Why does my car shake when I'm stopped at the lights?
A car shaking at idle usually comes down to four causes. Here's how to read what your car is telling you and which ones can wait vs. which ones can't.
How to safely tow a trailer
Before you hit the road with your camper trailer, box-trailer, or boat trailer, knowing how to tow confidently is an essential skill. There's a lot to understand about towing, from tow balls and torque to trailers, tyres, and driving techniques. For many drivers it’s not something that we do on a daily basis, so here’s our handy guide on what you need to know before hitching your trailer onto your car, along with some tips on driving with a trailer.
Do I need a licence to tow a trailer?
Licence requirements for towing typically vary by state and territory. To find out if any specific towing rules apply to you (such as registration), reach out to your local transport authority.
Need a refresher on towing terms and acronyms?
Not sure what GCM, TBD, or ATM means? These can be found on your car and trailer’s compliance plates, so here’s a quick explainer:
Tare Mass / Weight
Tare mass, also known as tare weight, is the weight of an empty standard vehicle, including all standard equipment, fluids (such as oil and coolant), and a full tank of fuel. The weight of passengers, cargo, or any additional accessories or modifications is not included.
Tare Trailer Mass / Weight (TARE)
The tare trailer mass, or tare weight (TARE), refers to the weight of an empty trailer. This includes the trailer's frame, wheels, and any permanently attached equipment. Like the tare mass for vehicles, it does not include any payload, cargo, or removable equipment.
Curb Mass / Weight
Curb mass, also referred to as curb weight, is the weight of a vehicle with all its standard equipment, fluids, and a full tank of fuel, ready to drive, but without passengers or cargo. It’s essentially the tare mass plus everything else that makes the car ready to go ‘from the curb'.
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) / Weight (GVW)
Gross vehicle mass (GVM), or gross vehicle weight (GVW), is the maximum permissible weight of a fully loaded vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. This includes the vehicle's tare mass, the weight of passengers, cargo, and any additional equipment. For the safety and performance of your car, it’s best to keep within this weight limit.
Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) / Weight (ATW)
Aggregate trailer mass (ATM), also known as aggregate trailer weight (ATW), is the maximum permissible weight of a trailer when it is fully loaded, including its payload, as specified by the manufacturer. This weight includes the tare weight of the trailer plus the maximum load it can carry. Keep in mind that this is measured with the trailer detached from the towing vehicle.
