Hello first post,i think i have read all post about putting a tow bar on my fab vrs.I phone my insurance company and they are happy,now i just need to find one that fits.Any help would be great,cheers

Have you phoned Mr Plod, to check he'd be happy?

As i will be towing a 4x3 trailer and not some big van !

Or the DVLA / VOSA who ever it is that cares. vRS's are not type approved to tow anything (not even sure where you stand in regards to stuff like towbar mounted bike rakes).

If you still do get one anyway, I'd get it in writing from ins. co, as I bet they'd happily go back on their word if you crashed while towing something.

Edited 26 August, 201015 yr by TriggerFish

I spoke to them yesterday and they are sending my new paperwork out that says the car has a towbar fitted !

Surely common sense should prevail on this one...the only difference is the lower half of the rear bumper. Hardly structural or anything like that!

Andrew

Edited 26 August, 201015 yr by Teddy

Don't they do an OEM one from dealers? Pricey but it would fold away nicely? Probably not but I remember it being an option on a volvo lol.

Surely common sense should prevail on this one...the only difference is the lower half of the rear bumper. Hardly structural or anything like that!

Andrew

You ever seen an insurance firm use common sense? Not trying to be negative, but they could use it to invalidate a claim if you crash when towing (having fitted a towbar and using it are two different things I guess.)

You ever seen an insurance firm use common sense? Not trying to be negative, but they could use it to invalidate a claim if you crash when towing (having fitted a towbar and using it are two different things I guess.)

Very true, indeed I have not

whats a oem,also they said i get 3rd party cover on what ever i am towing.

Apologies - but another response from the anti-brigade...

Even though the person you spoke to at your insurers agreed to put it on the schedule, did you ask the right question?

Did you just say "Can I put a towbar on my Fabia vRS?" or did you say "I know that the Fabia vRS is not type approved for fitting a towbar, and hence it's illegal to use it for towing, but I'd like to do this anyway and want my insurance company to cover it"?

Unless you've made it clear to your insurers that you and they know it's not type-approved I suggest you may have left the door open to any claim being denied once a lawyer knowing the situation gets his hands on the case...

BTW as I understand it, it's the FITMENT that's not permitted not the use, hence you can't even use one for bicycle carrying. That said I wonder whether the vast majority of people who use those very flimsy looking strap on bicycle carriers even consider informing their insurance companies?

whats a oem,also they said i get 3rd party cover on what ever i am towing.

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

so Simon means one that Skoda supply from their accessories catalogue.

However with the car not being type approved I doubt they'd offer one.

I know nothing about towing or the insurance there of, but 3rd party cover for whatever your towing seems a bit duff.

Surely that means that should your trailer come dettached and someone ploughs into it; your the insurance pays to repair their car but gives you nothing. I wouldn't go towing anything expensive!!

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

so Simon means one that Skoda supply from their accessories catalogue.

However with the car not being type approved I doubt they'd offer one.

It's the MODEL that's not Type Approved. Every other Fabia IS Type Approved. There are mounting points on vRS and a Skoda Fabia towbar will fit - except you have to hack the bumper about a bit too.

A bit Tomayto v Tomahto but fair enough

Either way though if the MODEL isn't Type Approved it'd be illegal to put a tow bar on it.

Although surely the likelihood of being pulled 'cos of it is teeny weeny - it'd have to be a very eagle eyed traffic cop who spotted it!

Edited 27 August, 201015 yr by PastyBoy

I'm on the fence..

I think it'll be ok along as your 100% your insurance company realise the car is not type approved for a tow hook or towing.. If you word it right you can get anything out on your documents... doesn't mean they'll pay up if they can argue what you told them wasn't the truth, the hole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I can't see a problem with the act of towing with a vRS as a purely physical activity, but I do believe as well it's technically illegal on uk roads, which is why i'm surprised the ins co agreed.... if it were me I'd fit a standard bumper and store the original for re-fitting once the need to tow has gone or the car it self goes. If your cars red or silver you'll find one from a scrapper in the same color easily.. black, blue or yellow maybe tricker.

Edited 27 August, 201015 yr by Rob.

A bit Tomayto v Tomahto but fair enough

Either way though if the MODEL isn't Type Approved it'd be illegal to put a tow bar on it.

Although surely the likelihood of being pulled 'cos of it is teeny weeny - it'd have to be a very eagle eyed traffic cop who spotted it!

At least one member on here has had his collar felt for it since I've been on the site...

At least one member on here has had his collar felt for it since I've been on the site...

• 6 years of membership
  
• 54000+ members
  
• 1 collar feeling
  

sounds like

teeny weeny

to me

so going back,has anyone on here got one or fitted one to their vrs and which one is the best,i see that skoda do a removable one,does that mean that 99% of the time your friendly mr police man will not see my dangerous car with a towbar on the road.

so going back,has anyone on here got one or fitted one to their vrs and which one is the best,i see that skoda do a removable one,does that mean that 99% of the time your friendly mr police man will not see my dangerous car with a towbar on the road.

I had the fixed Skoda towbar fitted to mine and I fitted a Thule fixed electric mount, as this meant that it did not require any cutting (i'm not sure whether the removable one does).

If you use the drop down electrics (come on both Skoda bars), then you have to cut the back underside of the bumper for these to fit.

I can't comment on towing as I only used mine for my bike rack.

HTH

nice