What is EC 94/20?
The full and correct title is
"Directive 94/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 30th May
1994, relating to the mechanical coupling devices of motor vehicles and their
trailers and their attachment to those vehicles". It is a piece of European
legislation governing the design, testing and manufacturing of towbars. The aim
of the legislation is to provide a level playing field throughout the EC,
allowing the free trade of towbars and accessories throughout Europe.
Does EC94/20 apply to all towbars?
All new light passenger vehicles
(not commercial vehicles) which have a European Whole Vehicle Type Approval
(EWVTA) Certificate of Conformity must adhere to the regulations. The exceptions
are: Vans/ Good Vehicles, Chassis Cabs, Tippers, Pick-Up Trucks, Motor Homes,
any Motor Cycle, Non Road Use Vehicles and some Imports (chek with the DVLA).
How can I tell an approved bar from a non-approved bar?
All approved towbars must have a
visible data plate, label or stamping showing and E number relating to the
country in which its approval was granted. The label/ plate/ stamp must show the
Company Name, E Designation, D-Value, & S-Value. If the towbar does not have an
approval label/ stamp/ plate then it is not approved.
Who can fit the towbar to the vehicle?
There is no restriction on who
may fit a towbar to a vehicle. If you are not confident to install the towbar
correctly, use a specialist fitter. Here at A1 we have a dedicated team of
experienced fitters for your peace of mind.
Must I fit a
manufacturers towbar to my new vehicle?
As long as the towbar is type
approved it does not matter which manufacturer supplies your towbar. All
approved towbars are considered equal in European Legislation.
I rarely use my towbar -
do I still need a type-approved bar?
If your vehicle should have a
type approved towbar (S Reg or later - see rules above), then even if you are
not using the towbar for towing purposes it still must be an approved towbar.
Why does EC94/20 mean
peace of mind for me?
In order for a towbar design to
be granted approval status, it must meet rigorous design and testing criteria.
The towbar must attach to the vehicle at the specified mounting points nominated
by the manufacturer. Once the design has been accepted by the VCA (Vehicle
Certification Agency), it must pass a push/ pull test. The push/pull test
simulates the stopping and starting of a vehicle towing a caravan or trailer.
The towbar must be tested for 2,000,000 cycles. At the end of the test, the
towbar must show no signs at all of deformation or cracking. The test is very
thorough and very harsh ensuring that all approved towbars are safe (when used
correctly).
Are there limits as to
how much I can tow?
Each vehicle has a different
weight that it can tow. In the vehicle handbook, it states, in the specification
section, exactly how much your vehicle can tow. As long as these limits are not
exceeded, you will not invalidate the warranty on the towbar itself.
Can all cars tow?
Some vehicles are not deemed fit
for towing, these vehicles tend to be small or sports cars. After design, some
vehicles are deemed unsuitable for towing by the manufacturer. These vehicles
have no specified towing capacity or mounting points. Check with the
manufacturer if you are unsure.