EC 94/20 Legislation European Type Approval

The 94/20 EC law applies to all new light passenger vehicles registered on or after 01/08/1998 and 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.

Note ; EC94/20 regulations do not apply to all vehicles, even if the vehicle was resisted after August 1998. The following are examples of the vehicles

·                   Vans or similar goods vehicles

·                   Chassis cabs and tippers

·                   Pick up trucks (inc 4/5 seater double cabs)

·                   Motor homes or Motor caravan conversions

·                   Minibuses with over 9 seats including the driver.

The aim of this legislation is 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 towbars is manufactured, as long as it's 94/20 EC approved. The approval consists of designing the towing bracket to locate all of the vehicle manufacturer's recommended fitting points and then rigorously testing the towbars through a push and pull testing system through 2 million cycles after which the towbars must not show any signs of deformation or cracking. Once approval has been granted, a unique authorisation number is allocated and it is clearly marked on the towbars, if it is not displayed it may not have been tested or approved.

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 towbars.