Coupling (aankoppelen)

Learn

1. A safe order

   Instructors teach you first to make sure nothing can roll: the trailer on its handbrake (handrem), the car too. Then you put the coupling (koppeling) on the ball (kogel) and check that it is locked, before you see to the breakaway cable (losbreekkabel), the plug (stekker) and the jockey wheel (neuswiel). Last, you release the trailer’s handbrake and walk round the lights.

   Instructors’ advice. A working method from driving lessons, not a rule of the law or of CBR.

2. Is it really locked?

   First look at the indicator on the coupling (koppeling), if it has one. Then lower the jockey wheel (neuswiel) until it pushes the drawbar (dissel) up: if the back of the car rises with it, the coupling sits firmly around the ball (kogel). Then wind the jockey wheel all the way in.

   Instructors’ advice. A working method from driving lessons, not a rule of the law or of CBR.

3. What the rules ask of the coupling

   The trailer hangs on a single, fitting coupling (koppeling) that is secured and cannot shake loose, so that it swerves to the side as little as possible. All the play in the connection together is 3 mm at most. When the combination stands on a level road, the coupling is horizontal or nearly so.

   • Source: Regeling voertuigen, art. 5.18.54 en art. 5.18.56 lid 1 (text valid from 1 July 2026), read on 24 October 2026

4. Attaching the breakaway cable and the secondary coupling

   You attach the breakaway cable (losbreekkabel) to a fixed part of the car or to the eye on the tow bar (trekhaak) that is meant for it. It may only come into action once the coupling (koppeling) has come loose. A secondary coupling (hulpkoppeling) is attached the same way, so that it too only pulls after the coupling has come loose.

   • Source: Regeling voertuigen, art. 5.18.34 lid 2 en art. 5.18.57 (text valid from 1 July 2026), read on 24 October 2026