCWR. Weigh your loaded vehicle (people, fuel, cargo, accessories) on a certified scale.
3. Calculate: GCWR minus your actual loaded vehicle weight ≈ practical maximum trailer weight.
4. Check payload and tongue weight: Ensure expected tongue weight (10–15% of trailer) plus occupants/cargo does not exceed the payload on your door label, and that rear GAWR is respected.
5. Verify hitch limits: Stay within the lower of the vehicle’s rating and the hitch’s rating (note separate ratings for weight-distributing vs. weight-carrying).
6. Account for trailer brakes and laws: Many jurisdictions require trailer brakes above 1,500–3,000 lb; comply with local regulations and your vehicle’s requirements.

This approach aligns the published ratings with your vehicle’s actual loading, yielding a safer and typically more conservative tow figure than the brochure headline.

Special cases and model-year notes

Manufacturers have expanded on-vehicle trailering labels in recent years, especially for trucks and larger SUVs.

• Ford, GM, Ram: Many late-model pickups and some SUVs include a VIN-specific trailering or towing information label on the driver’s door jamb listing GCWR, maximum trailer weight, and tongue weight.
• SAE J2807: Most modern trucks (and many SUVs) advertise tow ratings derived under the SAE J2807 standard, improving apples-to-apples comparisons across brands and years.
• Regional labeling: In several markets outside North America, manufacturer plates and registration documents list braked and unbraked tow limits or a gross train weight value; consult local documentation.

If your vehicle predates these additions or is a passenger car or small crossover, expect to rely primarily on the owner’s manual and OEM guides rather than a door-jamb trailering label.

Common pitfalls and myths

Misreading labels or assuming a single number applies in all conditions can lead to unsafe loading. Watch for these issues.

• Assuming the hitch rating equals the vehicle rating: The lower of the two controls.
• Using GVWR to compute trailer weight: Use GCWR minus actual vehicle weight, not GVWR, to determine max trailer weight.
• Ignoring payload: Tongue weight counts against payload; full cabins and cargo can erase towing headroom.
• Assuming identical models tow the same: Engine, axle ratio, cooling, and tow package can change ratings dramatically.
• Aftermarket mods: Lift kits, oversized tires, and add-ons can reduce stability and effective capacity even if not officially derated.

Cross-checking equipment, weights, and limits helps prevent exceeding an overlooked constraint, which can compromise safety and insurance coverage.

Summary

There isn’t a universal on-vehicle sticker that always lists towing capacity. Most vehicles show GVWR/GAWR and payload on the door jamb, while the definitive tow rating lives in the owner’s manual and OEM towing guides. Many newer trucks and some SUVs add a VIN‑specific trailering label with max trailer and tongue weight, and the hitch itself carries its own limits. For a safe, realistic tow number, verify equipment, use GCWR minus your actual loaded vehicle weight, and ensure payload, axle, and hitch limits—and local brake laws—are all respected.

How do I check my car’s towing capacity?

The only reliable way to check is by reading the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Plate, which shows the precise towing limit set by the manufacturer for your specific vehicle.

How do I find the towing capacity of my vehicle?

Subtracting the curb weight plus the vehicle’s payload from the GCWR gives you the vehicle’s towing capacity. Manufacturers will stress that you should never exceed your car or truck’s towing capacity. We would add that, for safety reasons, it’s best to never come within 20% of that total.

What VIN digits show tow capacity?

The VIN plate will display either 3 or 4 sets of weights. – The top figure ‘A’ is the gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload. – The second figure ‘B’ is the gross train weight, this is the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.

Where does it show towing capacity?

Most vehicles have the trailer towing capacity listed in the owner’s manual, on the driver-side door jamb or in a trailer towing capacity guide on their website.