Trailers Regulation in Brazil
Originally designed for camping, trailers are being used in several different ways these days, such as food trucks, homes or even used as studios in the backyard to paint or to write. In this article you are going to see all the applicable regulations for trailers in Brazil.
Trailer Requirements
According to Brazilian law, trailers are defined as recreational vehicles with two, four or six wheels coupled or adapted to the back of a car or a van, used generally for recreational activities like camping.
Since 2007, trailers can only be attached to cars weighing up to 3500 kg. In addition, the towing capacity needs to be declared by the manufacturer or importer of the trailer. Cars with a coupler should pay attention to the following rules:
- The coupler must have a proper solid ball for the towing vehicle and can not have different formats
- The outlet and wiring for the trailer connection must be working properly. A device for fixing the trailer safety chain is required and there should not be any sharp edges
- The components manufacturer must be registered with the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality, known as Inmetro, which proves that the product meets the required specifications
- Vehicle manufacturers and importers must inform Denatran, the National Traffic Department, about the vehicle models that have the capacity to pull the trailers. The hitch attachment points and the maximum capacity of the vehicle's traction must be included in the car’s manual
Driver’s License for Trailers
In June 2011, a new regulation for motorhome and trailer drivers was established. Prior to this change, driving trailers was restricted to drivers enabled in category E. After the change, the Brazilian Highway Code now allows drivers enabled in category B, for cars, to drive vehicles classified as motor-homes or trailers weighing less than six tonnes or with a maximum capacity of eight seats, excluding the driver.
Speed Limit for Trailers
According to the law, trailers are considered vehicles, so their maximum speed on highways and roads is 80 kilometers per hour.
In the event of a fine it would be on behalf of the registered owner of the automobile. If only the trailer is above the speed limit then only the trailer is fined.
License Plates for Trailers
There were over 100.000 trailers registered in Brazil between 2011 and 2013 and the national trailer production is of around 120.000 units per year. The production is higher than the registration rate since many are used on farms and in factories and therefore they don’t need license plates.
Trailers intended to be driven on roads have to be registered, licensed and thus have a license plate attached to it the same as any other vehicle. After the acquisition, the owner has 48 hours to require the first license plate, otherwise penalties of the Brazilian Highway Code may be applied for the period of noncompliance.
All information on how to get a license plate for trailers is available in this article, as it is the same process for cars.
Registering a Trailer
The law establishes that every trailer must be registered with the state’s executive traffic body of the municipality in which the owner of the trailer lives.
The Annual License Certificate will be issued to the licensed vehicle, linked to the Registration Certificate on the specifications established by CONTRAN, which is the National Traffic Council.
The first licensing will be done simultaneously to its registration. The vehicle will only be considered licensed when debts related to taxes, charges, traffic and environmental fines linked to the vehicle are settled.
When licensing the vehicle, the owner must have proof of vehicle safety inspections and pollutant and noise emissions control.
Transit Authorization Certificate - CAT
It is no longer possible to register a trailer without a report from INMETRO. The Transit Authorization Certificate, known as CAT, is a report provided to companies that build or repair licensed trailers. The requirements for obtaining a Transit Authorization Certificate are:
- The vehicle must be fit for carrying the trailer
- Not have any legal issues
- Electrical and mechanical systems in order
- Having the license from Denatran to change the vehicle's characteristics
- Vehicle Approval inspection from INMETRO
- Ratified by the National Department
At Denatran, the document goes through more technical analysis and gets back to the companies that make any transformations. It is only after fulfilling all the technical requirements and standards that the vehicle can be approved by Denatran.