Many car enthusiasts equip their vehicles with towbars for a trailer. This is very convenient when you have to transport various goods, go to the dacha or go fishing. Some car owners use non-standard or home-made towing hitch. Now there are precise provisions of the legislation explaining the legality of installing a towing vehicle on a passenger car.
Sometimes motorists install so-called towbars or towbars on their vehicles, without thinking about the legality of its use. In most cases, the use of a traction hitch is incorporated in the design of the vehicle by the manufacturer.
But at the same time, there are many motorists who install non-standard or home-made towbars on their vehicles. Until recently, it got away with it. Since 2017, the technical regulations for the installation of towbars on cars have been legally approved.
When the towbar needs to be registered
When installing the towing vehicle on a passenger car, the car owner must comply with the following conditions specified in the law on the operation of passenger vehicles with towing devices.
The main situations in which it is necessary to register the hitch with the traffic police:
- When the installation of the towbar is not provided by the manufacturer.
- If an abnormal hitch is installed.
- If the towbar changes the original design of the vehicle.
Thus, setting the towbar for registration with the traffic police is necessary only if the manufacturer does not provide for the installation of this part on a passenger car, or the towbar is made abnormally.
The following TSU devices are considered non-standard:
- Unintended design or homemade towbars;
- If on this vehicle, the manufacturer does not provide for the installation of the towing hitch;
- The towbar was installed with violations.
In these cases, it is necessary to contact the traffic police inspection to resolve all issues of interest to motorists. In case of violation of laws, a certain fine is threatened, and the difference for legal entities and individuals is significant.
When you can do without registration with the traffic police
If your car is provided by the manufacturer with a standard towbar socket, and you use a standard towbar provided by the factory configuration of the car, then additional registration is not required.
But in any case, regardless of the installation of the towbar, you must have documents that establish you as the owner of the car, towbar, trailer.
General recommendations for towing hitch for a passenger car
In order to use the towbar without any problems, certain conditions must be followed. Terms of use of the towing hitch on a passenger car. Basic principles without registration:
- Standard trailer, towbar place provided by the manufacturer;
- If this device is a standard unit of this model;
In all other cases, you must contact the district traffic police inspection.
Even if the towing hitch is abnormal, it is possible to be tested and operate this mechanism.
Using non-standard towing devices at their own peril and risk, the car owner is playing with fire. A frivolous attitude towards TSU has already been taken under control at the legislative level, and this opinion will have to be heeded.
