Take a Towing Detour with a Subaru

Towing capacity is dependent on individual vehicle specifications. You can find towing capacity for our current Subaru range in the individual vehicle specifications on the website, in brochures or on our towing page.

You can find towing capacity for our current Subaru range in the individual vehicle specifications on the website or in brochures or on our towing page. If a Genuine Subaru tow bar has been fitted by a Subaru retailer as an optional accessory, towing capacity for the vehicle can be found on the tow bar information label located on the driver's side B-pillar.

You can find weight limits for your vehicle on the build date label, which is located on the passenger side B-pillar. You can find help on how to calculate payload on our towing page.

All trailers have a maximum loaded weight which is called the ATM ( Aggregate Trailer Mass). This information can usually be found on the trailer plate or ask your trailer retailer.

Towing capacity is a maximum fixed limit for your vehicle, specified by the manufacturer. You can find help on how to calculate payload on our towing page.

The best way to check your towing weights is using a public weighbridge or mobile towing weight check service.

You can use tow ball weight scales to check tow ball download but the best way to check your towing weights is using a public weighbridge or mobile towing weight check service.

You can find weight limits for your vehicle on the built date label, which is located on the passenger side B-pillar. You can find help on how to calculate payload on our towing page.

Towing capacity is the maximum weight a vehicle can pull safely. Towing capacity is determined by the vehicle manufacturer and is influenced by a range of factors including weight, engine power and torque, type of transmission, suspension, brakes and even tyres.

Tow Ball Download is the weight the trailer applies to the jockey wheel when unhitched, or to the car when hitched. It should be around 10% of the ATM of the trailer.

Subaru Forester Hybrid and Subaru Crosstrek vehicles are rated to tow with and without trailer brakes. Subaru Solterra EV is rated to tow without trailer brakes only. Towing capacity depends on your individual vehicle specification. Please check the model variant specification information on this website.

All-Wheel Drive vehicles offer an advantage over front or rear wheel drive vehicles for towing, as they can provide more traction by supplying power to all four wheels, reducing the likelihood of wheel spin.

You can find more information on towing in the relevant vehicle specifications on this website, in your owner's manual and on our towing page. Vehicle weight information relevant to towing can be found on the Built Date label, which is located on the passenger side B-pillar. If a Genuine Subaru tow bar has been fitted by a Subaru retailer as an optional accessory, towing capacity for the vehicle can be found on the tow bar information label located on the driver's side B-pillar.

The laws around towing vary by state and territory so it's best to check the rules for where you are towing. In general, if you have a full driver's license, and the tow vehicle and trailer fall within the weight limit for a car license (C-Class), you won't need a special license to tow.

If your vehicle is rated to tow, you will need to have it fitted with a tow bar kit which comprises: tow bar, tow ball, shackles and trailer wiring harness. You may also need an Electronic Brake Controller and Towing Mirrors depending on what you are towing. Find Subaru Genuine Accessories for your vehicle on this website or speak to your local Subaru Retailer.

All trailers weighing over 750kg must have an efficient braking system. For trailers up to 2000kg this can be override or electric. Electric brakes and an emergency breakaway system are mandatory for trailers over 2000kg. Rules may vary by state and territory. If the trailer is fitted with electric brakes you will need and electronic brake controller to be fitted to your car.

Mechanical override brakes work via a sliding spring mechanism in the trailer's drawbar within the tow coupling, to manually pull a cable connected to the trailer's brakes. When the tow vehicle decelerates, the trailer pushes against the coupling, the spring contracts and the cable tightens and activates the trailer brakes. These are only permitted for trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass up to 2,000kg. Electric brakes use an electronic brake controller to send an electric current to the trailer brakes when the driver applies the brakes. The brake controller has to be fitted to the tow vehicle within easy reach of the driver. These need to be set at the correct braking pressure for the tow vehicle and trailer before setting off, but can then be adjusted by the driver if driving conditions change. Electric brakes are mandatory for trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass over 2,000kg.

Electric brakes use an electronic brake controller to send an electric current to the trailer brakes when the driver applies the brakes. The electronic brake controller has to be fitted to the tow vehicle within easy reach of the driver. These need to be set at the correct braking pressure for the tow vehicle and trailer before setting off, but can then be adjusted by the driver if driving conditions change. Electric brakes are mandatory for trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass over 2,000kg but you will also need one if your trailer has electric brakes, regardless of weight.

Each Subaru vehicle that is rated for towing has its own Genuine Subaru tow bar kit designed to suit that vehicle.

The recommended tow bar for your Subaru can be found in the relevant model accessories range.

Most tow balls are round and 50mm in diameter. Some trailers require a different style of tow ball.

You will need to purchase a tow bar kit for your Subaru vehicle. Other towing accessories may also be required. When purchased and fitted by an authorised Subaru dealership, all Genuine Subaru Accessories come with a 3-year warranty for quality assurance.

To get an electronic brake controller fited to your Subaru, please contact your nearest Subaru Retailer.

To get a tow bar fitted to your Subaru, please contact your nearest Subaru Retailer.

Whether you need towing mirrors depends on the dimensions of your trailer or caravan and this should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Generally, if what you are towing is wider than your wing mirrors you will need towing mirrors, but they can also be useful for smaller trailers and caravans in order to provide better visibility.

Tare Weight or Tare Mass is the weight of the model & variant of your car as specified by the manufacturer + 10L fuel. ​This excludes any optional or aftermarket accessories that may have been added, like a tow bar.

Kerb Weight is the same as Tare Weight but with a full tank of fuel rather than just 10L​. It’s a good start point for calculating weights as you’ll probably start your journey with a full tank or fill up at some point.

GVM is the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle whether it is towing or not towing.

GCM is the maximum permissible weight of the car and the trailer when hitched together. GCM = Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) + Gross Trailer Mass (GTM). You mustn’t exceed either of these individual weight limits or the total combined weight limit.

Vehicle Payload is the weight of everything in and on the car including fuel, any optional accessories, driver, passengers and cargo. If towing, Tow Ball Download must also be included in calculating the Vehicle Payload.

Axle Weight is the maximum permissible weight that each axle of the car can carry individually, whether it is towing or not towing. This might be referred to as Gross Axle Laden Rating (GALR) or Maximum Permissible Axle Weight (MPAW).

Trailer Tare Weight, often known as dry weight, is the weight of the trailer as it comes out of the factory (excludes water or gas in tanks) . Trailer Tare will vary depending on what factory fitted accessories were specified in the build.

ATM is the weight of the trailer when it is loaded up and sitting on its jockey wheel. Maximum ATM is specified by the trailer manufacturer and should not be exceeded.

GTM is the weight of the trailer when it is attached to the tow vehicle and is the Aggregate Trailer Mass less the Tow Ball Weight.

Speed limits for towing vary by State and Territory and may also be specified by the car manufacturer. Check your owner's manual for your own vehicle.