Hi, I am still considering buying a new Octavia vRS estate petrol, to replace my 9 year old mk 3. There is a possibility I will need to tow in the future- either a horse box size , or a small bike trailer. 

My question is do I spec the towbar preparation at £240, or do i get the retractable towbar which is a hefty £1050?

I am just not sure how much an after market fitting is, with the prior preparation completed? 

Anyone got any ideas? Thanks! 🙂

The factory job is probably the neatest and unless you diy, aftermarket is as expensive, I found for the same set up.

If you live in Europe, be sure to get a factory-fitted tow bar for a new vehicle. This will save you any SFD 2 discussion when retrofitting.

Buying / living in the UK part of Europe should mean that paying good GBP for 'Towbar Preparation' should negate any need for discussions on SFD 2 when Retro Fitting a tow bar.

I know of cases where nothing worked despite preparation.

100% get the factory towbar.

You won't save that much going with towbar prep and after market towbar.

Factory bar ensures everything is correct, warranty is fully covered, it's the neatest solution, and as it was fitted from the factory you wont have to declare it as a modification to your insurance.

Some MY24on cars have had problems with coding even with towbar prep.

Edited 4 August, 20254 Aug by logiclee

The preparation kit involves putting in the front to back cabling. Having it avoids having to rip out the trim to insert it at a later date. Whether or not the eventual installation works properly will depend on whether or not you get Skoda to install it.

I bought a mk2 Elegance back in 2012, an ex-Skoda company car, and had a Skoda removable towbar fitted before I took delivery. That cost me £1,000 back then, so £1,000 today is cheap. Check that the car is rated to tow a horsebox - it depends on the plated MAUW of the trailer, not what it actually weighs.

I bought a 21 plate VRS with no towbar prep and had a detachable aftermarket bar fitted and coded, all without problems

Sadly things have changed about ease of coding from 2021 to 2024/25.

3 hours ago, logiclee said:

...Factory bar ensures everything is correct, warranty is fully covered, it's the neatest solution, and as it was fitted from the factory you wont have to declare it as a modification to your insurance......

Gotta be a no-brainer for this peace of mind and "path of least resistance" alone !! 👍

Thanks all for the advice, if I go for it I will get the factory fitted option. 🙂👍