Type Approval Plate on Tow Bar. I need a new one

[emmitdb]

Greetings All,
When I bought my car four years ago I asked (and got) a tow bar fitted.
I am sure that I noticed at or near that time that there was a type approval plate affixed to it but since then
it has disappeared. (Probably stuck on)
The car is 2002 so officially needs a plate.
The dealer I bought the car from has gone bust so I can't find out who did the tow bar.

Has anyone out there got any idea how I can get a new plate for the tow bar.
I appreciate that in the grand scheme of things it's not a hanging offence but I would prefer
to stay legal if I can.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NigelHutson]

Hi,
Was the towbar a Manufacturers' part of an aftermarket accessory? If it was the former, you should be able to get details from any dealer I would have thought. An aftermarket part might be another issue though.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry at all about it. It's not something that will ever get checked. If you happen to be stopped for any reason and the noseweight of your caravan checked, then the information can be obtained by whoever, and provided you're within the limit you won't have a problem.

My own car (launched in 2004) has a detachable Manufacturer's towbar, and I wouldn't have a clue where the plate is, and I've never seen one. A colleague of mine has a Ford Galaxy, and the plate on that one is tucked so far out of the way that it could never be seen anyway.

Don't worry about it - I'll pay your fine if you get one!

 

[emmitdb]

Greetings Nigel,
As someone who can peel an orange in my pocket (to avoid having to share it)

I will keep you to that.

Please put your bank details on the back of a used £50 note, send it to me and I will keep it in a safe place until I get fined.!!!

 

[NigelHutson]

Me too! My parents are from Yorkshire so we don't part with hard earned easily. Therefore you can see how confident I am!
What's a £50 note? We only have ten shilling notes in our 'ouse!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

When I needed one for a Witter I rang them and they sent it through the post

 

[vauxhall2]

It's not something that will ever get checked.................????
not sure about this as its on the MOT check now do they check type or just safety fixings.

 

[PR]

They just check safety fixings. My type approval label disappeared years ago on an off roading trip on Salisbury plain and they have not worried about it.

 

[Guest]

I had a 99 car without a plate, not even sure it was 'type approved', it went for several MOT's while I had it and nothing was ever mentioned?!
I then payed as much attention to it being missing as the MOT testers!.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi all
having read this thread and honstly never noticed wether there was a type approval sticker on the tow bar or not (had the car 4 years the bar was alleady fitted to it).
so I have been out to look and;- "yes it has" allthough you cant read it as it has been painted over at some time in the past "not by me" thing is it has been through 4 MOTS's including the last one 2 days ago while I have had the car and nothing has ever been mentioned so it cant be that important. can it???
colin

 

[Lutz]

It probably won't be an issue whether the type approval plate is present except in the unlikely event of an accident due to failure of the towbar. Even then it would probably only be of interest to the insurance company as lack of a plate could give them a chance of wriggling out of a possible claim.

 

[Gafferbill]

Are Type Approval markings of the towbar included in the check?

There is no requirement for the tester to check for Type Approval markings and the towbar will not be failed if they are not present.