When you have a towbar fitted to your car, this addition will also be checked as part of your annual MOT test. This article explains what is checked, how, and why you could fail your MOT test due to your towbar.

How?

MOT inspectors will carry out a visual assessment of your towbar and it’s assembly, checking for signs of excessive corrosion or damage to the towbar itself, as well as the tow ball, hook, eye, or jaw.

Inspectors will check for the presence and maintenance of retainings nuts and bolts, and will ensure that the assembly is securely attached to the vehicle with appropriately sized mountings. Finally, your towbar will be checked for any signs of modification, damage or poor repairs that may reduce the structure or strength of the attachment.

Why?

EU law states that all EU member states must have regular inspection schemes in place for all vehicles, and in Great Britain our scheme for safety checks on vehicles is MOT testing.

MOT tests include towbars if you have one attached to your car, as these are considered to be essential items to ensure your vehicle is road safe.

Is this for all towbars?

All towbars fitted to vehicles in the following classes will be checked as part of an MOT test:

Class 3, 4, 5 & 7

Towbars fitted to motorcycles are not included, nor are the emergency towing eyes fitted to most modern vehicles.

Will they remove the towbar?

MOT inspectors will not usually remove your towbar as part of the test, although they may need to remove or lift up the mats in your boot in order to see certain elements of the bar.

Why might it fail?

If your towbar is found to be faulty, damaged or unsafe, your MOT test may be failed. Reasons for rejection include:

– Insecure, fractured or damaged components

– Inappropriate fixing of the towbar using the wrong size or type of mounting

– Missing retaining or locking devices

– Deliberate modifications to the tow bar

– Excessive wear between detachable tow ball and receiver socket

– Electrical sockets damaged or insecure

– Wiring that shows exposed conductors

– Quick release mechanism does not secure the tow ball arm

At Towbar2U, we supply and install towbars with vehicle specific wiring, for all major car manufacturers, ensuring a perfect and safe fit for your vehicle. We’ll also provide a mobile fitting service, ensuring that your towbar is installed at the utmost convenience to you by bringing our skilled services to your door!

For more information, simply contact our friendly team on 0800 998 1969 today our use our handy branch finder to find your nearest fitter and we’ll be happy to help you.