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  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 87287
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Definitely speak to your insurance company before doing anything.

There was a similar debate on the Audi B5 forum I am part of. The S4 model like mine has type approval, but the RS4 does not. The actual legality was never really determined but the main concern was that if something were to go wrong (a bike falling off and damaging a following car for instance) you may be in deep water with your insurance company.
 
Same issue with my wife's S4 cabriolet (B6). It's not type approved, but the exact same car with a smaller engine is. I think basically because Audi didn't want their halo model's image to be stained by being seen towing caravans.

Everything at the back is constructed the same, so there's no logical reason it can't tow - but no type approval.

I have wondered similar. Would you ever get pulled for just having a towbar? Or only likely for towing? But Paintguy's point is a good one. The thing is, if you ask an insurance company, I expect you'll just get a "computer says no".
 
I think i unknowingly did this with my 2005 Impreza STi, as far as i can tell the STi was never type approved for towing from what i've seen but it's exactly the same construction as the standard and WRX versions at the back chassis rails and stuff so i bought a WRX towbar kit and fitted it myself and just cracked on. I towed a homemade trailer all the way to Germany and back with it, what's the worst that could have happened! :D

Made an ace tow car, didn't even notice there was a trailer with 2 sports bikes on the back going up any hills.
 
MSTRBKR said:
Guess it's just an insurance question, as geometry wise the type-r has the same rear end as the normal models (mk7). They all had double wishbone rear suspension, and the body is almost certainly identical except that the larger exhaust may cause problems. I doubt honda would change the body to accommodate the type r exhaust.
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Yeah, as with the S4/RS4 situation I mentioned above, it'll almost certainly physically fit, but the manufacturer probably just didn't think it economical to pay for type approval on a niche model where the expected market was unlikely to fit a towbar.
 
I'd imagine there's no issue as long as you're not actually towing a trailer, that's where the approval comes into play. You'll find that there's no towing weights stamped onto the plate.
 
It is pretty straight forward to be fair, if the towbar, or the particular car, is not type approved then it is illegal to fit, or have one fitted to.

When the vehicle was type approved the manufacturer did not declare it to be suitable for having a towbar fitted.

It therefore, technically has no specified towing capacity and no specified mounting points.

Yes your car, may well be to all intents and purposes identical to models that have type approval, and your car may well have the necessary mounting points, but according to the law, it is pretty black and white, that particular the car does, or does not, have type approval, there is no middle ground.

Therefore, the use of, or even just the fitment of, a towbar to any such vehicle registered on or after 1st August 1998, is illegal, and would make you liable to prosecution .

Therefore it's highly unlikely any insurance company will cover you.
 
Because the car needs to be type approved to fit a towbar, not just to use one for towing.
According to the regs and the law, it is the fitting that is illegal if the car is not type approved for a towbar.
Don't matter if you use it for anything or not, if it is fitted its illegal.
 
Clarkey said:
If it's just a bike rack then it's not towing. I don't see how it's any different to fitting a roof rack.
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Last time i checked a roof rack can't be used to tow a trailer, no matter how much the OP protests to his insurance company that he will not they will simply not believe him, because the temptation for some people in a few month to start towing something will be quite high.
 
I've seen one that fixes in to the tow eye thread, not sure when you get them (might have been a custom job). Perfect workaround :D
 
MSTRBKR said:
Interesting. I just asked Hastings and they said it's fine, but they will re-run me a quote for it as a modification. Once the mod is added and I've paid then they say it's fine for a bike rack.
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Clearly the person on the phone does not know the full details of the situation.
 
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