Weigh Your RV at a Public Scale in Canada

Driving & Towing • Canada • Updated October 26, 2026

Brochures and tags tell you what an RV weighed when it was built, not how much it weighs on your driveway with water, propane, food and gear. Overloaded axles, tires and hitches cause failures, poor braking and trailer sway, and can affect insurance. A scale is the only way to know. Our weight limits guide explains GVWR, GAWR and GCWR; this guide shows how to get the numbers to compare with them.

• Truck stops with public truck scales. Some have scales branded as CAT Scale. Use the operator's locator, call ahead, and ask whether RV weights are allowed.
• Certified inspection stations or weigh scales. British Columbia's Camping and RV BC guidance recommends using a certified inspection station and points to a provincial list of weigh scales. Many provinces have comparable lists of public scales.
• Aggregate pits, landfills, recycling yards and farm supply businesses often have scales and may weigh a vehicle for a fee. Call first; commercial traffic may take priority.
• RV dealers and some RV events may offer weighing.

Search for "truck scale" and your city, then call. Ask: Are you open now? What does it cost? Can I weigh an RV with a trailer? Is there a multi-platform scale? How do I pay? Will staff print the ticket?

• Load the RV for a typical trip: passengers, pets, clothes, food, gear, bikes and tools. Fill fresh water and propane to travel levels, or note what they are.
• Know your ratings: GVWR and each GAWR from the RV's certification label, tire load limits, tow vehicle GVWR, GCWR, hitch and tongue-weight ratings. If you tow, our towing and payload calculator helps you set up.
• Bring a notebook or the worksheet below, a pen, a phone for photos and your paperwork.
• Check tire pressure and cold-inflate according to the placard before you weigh. Do not adjust afterwards without re-weighing if you want comparable results.
• Go at a quiet time (early morning or midweek) so staff have time to help.

1. Drive onto the scale with all axles on it if it is long enough, and record the total weight. This is the gross vehicle weight.
2. If the scale has separate platforms, weigh the front axle, then the rear axle. On a single platform, drive on one axle at a time and calculate.
3. Compare each axle weight to its GAWR and the total to the GVWR.
4. If you tow a vehicle, weigh the combination, then the motorhome alone, and compare against GCWR.

Camping and RV BC describes a standard method using a commercial scale: weigh the tow vehicle's front wheels, then the rear wheels, then the trailer, and finish with the trailer alone. Follow the scale operator's instructions, and take photos of each ticket.

1. Weigh the steer axle. On a single-platform scale, drive on so that only the tow vehicle's front wheels are on the platform. Record this as weight A (front axle).
2. Weigh the tow vehicle's axles. Pull forward so the tow vehicle's front and rear wheels are on the platform and the trailer wheels are off it. Record weight B. The rear axle weight is B minus A.
3. Weigh the whole combination. Drive fully on so every axle is on the platform. Record weight C. The trailer axle weight is C minus B.
4. Weigh the trailer alone. With the trailer's wheels and the front jack on the scale, unhitch and drive the tow vehicle off. Record the trailer weight D.
5. Work out tongue or pin weight. Subtract the trailer axle weight (C minus B) from D. Compare it with your hitch rating and the trailer manufacturer's guidance, which is usually a percentage of trailer weight.
6. On a multi-platform scale you can often get axle and total weights in one pass. Ask the operator.

If the staff are unfamiliar with RVs, bring a diagram of what you want and ask them to explain the scale's layout. A multi-platform scale can capture axle weights in a single pass.

• Compare the actuals to the lowest applicable rating in each row. The weakest link (axle, tires, hitch, tow vehicle) sets the limit.
• If you are over: remove weight, redistribute cargo, reduce water or propane when travelling, or consider a different tow vehicle or hitch setup. See weight limits explained.
• Check unevenness. A left-right difference means loads are uneven; re-pack and re-weigh.
• Keep a record. Write the date, load and results in kilograms. Re-weigh after major changes such as new accessories, a different tow vehicle or heavy water or batteries.
• Licensing and insurance. Weight can affect which licence class you need. For example, Camping and RV BC notes that in British Columbia a regular driver's licence covers towing a loaded recreational trailer up to 4,600 kg gross vehicle weight with a two-axle vehicle, and heavier combinations need an upgrade. Rules differ in other provinces; see our RV driver's licence guide.

• Bring cash or a card, and ask whether the scale is attended or self-serve.
• Keep engine running as directed; stay in the vehicle unless instructed.
• Do not move during the weighing.
• Be polite: truck drivers are working. If a truck is waiting, let it go ahead.
• Take photos of the display and of every ticket.

Check each page for the current rules, prices and dates. Rules and provider terms change.

• Camping and RV BC: how can I weigh a tow vehicle and trailer?
• Transport Canada: road transportation
• DriveSmartBC: BC vehicle dimensions regulations

• RV weight limits explained: GVWR, GAWR and GCWR
• Towing and payload calculator
• How to tow a travel trailer safely
• RV tire safety: pressure, age and load
• Tow vehicles and hitches
• RV driver's licence requirements

Last checked: October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal, financial or professional advice. Confirm current requirements with the organization named before you act.