Can any light trailer be hitched to a license-free car?

No. The absence of a type-approved towing device on L6e vehicles makes towing any trailer unlawful, regardless of its weight. This is not a question of mass; it is a question of hitch approval, which does not exist for this category.

If I fit a tow ball myself, am I covered?

No. A non-approved installation (without acceptance by the mines authority or manufacturer validation) creates no right to tow. In the event of an accident, your insurer may refuse to cover the claim linked to this non-compliant modification.

Do electric license-free cars have different towing rules?

No. Whether a license-free car is petrol or electric, if it falls within the L6e category, the same restrictions apply. Electric license-free cars are neither heavier nor more powerful than the L6e limit allows.

Does a bike rack on the bodywork affect the roadworthiness test?

The roadworthiness test checks the vehicle as it is presented. A removable bike rack is not strictly part of the vehicle. If the rack required drilling into the bodywork or permanent modifications, however, this may be noted.

Trailer and license-free car: is it allowed?

The garden trailer that almost caused a problem

François is 66 and lives in Normandy. He uses his Aixam Crossline for his daily trips. One weekend he wants to move rubble from his garden to the recycling centre. His neighbour offers to lend him a small 150 kg trailer. The temptation to hitch it is strong. But his son-in-law, a mechanic, asks him a simple question: “Do you have a type-approved tow hitch?”

The question deserves a clear answer, because the mistake can have significant consequences.

The direct answer: no, an L6e license-free car cannot tow a trailer

A light motor quadricycle L6e, what the law calls a license-free car, cannot legally tow a trailer in France.

This prohibition is not an isolated rule; it flows from the very definition of the category. European Regulation 168/2013 and its implementing directive define the L6e as a vehicle whose:

Unladen mass does not exceed 350 kg (excluding battery for electric models)
Maximum speed is limited to 45 km/h
Maximum power is 6 kW (electric) or a combustion engine of 400 cc or less

These characteristics imply chassis structures, brakes, and anchor points that are not dimensioned for towing a trailer. License-free car manufacturers do not supply a type-approved towing device for their L6e models, precisely because the regulations do not permit it.

The gross train weight ceiling

The gross train weight (GTW) of a towed combination, that is the maximum permitted mass of towing vehicle plus trailer, cannot legally exceed a threshold that accounts for the structural capabilities of the towing vehicle. For an L6e with an unladen mass of 350 to 500 kg, the braking systems and structure do not allow a trailer to be towed without documented risk.

Consequences of an infringement

Driving with a trailer hitched to a license-free car exposes you to:

Fine for vehicle non-conformity: up to 1,500 euros
Voiding of insurance in the event of an accident (the policy covers a compliant L6e, not an L6e modified with a non-approved hitch)
Immobilisation of the vehicle by law enforcement
Personal civil liability in the event of a trailer-related accident (not covered by insurance)

Exception: the L7e category (heavy quadricycle)

There is a related category, the L7e (heavy quadricycle), which can in certain cases be fitted for towing. L7e vehicles have different characteristics:

Unladen mass up to 400 kg (600 kg for electric models)
Maximum power 15 kW
Require a B licence (not the AM licence)

Some L7e models have a manufacturer-approved tow hitch. But bear in mind: if you drive an L7e, you need a B licence, which takes you outside the traditional “license-free car” framework.

In practice, L7e vehicles are less common on the French market than L6e models and do not match the profile of most license-free car drivers.

Bicycle trailers: also prohibited

A frequent question is whether a bicycle trailer (lightweight, such as a Thule Chariot or similar) can be hitched behind a license-free car. These trailers are designed for bicycles, not motor vehicles, and even if they are light, the absence of a type-approved towing device on the L6e makes it unlawful.

Bicycle trailers approved for a certain load are not approved for towing by a motor vehicle not designed for towing. These are two distinct regulatory frameworks.

The bike rack: the good news

The case of the bike rack is different, and this is good news. A bike rack on the bodywork (rear or roof, depending on the model) is not a towing hitch; it is a transport accessory fixed to the vehicle.

A bike rack can be used on a license-free car if:

It does not require a tow ball (so a hatchback-mounted or roof-bar rack, not a tow-ball rack)
The whole assembly (vehicle + rack + bicycle) stays within the legal dimensions (maximum width 2.55 m, maximum rear overhang 3 m or 50% of vehicle length)
The weight of the bicycle being carried does not compromise vehicle stability (a license-free car is light; a 25 kg cargo bike at the rear can unbalance the rear axle)

In practice: strap-type racks (fixed with two straps to the rear hatchback) work on many license-free cars. Check that the straps fit your bodywork shape before buying. Tow-ball racks are to be excluded (no type-approved towing device).

Weight is the main constraint: a license-free car weighs 400-500 kg, and adding 15-20 kg to the rear with a bike changes braking behaviour. Driving more cautiously with a loaded bike is common sense.

Legal alternatives for transporting loads

Since a trailer is out of the question, here is what is realistic for license-free car drivers who need to carry things:

1. The roof rack

Some license-free car models accept a roof rack (load bars). The payload is limited (generally 20 to 30 kg depending on the model), but it allows luggage, light equipment, and crates to be transported.

The total height of the load must not exceed the legal maximum (4 m), and the weight must not be concentrated at a single fragile point of the bodywork.

2. The manual trailer, on foot

For small local loads (garden soil, small amounts of rubble), a wheelbarrow is simpler than a trailer. For larger volumes, renting a utility vehicle for the day (Renault Express, Citroën Berlingo) is often the most practical and economical solution.

3. The cargo bike for shopping and small loads

For license-free car drivers who use their vehicle mainly in town, a cargo bike (longtail or front-loader) can usefully complement the uses the license-free car does not cover. It is not the same thing, but for small shopping runs or transporting children, it is a coherent alternative.

4. Home delivery

For heavy purchases (appliances, furniture), home delivery is generally available and often cheaper than renting a van. This is an alternative worth considering for drivers who do not have access to a larger vehicle.

What you can check in your service record

If you have bought a second-hand license-free car and wonder whether a previous owner installed a hitch, check:

The vehicle’s certificate of conformity (COC), which lists factory-approved equipment
The presence of a tow ball or a wiring plate under the rear of the vehicle (a sign that a hitch was fitted)
Any modifications to the rear chassis

If a non-approved hitch has been installed, removing it before the next roadworthiness test or a police check is strongly recommended.

Navigating effectively with your license-free car

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