①The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another vehicle unless the motor vehicle doing the towing has the structure and equipment necessary for towing and the towed vehicle has the structure and equipment necessary for being towed; provided, however, that this does not apply to the towing of a motor vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Order when a malfunction or other such circumstance compels this.

②When towing another vehicle with a standard motorcycle, large motorcycle, or special small motor vehicle, the driver of that motor vehicle must not tow more than one other vehicle, and when towing another vehicle with any other type of motor vehicle, the driver of that motor vehicle must not tow more than two other vehicles; the driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another vehicle if the length from the front end of the towing motor vehicle to the rear end of the towed vehicle (or to the rear end of the second towed vehicle, if towing two vehicles) would exceed 25 meters; provided, however, that this does not apply if the public safety commission grants permission for the motor vehicle to do so, specifying the road or limiting the timeframe for towing.

③When the public safety commission grants permission pursuant to the proviso of the preceding paragraph, it must issue a permit.

④The driver of a motor vehicle issued a permit pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry the permit at all times while undertaking the permitted towing.

⑤Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of permits as referred to in paragraph (3) and other necessary particulars concerning the procedures for the permission prescribed in the proviso to paragraph (2).