94/20 EC law applies to all new light passenger vehicles (NOT Commercial Vehicles) which have a European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (EWVTA) Certificate of Conformity.These vehicles have an 'e' mark on the VIN plate along with the maximum car and trailer weight/mass. If the VIN plate does not specify a trailer weight/mass, then the vehicle is not permitted to tow by law, ie Ford Ka. Within the United Kingdom all vehicles with EWVTA first registered on or after 01/08/1998 ("S" Registration) requires a type approved 94/20 EC towbar. (For other European Countries, please check with your local transport authority for date of implementation).

The aim of this legislation was to provide a level playing field throughout the EC and allow free trade of motor vehicles and their components in all member states. Irrespective of where a towbar is manufactured, as long as it's 94/20 EC approved the end user will know that it's been manufactured to a known technical and quality standard. The approval consists of designing the towing bracket to locate all of the vehicle manufacturer's recommended fitting points and then testing the towbar through a gruelling 2 million cycles after which the towbar must not show any signs of deformation or cracking whatsoever. Once approval has been granted, a unique authorisation number is allocated to the towbar of that design, which is then placed on the towbar so as to be permanently visible.

If you fit, or have fitted a Type Approved towbar it will not invalidate the vehicle warranty. Under EC Block Exemption Rules a motor vehicle manufacturer cannot prevent an authorised outlet from supplying or fitting components deemed to be of equal quality to that supplied by the vehicle manufacturer such as a Type Approved towbar.

Only "Type Approved " towbars such as those offered by Autowbars will bear a plate/sticker indicating the EC type approval number.

Excluded Vehicles:

Vans, Pick-ups, Crew-cabs, Chassis cabs, Motorhomes, Certain imported vehicles, any vehicle registered prior to 1.8.98, and certain end of production vehicles not bearing an EWTA certificate.