Bringing home a project car, collecting a non-runner you bought online or moving a track car to an event: if you have a strong enough bakkie or SUV with a tow bar, car trailer hire is often cheaper than paying for a tow. Before you collect, check your towing capacity, your licence code and what the hire yard wants as a deposit. This page explains the trailer types, the paperwork, how to load and strap a car and what hire costs. Send one free request and car trailer hire yards near you will quote you directly, no obligation.
Can your vehicle tow it?
A car trailer and a car together are heavy. Check the braked towing capacity in your owner's manual: the trailer's mass plus the car must be under it. Your tow bar and ball must be rated for the load, and the trailer's lights must work with your plug. Check your licence code: heavier combinations may need code EB. Keep to the lower towing limits on the open road and leave far more braking distance.
What the hire yard will ask for
- Your driver's licence and ID, and often proof of address.
- A refundable deposit, often on a card, held until the trailer comes back clean and undamaged.
- The vehicle that will tow, so they can check the tow bar, ball size and plug.
- Hire dates and whether you will cross a provincial or national border.
Walk around the trailer with the yard: tyres, lights, brakes, ramps, the winch and tie-down straps. Photograph any damage before you leave.
Loading and strapping a car
Park the towing vehicle on level ground, chock the trailer and set the ramps to the car's track width. Drive or winch the car on slowly and stop with its engine slightly ahead of the axles, so there is weight on the tow ball. Strap each wheel or the chassis tie-down points with rated ratchet straps, not ropes. Check the straps again after the first few kilometres. If you are unsure, a flatbed tow may be the safer choice.
What drives the cost
A car trailer often costs about R400 to R600 a day. Weekend rates, longer hires, a trailer with a winch, a dual axle, a tow bar hire and extra cover add to it. Ask what happens if you return late, whether tyre damage is covered and how quickly the deposit is refunded. Compare that total with a quote from a tow operator; see towing prices.
What to include in your request
- Hire dates and pick-up time
- Car to be moved and its mass
- Towing vehicle and tow bar ball size
- Winch needed for a non-runner
- Cross-border or one-way hire
Car Trailer Hire for different clients
- Motorists and families: bringing home a project car or a non-runner bought from a private seller
- Company fleets and rental firms: moving a spare pool car between branches without paying for a tow
- Truckers, buses and logistics: carrying a light support vehicle behind a bakkie to a new depot
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: moving a farm bakkie or quad bike to the workshop in town
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: small dealers and workshops collecting stock on a quiet day
- Construction, mining and plant hire: carrying a site vehicle or small machine between nearby projects
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: taking a track car, rally car or buggy to an event for the weekend
- Municipalities, estates and schools: estates and schools moving a utility vehicle for repairs
Frequently asked questions
How much does car trailer hire cost per day?
Which licence code do I need to tow a car trailer?
Can I hire a tow bar along with the trailer?
Do you hire out trailers?
Car Trailer Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg