Toyota Hybrid towing: your questions answered

As part of Toyota’s desire to engineer greater driving appeal into its cars, most current generation Toyota Hybrid models have the capacity to tow trailers and caravans. This might lead owners to wonder how about hybrid towing and how much their car is able to tow.

The regulations surrounding towing can be quite complicated to understand. So while this post is not designed to explain all the rules on this subject, we hope it clears some confusion by supplying straightforward answers to important, frequently asked questions.

Within this post we have also supplied relevant links to official government pages, related associations, and Toyota resources.

Prius towing 12

1) Hybrid towing – Which Toyota Hybrid models can tow?

The latest generation Yaris, Corolla, Toyota C-HR, RAV4 and Prius.

Moving upwards in towing ability, the latest Yaris has a towing capacity of 450kg. The Prius and Toyota C-HR share a recommended towing capacity of 725kg for both a braked or unbraked trailer. You can read more about this in our special feature on towing with a Prius. Meanwhile, all Corolla models – Hatchback, Touring Sports and Saloon – have an unbraked capacity of 450kg and a braked towing capacity of 750kg.

All RAV4 models have a legal towing capacity of 750kg for unbraked trailers. But with regard to braked trailers (where the trailer has its own braking system), the front-wheel drive RAV4 has a recommended towing capacity of 800kg and the all-wheel drive RAV4 has a 1,650kg capacity. Straddling the two is the new RAV4 Plug-in, which has a braked trailer maximum set at a 1,500kg.

For more information on how legal towing capacities are calculated, please see question four.

2) Hybrid towing – Can I tow with a Toyota Camry?

The current generation Camry has not been homologated to tow in the United Kingdom.

Some hybrid Camry models in other markets have been specially configured to tow light loads but these models are not available in the UK. Their cooling systems are different and the components cannot be retro-fitted to UK-spec cars.

Prius towing 02

3) Hybrid towing – What am I allowed to tow?

It depends on when you passed your driving test, the weight of your car and what you are towing.

You can get the latest rules and restrictions on the government services and information website.

4) What is my car legally allowed to tow?

The figure authorities use to enforce the maximum towing capacity of a vehicle can be found on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate. This goes for all cars, not just those capable of hybrid towing.

Not all vehicles have been homologated to tow, but those that have will display either three or four sets of figures on the VIN plate. Reading from top to bottom, these will be the gross vehicle weight (the maximum mass of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and load), the gross vehicle train weight (the combined maximum mass of the vehicle and trailer) and the maximum loads across the front and rear axles respectively.

In order to create a recommended maximum towing capacity, vehicle manufacturers usually deduct the gross vehicle weight from the gross vehicle train weight.

For more advice on your specific Toyota model and hybrid towing, please follow this link to the My Toyota site where you download a copy of the owner’s manual for your car.

See more: Towing the line with the new Toyota Prius
Further information: National Trailer & Towing Association
Further information: AA guidance on towing

372 comments

  1. Hi Tony,
    Thanks for get getting in touch. You can tow with the latest generation Toyota Prius, Toyota C-HR Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, however we don’t advise towing with any of the earlier models. Hope this helps.

  2. I understand that there are 3rd party suppliers of tow-bars that fit the Auris Touring Sports Hybrid. I also understand that you should not tow anything with this hybrid but I only want it to fit a bike carrier. Would having a 3rd party tow-bar fitted affect my Toyota warranty?

    1. Hi Jeroen,
      Thanks for getting in touch. By fitting a non-genuine tow bar, any failure that can be directly attributed to the use or installment of the accessory will not be covered by your Toyota warranty. Hope this helps.

    1. Hi Duncan,
      Thanks for getting in touch. Please could you provide us with more information with regards to the model, year and what kind of towing hitch you are referring to. Many thanks.

      1. Hi there, I wanted to know why the bike holder bracket with a non-towing tow ball (PW962-02005) for a 2014 Auris Touring Sport hybrid is limited to 50 kg maximum nose weight. I was sent the fitting instructions by one of your dealers and it mentions this weight limit (p.27).

      2. Hi Duncan,
        Thanks for getting in touch. Please could you let us know what fitting instructions you are referring to. Many thanks.

      3. Hi, The fitting instructions I refer to are titled “Auris Touring Sports Hybrid – Bike Carrier Support Bracket – Installation instructions” Model year: 2013/06, 2015/05, Vehicle code: ZWE186*-D*X*BW (Without towing pack), Part number: PW962-02005.

  3. Hi. I have the 2017 chr hybrid (top spec) i bought it because i was told by Toyota in Stirling tbat i can tow a braked 6 berth caravan. But when i went to buy my new caravan i was refused due to my car not being capable!!!! Its a 1650kg. Now im stuck with a car that is shocking and cant pull out of bed. Nice work training your staff. Now what caravan can i tow??????

  4. Hi,

    I’m going to be buying a new RAV4 2WD Hybrid shortly; I want to add a tow bar but solely for carrying a bike rack. Would I have to go for a standard tow bar or is there a cheaper option, and could I have it fitted at some time in the future or would it need to be fitted when I purchase the car?

    1. Hi Chris,
      Thanks for getting in touch.
      You would need to purchase a tow bar to use a rear bike rack, however, we do have roof bicycle holders which would be a cheaper option.
      We hope this helps.
      Thanks.

  5. I have a 16 plate Prius Plus. It isn’t clear whether I can tow with I or Not.

    Can you please let me know?

    Thank you

    Graeme

    1. Hi Graeme,
      Thanks for getting in touch.
      We can confirm that a 16 plate Prius can tow 725 kg.
      Hope this helps.

  6. Thank you.

    I can’t find anywhere to fit a tow bar for a Prius Plus.

    Do you think the local dealership will?

    Thanks

    Graeme

      1. Hi I’m looking at getting this for my new car can you tow with this please had how much I have grandad right on my license

        Toyota Auris Touring Sports Sport 1.8 Hybrid Icon Leather TSS CVT

      2. Hi Richard,
        Thanks for getting in touch, please could you explain what you are referring to so we can look into this further for you.
        Thanks.

  7. Hello. I have just put a deposit on a Prius plug-in hybrid and can’t wait to get driving it. However, I *really* want to be able to tow a very small, light trailer (just for a couple of weeks a year to go on holidays). Can someone please tell me if the *plug-in hybrid* Prius can take a towbar?

  8. I am looking at ordering a new Auris Touring Sport Hydbrid … what are the options available to carr four bikes for a family of four using the car?

    1. Hi David,

      Thanks for getting in touch. In order for you to carry 4 bikes you will need the following:

      -Towing hitch
      -Rear bicycle holder (maximum 2 bikes)
      -Cross bars
      -Roof bicycle holder x 2 (maximum 1 bike each)

      Rear bicycle holder:
      The weight of the rear bicycle holder is 14.2kg.
      The maximum total load capacity of 2 bikes is 36kg. The weight of 1 bike is maximum 20 kg.

      Roof bicycle holder:
      Maximum weight of bicyle: 15 kg.
      Holder can clamp bicycle frames of maximum 80mm and minimum 20 mm (Circular or oval).

      We would also refer you to page 40 of our online brochure which explains in more detail the tow bars that are applicable. For more info on the vehicle, please use the following link:

      https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/auris-touring-sports/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=OEM-UK-EN-B-Model-AurisTS-xx-GOO-EXACT&utm_content=Search-auris-TS&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=OEM-UK-EN-B-Model-AurisTS-xx-GOO-PHRASE&utm_term=auris+touring&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsMDeBRDMARIsAKrOP7EQNmgToG1Y2P4SUtho-PC1EBcZMeAEGb07wPpGVN6YHrhBh7a3BnIaAkOvEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds.

      We hope this helps.

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