Trailer Safety Chain Laws by State
Safety chains are the cheapest part of a towing setup and the one most often rigged wrong. They exist to keep the trailer attached — and the coupler off the pavement — if the hitch connection fails.
Written by Imtinan Farooq, Editor, TowCapacityCalc · Updated
Quick answer
39 of the 50 states in this dataset have a verified safety-chain requirement, and the common pattern is two chains, crossed under the coupler, with enough slack to turn but not enough to touch the road. States marked as needing verification are ones where a specific statute has not yet been confirmed, not states that are known to have no rule.
Sizing chains for a 7,000 lb trailer
A 7,000 lb loaded travel trailer with a standard bumper-pull coupler and a weight-distribution hitch.
| Line item | Weight | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded trailer weight | 7,000 lb | Scale ticket, not brochure dry weight |
| Minimum rating per chain | 7,000 lb | Each chain rated for the full gross weight |
| Combined pair rating | 14,000 lb | Exceeds gross weight with margin |
| Hook type | Rated, latching | Unlatched S-hooks can bounce free |
| Attachment point | Frame loop | Not the ball mount, not the receiver pin |
| Configuration | Crossed under coupler | Forms the cradle |
Chain rating is a working load number stamped on the hardware, not a guess from link thickness. If nothing is stamped, the rating is unknown and the chain should be replaced.
Why the chains cross
Crossed chains form a cradle under the coupler. If the ball fails or the coupler lifts off, the tongue drops into that cradle instead of digging into the asphalt. A tongue that digs in can flip the trailer or steer it into the next lane; a tongue resting in crossed chains usually lets you stop under control.
Getting the slack right
Too tight and the chains bind or snap in a sharp turn or on a steep driveway transition. Too loose and they drag, wear through, and cannot cradle the coupler. The working rule is: as short as possible while still allowing the tightest turn you will make, checked by actually making that turn.
Chain rating and attachment
Each chain should be rated for at least the trailer's gross weight, and the pair should exceed it. Attach with rated hooks that have working latches, hooked to a frame-mounted loop on the tow vehicle — not through the receiver pin hole and not to the ball mount, which leaves with the trailer if the mount is what fails.
Mistakes that show up at inspection
Twisting a chain to shorten it concentrates load on one link. Using an unrated hardware-store chain gives no known working load. Running chains straight rather than crossed removes the cradle. Attaching the breakaway cable to a chain defeats the breakaway system as well.
Safety chain requirement by state
| State | Chains required | Statute detail | Sources on file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No statewide requirement found | Ala. Code 32-5-51 | Statute read directly |
| Alaska | Yes | 13 AAC 04.275(a)-(b) | Statute read directly |
| Arizona | No statewide requirement found | A.R.S. 28-1108(A); 28-1095(G)(1) | Statute read directly |
| Arkansas | Yes | Ark. Code 27-35-111(a)(2) | Statute read directly |
| California | Yes | Cal. Veh. Code 29004 | Statute read directly |
| Colorado | Yes | C.R.S. 42-4-506(3) | Statute read directly |
| Connecticut | Yes | R.C.S.A. 14-137-123, 14-137-124, as stated by Connecticut DMV | Statute read directly |
| Delaware | No statewide requirement found | 21 Del. C. 4191(b) | Statute read directly |
| Florida | Yes | Fla. Stat. 316.530(2) | Statute read directly |
| Georgia | Needs verification | — | 2 official sources |
| Hawaii | Yes | Haw. Admin. R. 19-133.2-40(a)(5), (b)(10) | Statute read directly |
| Idaho | Needs verification | — | 2 official sources |
| Illinois | Yes | 625 ILCS 5/15-110(b) | Statute read directly |
| Indiana | Yes | Ind. Code 9-20-9-8(c) | Statute read directly |
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa Code 321.462 | Statute read directly |
| Kansas | Yes | K.S.A. 8-1907(a) | Statute read directly |
| Kentucky | Needs verification | — | 2 official sources |
| Louisiana | Yes | La. R.S. 32:384(D) | Statute read directly |
| Maine | Yes | 29-A M.R.S. 2385(3) | Statute read directly |
| Maryland | Yes | COMAR 11.13.08.06 | Statute read directly |
| Massachusetts | Yes | 540 CMR 22.10 | Statute read directly |
| Michigan | Yes | Mich. Comp. Laws 257.721(3) | Statute read directly |
| Minnesota | Yes | Minn. Stat. 169.82, subd. 3(b) | Statute read directly |
| Mississippi | Yes | Miss. Code Ann. 63-5-25(1) (text via Mississippi Legislature bill document) | Statute read directly |
| Missouri | Yes | Mo. Rev. Stat. 307.170.6 | Statute read directly |
| Montana | Yes | Mont. Code Ann. 61-9-208(6)(a) | Statute read directly |
| Nebraska | Yes | Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,246(3) | Statute read directly |
| Nevada | Yes | Nev. Admin. Code 484D.130, under NRS 484D.855(2); combination defined at NRS 484A.045 | Statute read directly |
| New Hampshire | Yes | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 266:63 | Statute read directly |
| New Jersey | Needs verification | — | 3 official sources |
| New Mexico | No statewide requirement found | NMSA 1978 66-7-408 | Statute read directly |
| New York | Yes | NY VTL 375(1)(c), 375(29-a); NY DMV MV-529C | Statute read directly |
| North Carolina | Yes | N.C.G.S. 20-123(c) | Statute read directly |
| North Dakota | Yes | N.D.C.C. 39-21-44.2 | Statute read directly |
| Ohio | Yes | Ohio Rev. Code 4513.32(A) | Statute read directly |
| Oklahoma | Yes | 47 O.S. 12-405.1(A), (C) | Statute read directly |
| Oregon | Yes | ORS 815.150(5); exemptions ORS 818.170(2) | Statute read directly |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | 75 Pa.C.S. 4905(d) | Statute read directly |
| Rhode Island | No statewide requirement found | R.I. Gen. Laws 31-25-11, 31-25-12 | Statute read directly |
| South Carolina | Yes | S.C. Code 56-5-5150 | Statute read directly |
| South Dakota | Yes | SDCL 32-19-9; 32-19-10 | Statute read directly |
| Tennessee | Yes | Tenn. Code Ann. 55-7-114, per Tennessee Highway Patrol trailer inspection requirements | Statute read directly |
| Texas | Yes | Tex. Transp. Code 545.410 | Statute read directly |
| Utah | Yes | Utah Code 41-6a-1634 | Statute read directly |
| Vermont | Yes | 23 V.S.A. 1341 (definition at 23 V.S.A. 4(41)) | Statute read directly |
| Virginia | Yes | Va. Code 46.2-1118 | Statute read directly |
| Washington | Yes | WAC 204-70-070 | Statute read directly |
| West Virginia | No statewide requirement found | W. Va. Code 17C-17-7; 17C-15-47 | Statute read directly |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Wis. Stat. 347.47(2), (3); capacity per Wis. Admin. Code Trans 308.12(4) | Statute read directly |
| Wyoming | Needs verification | — | 2 official sources |
Where a state shows "Needs verification", a specific statute has not yet been confirmed for this dataset. Cross and rate your chains regardless — it is a good practice everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Are trailer safety chains required in every state?
A verified requirement is on file for 39 of the 50 states in this dataset. The remainder are marked as needing verification rather than as having no rule, so cross and rate your chains everywhere.
Should safety chains be crossed?
Yes. Crossing them forms a cradle under the coupler so the tongue cannot dig into the road if the hitch connection fails.
How strong do safety chains need to be?
Each chain should carry a stamped working load rating at least equal to the trailer's gross weight, attached with rated latching hooks.
Can I attach the chains to the ball mount?
No. If the ball mount is what fails, the chains leave with it. Use frame-mounted loops on the tow vehicle.
Before you trust any number here
Every figure on this page is a planning estimate. The binding limits are printed on your vehicle: the driver-door payload sticker, the certification label, the hitch label, the tire sidewalls, and the trailer data plate. Weigh the loaded rig before a long trip.
Read the full verification checklistExplore this topic cluster
Brake thresholds, breakaway systems, safety chains, brake gain, and how requirements change as you cross state lines.