21.08.2017

One of the frequent requests lately is whether permission from the traffic police is needed to install a tow bar in 201, and what should those who have already installed do - do they need to register it?

According to answers from the traffic police department from different regions You can answer unequivocally. Registration is required if the design of the car did not require the installation of a tow bar. To the delight of car enthusiasts, most cars do not fit this definition, and you can install a towbar without regard to the inspection staff. Registration is not necessary if you follow the rules:

1. Information about whether the towbar was intended to be installed by the manufacturer can be found in the car’s operating instructions or checked at the dealership;
2. The towbar was purchased in a store with all the necessary certificate of conformity and passport;
3. The installation of the towbar was carried out according to the instructions and the design of the machine did not change.

Where to install the tow bar?

You can install a towbar at any car service center if they have a certificate of conformity for providing these services. If for some reason they cannot provide you with such a certificate, then it is better to look for another service that will do the installation in accordance with GOST. In the case when the car is at official dealer under warranty, you can install it at their place or at any certified auto repair center. In this case, the warranty remains valid.

Grounds for fine

On what basis can a towbar fine be issued? In accordance with Article 12.5 Administrative Code In Russia, additional equipment cannot be installed on a car, which entails an increase in danger for road users. What is the danger in a tow bar without a trailer? The point is that if emergency situation the car behind will not just slightly damage the bumper in a collision, but will literally “put on” the towbar. The damage in this case will be much more serious.

How to avoid a fine?

To begin with, it is worth remembering that one of the penalties for this violation in 2018 is a warning. You can always try to explain it to the traffic police officer and promise to immediately correct the mistake and register the change in the design of the car.

If the car leaves the assembly line already with a tow bar, they have no right to issue a fine. Since in this case the design is provided by the manufacturer and the towbar is not additional equipment. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to prove this. And if a fine is nevertheless issued, you will have to pay it, and then write an application to the local traffic police department for the return of the erroneously withheld funds.

Another option is to provide the employee with all the necessary documents to install the towbar. Since there is a clause 77 in the law, according to which additional equipment specially produced for a specific car, having the necessary documentation, and also provided by the manufacturer is not a violation. And accordingly, no fine is imposed. That is why it is worth buying a tow bar that is factory-made and specialized for your brand of car. For example, in the Okay AUTO store, they have all the necessary documents and are produced in accordance with technical requirements for a specific car brand.

Well, the last opportunity to avoid a fine is to install a removable tow bar. In this case, the structure will not extend beyond the bumper and it will be difficult for the traffic police officer to explain the validity of the fine for such additional equipment, since it does not pose a danger to road users.

If the tow bar is homemade, it is definitely subject to a fine and an order to remove it.

How much will you have to pay

If for some reason a fine is issued, then its amount will be 500 rubles, according to Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code of Russia. The amount of the fine will be reduced by 2 times and will be 250 rubles if payment is made within 20 days.

A tow hitch for a car is not always subject to registration. Equipping a car with it in some cases refers to design changes that cannot be made without approval, as well as operating such a car. If the device is not properly registered, the owner will face a fine.

What is a towbar

A towbar is a towing device that is used to tow a trailer, trailer, or bicycle. Due to the fact that the load from it is distributed evenly over the body, transportation will be safe. If it is installed correctly, it will not damage appearance car, will not become an obstacle to viewing state numbers. For safety reasons, the tow bar on the car must be removable.

Is registration required?

For about a year now, the question of whether a towbar needs to be registered has been haunting motorist forums. And all because changes regarding mandatory registration came into force in 2016 constructive changes in TS. And now, in addition to registering the trailer with the traffic police, you also need to take care of the tow bar.

Installation of a towbar (TCU) on a vehicle is possible without registration, if the design of the vehicle itself provides for the installation of such additional equipment. If we consider the cars that are used on the roads, 98% of them have this capability.

But here you must not miss important point. You can install a towbar, and there is space for its installation. But is such additional equipment and fasteners provided for it by the vehicle manufacturer? If the trailer hitch is included in the list of equipment that can be installed for a machine of this model and brand, then registration is not required. If it is not on the list, then welcome to the traffic police, even before you start installing it. You still need to get permission from an expert for this.

Even if the towbar is approved for installation, it must be installed correctly and using standard trailer hitch models. If the device interferes with viewing the license plate, it is too large or its shape is non-standard - inspectors will probably be interested in such a tow bar and will conduct a thorough check of the vehicle.

Correct driving with a towbar

This does not mean road safety, but documentary legality. If an inspector stops you for inspection, in addition to the usual set of required documents for the car, you will need to provide:

1. Certificate of conformity and trailer hitch passport, which must be included with the device itself. When purchasing, you must check its availability. The passport itself must contain the stamp of the auto center that installed the device.
2. Documents from the auto center that it can carry out such work, that is, there is a certificate for this. The owner of the vehicle is given a copy of the certificate, certified by signature and seal, and a certificate of completion of work.

These documents must be present; their absence will certainly result in a fine.

Is it possible to install a trailer hitch?

This is a question that certainly interests those who plan to register such changes in the future. If this is not specified in the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can find out on your own whether it is realistic to “drag” a trailer. To do this, you will need a VIN plate; this designation is located under the hood on the middle right pillar. You need to look for designations in kilograms, they are placed in a column, there should be 4 of them:

• The first is full mass with passengers and cargo in the trunk or cabin.
• Second - permissible weight with trailer.
• Third is the weight of the load on the front axle.
• Fourth - the mass of the load on the rear axle.

If only 3 lines are found, then it is impossible to equip the car with a tow hitch.

But this does not mean that the road to the tow bar is blocked, it just needs to be installed through expert examination and the presence of a trailer hitch on the car needs to be legalized. This must be done in accordance with the regulations for registering structural changes.

What to do if you already have a towbar

On passenger car mobile Many people already have a tow bar installed. What to do in this case? This is another question, because the procedure has already been carried out, but this change has not been registered. In order to legitimize a previously installed vehicle, there is only one way. You need to look for a certified auto center that will diagnose the device. It consists of checking technical condition and operational capabilities.

After this, they find out who the manufacturer is and submit an official request to him. If such a device was actually produced by him, then a passport for the device is issued. If it was not possible to determine the manufacturer, then the auto center issues:

• Certificate of conformity.
• Act of work.
• A copy of the auto center certificate with a stamp and signature.

Registration of a new trailer hitch

Rules for registering design changes technical means in 2019 remained the same as last year. It is not complicated, but it will still take some time, the order is:

1. Preliminary examination by the traffic police, which will allow or not the installation of a trailer hitch.
2. Installation of the towbar in a certified center with approval of these actions by an expert.
3. Checking the condition of the vehicle at the inspection station regarding the safe operation of the tow bar.
4. Second examination by the traffic police.

Punishment

The law has been in effect for almost a year, and legislators decided it was time to penalize towbars that are not registered. Administrative fine – 500 rubles. But it happens that the driver simply did not know that the towbar must now be registered. In this case, you can get by with a warning. For this outcome, you need to behave with the inspector extremely politely and promise that the problem will be fixed.

Important! If a tow bar is really necessary and is often used, then you cannot delay its design. If not, then it’s easier to just unscrew it and avoid unnecessary headaches.

Hello! Today we will talk to you about the certificate for the tow bar. This is one of the documents that is usually supplied with the towbar when purchasing it.

It happens that the driver does not have a certificate for one reason or another. It is much worse if this is due to the fact that the seller himself did not give you the relevant papers. Moreover, intentionally due to the fact of the absence of such a certificate. This only means that the towbar you have chosen does not comply with current standards, and therefore cannot be approved for use.

It’s a different matter when you lost the certificate, accidentally tore it, or lost it in some other way. Then things will be much simpler.

But let's talk about everything in accordance with the established order.

Why is it needed?

Many people have a logical question about whether this certificate of conformity is needed at all.

Currently, the law does not provide for mandatory registration of towbars in cases where their installation is provided by the car manufacturer.

But there are cases when car companies they don’t do this, but car owners still want to install additional equipment. Or the car owner may have his own desire to document changes in the design of the car, even if the towbar is provided by the factory. To do this, you need to make the appropriate notes in the vehicle passport.

To ensure that traffic police officers do not try to establish the legality of installing a trailer hitch on Chevrolet Niva, Lada Kalina, Priora or the same Suzuki Grand Vitara, for example, do not issue fines and do not threaten to terminate the registration of the vehicle, you should add to the standard set of documents:

• certificate of conformity;
• passport for the vehicle;
• certificate of installation by a certified auto center.

That is, this is a list of documents confirming the full legality of operating a car with a tow bar. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Niva 21213 or some expensive crossover from Mercedes. Everyone has the legal right to use a towbar and tow trailers. You just need to have the appropriate permits for installation and further operation.

How to get a certificate

If you contacted to a good manufacturer TSU, then you won’t have any problems getting all the documents.

Today in Russia the best manufacturers of certified towbars are considered to be:

• Imiola (Imiola);
• (Avtos);
• (Bosal or Bozal);
• Thule;

By contacting them, you will receive not only high-quality products, but also a full package of permits.

Among them will be a copy of the certificate of conformity with an appendix describing the features of installation, operation, etc.

This certificate is a special document that is issued in accordance with the rules of the certification system. It confirms the conformity of certified products current rules, requirements and standards.

All companies that responsibly approach the production of their trailer hitches go through a long and difficult path to obtain such certificates. Clients are given only a copy.

Now to the question of where to buy or how to obtain such a document. There are two main situations here:

• recovery;
• receiving.

Now I will explain in more detail what is at stake in each case.

Recovery

The certificate is missing due to its loss or because they forgot to include a copy of the certificate in the package. That is, you must have it, since there are no obstacles, but for some reason you did not have the document at your disposal.

There are several ways out of the situation.

• Refer to official representative companies. You make a request to the company and they send you a document by email. All that remains is to download it;
• Go to the official website. Often, for the convenience of users, companies simply publish a document that is valid for everyone on the website;
• Search the Internet. There are many sites and forums where users search for or post certificate files in in electronic format. All you have to do is click on the Download or Save button;
• Go to the company office. This is for those who are not friends with the Internet. They will print out the document for you there. Just don’t forget to take with you documents confirming the purchase and installation of the trailer hitch.

Nothing complicated.

Receipt

Where can you get a certificate if the towbar has already been installed before, or if the automaker does not provide installation of a trailer hitch on your model, but you really want to install a towbar?

There is a way out of the situation. To do this, you just need to go through the procedure of obtaining a certificate. We provide this service because we have the appropriate permits for such activities. This is all official and quite quickly.

Or contact any other certified auto center that provides such services.

If the trailer hitch is already on the car, although it was not installed by you, and you do not have documents, you need to:

• inspect the current technical condition;
• assess the possibility of its further operation;
• identify the manufacturer and send a request to him;
• if the answer is positive, the client is issued a passport, or a certificate of conformity and other documents.

If the factory does not provide a trailer hitch, you can get out of the situation with the help of an examination. You will also have to obtain a certificate, plus additionally undergo an examination at the traffic police department and then make changes to the technical certificate and PTS.

The certificate is a mandatory document. If necessary, it can be obtained different ways. It all depends on the specific situation.

Towbars are a necessary element for installing trailers on cars. The part is a metal hook on which the towbar is attached. Since 2015, Technical Regulation TR/TS 018/2011 has come into force, according to which the installation of a towbar is equivalent to modification of a car and requires registration with the traffic police. At the same time, not all changes need to be registered. In special cases, installation is not subject to mandatory registration.

The need for a towbar registration procedure completely depends on the make of the car and the characteristics declared by the manufacturer:

• If, according to the documents, a tow bar is already installed on the vehicle at the factory, no registration is required. The traction device, if it is connected to the car, must be registered.
• If the manufacturer did not provide for a towbar on the body, drivers simply weld the hook. This case is indeed considered a modification of the car and is subject to mandatory registration with the traffic police.

According to current technical regulations customs union, modifications Vehicle must meet safety requirements. To avoid problems with a homemade towbar, some car owners buy a factory-made towbar. Such products are accompanied by appropriate safety documents, which simplifies registration.

Registering modifications is quite difficult. It is best to contact the traffic police in advance, before installing the hook. If the car does not have a factory tow bar, installation involves removing the bumper and changing the design of the rear part of the body. These improvements are quite significant. A driver who refuses to register a homemade product risks receiving an administrative penalty.

Documents for the tow bar

The driver needs to contact the traffic police several times with different packages of documents before and after installing the tow bar. You will first need:

• Application on the prescribed form;
• A two-sided copy of the car passport (the original must also be provided);
• Documents confirming the compliance of the towbar state requirements safety and performance;
• Certificate of registration of the vehicle with the State Traffic Inspectorate.

After installing the towbar, you need to visit the traffic police department again to register the completed modification. The inspectors’ task is to check that the tow bar is installed correctly and does not pose a danger to other road users. Package of documents:

• Vehicle diagnostic card;
• Trailer purchase agreement, if any;
• Quality certificate confirming the quality of the towbar;
• Declaration from the service workshop;
• Application for a request to register a modification from the driver;
• Conclusion of the examination.

The diagnostic card and expert opinion are issued in official service centers and workshops. Additionally, the driver is issued a certificate of completion of the expert work.

Where to get documents for TSU

You will have to obtain the necessary documents from several authorities:

• Quality certificates are provided complete with towbars if the car owner buys a product manufactured at the factory;
• Homemade towbars must be additionally checked for compliance with the car brand and characteristics; a conclusion can be obtained from the service center or from traffic police officers;
• A diagnostic card is also issued at service centers;
• Application forms are issued to the traffic police;
• The driver must have technical passports for the car and trailer;
• The contract for the purchase of the trailer hitch and fastening element can be replaced with a receipt and a warranty check.

It is recommended to call the nearest branch in advance and request information on necessary documents and addresses where they can be obtained. In some departments, the examination and examination procedures differ.

In what cases can it not be installed?

According to traffic regulations, installation of a towbar is not allowed in the following cases:

• The part is fixed to the body independently by welding or homemade bolts. It is dangerous to use a towbar without special expertise.
• The product goes far beyond the car bumper. Cars driving behind such a vehicle risk colliding with a metal tow bar.
• The car belongs to the category of trucks. It is not recommended to use trailers on them; this creates a danger for all road users.
• There are no documents for the tow bar. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the product complies with government regulations.

Driving with homemade, non-certified pitons is illegal. If the driver is stopped by a traffic police officer and it turns out that the towbar is installed incorrectly or does not comply with the regulations, the car owner faces administrative punishment.

What to look for when buying a tow bar?

The main thing that needs to be carefully monitored is the availability of documents. The towbar must be certified. They are attached to it technical certificate, certificate of conformity. Additionally, you should consider:

• Is the towbar suitable for the make of the car?
• How it will need to be secured to the body;
• Dimensions, weight of the product;
• Compliance of characteristics with state requirements;
• Is the hook suitable for connecting to a trailer?

On some brands, installation of fasteners is prohibited. In addition, you cannot use tow bars of the wrong size or specifications. The fasteners should not interfere with the movement of the vehicle or block license plates.

How to design an installed tow bar?

If the hook is already installed, but there are no documents for it and the driver has not started registering, several actions should be taken. For towbars purchased from official manufacturers, the papers can be restored. To do this, you need to contact the company that supplies them to the market:

• Through the official website;
• In the regional office, if any;
• By registered mail to legal address manufacturer.

Large companies meet product owners and send duplicate documents. If the device is homemade or you couldn’t get duplicate documents, you should use the second method:

1. If the car was bought at secondary market, you can contact the previous owner and ask to look for a certificate for the trailer hitch fastener;
2. Contact the traffic police with a statement that the car owner plans to register a modification of the vehicle;
3. You should not drive a car before the towbar is registered, this will entail a fine;
4. Pass all checks, draw up documents of compliance of the characteristics of the hook with safety and quality requirements;
5. You don’t have to take the documents with you; you can keep them at home.

If you cannot complete the modification, it is better to remove the product. Removable towbars are produced especially for such cases. The homemade one will have to be cut down.

Responsibility for unregistered TSU

Car owners operating vehicles with an installed unregistered trailer hitch are subject to an administrative fine of 500 rubles. (Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code). It was already mentioned above that it is not necessary to take documents with you to the towbar. This is true. Fines are imposed in the following cases:

• The product does not correspond to established standards, it is homemade, there is no information that the tow bar is registered;
• The device is installed incorrectly or on a vehicle on which its installation is prohibited (category B);
• The product obscures the driver's view or the vehicle's license plate.

Sometimes drivers manage to avoid administrative punishment, get off with just a warning.

How to avoid a fine?

According to Art. 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, punishment in the form of a warning is appropriate if:

• The driver undertakes to register or remove the tow bar from the vehicle as soon as possible;
• A removable model is installed on the body, which can be easily removed if necessary;
• The device is installed at the factory or the body has factory fasteners for installing the hook.

It is also impossible to impose a fine in cases where the towbar has already been registered and has passed the necessary examinations.

Is it allowed to install a towbar on a passenger car: Russian legislation on the installation of a towbar. A towbar is a towing device (TSU) that is installed on a car to connect a trailer to it. regular places in a service center or independently, if this does not require breaking the design of the machine. That is, welding, drilling, etc. are not used. From 01/01/2015, the Technical Regulations “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” TR CU 018/2011 (hereinafter referred to as the Technical Regulations) came into force. It regulates the process of making design changes to the structure of the car. Installation of a towbar to similar changes does not apply if the manufacturer has provided places for its fastening and has included it in the list of additional equipment for a given car model. In the absence of data on the trailer hitch in the vehicle type approval (OTTS) and the documentation of the manufacturer, its installation will constitute a change in the design of the vehicle. In this case, permission to install it is given by the traffic police. This is evidenced by clause 7.18 of the Traffic Regulations and the Law “On Safety traffic"No. 196-FZ dated December 10, 1995. Important. If the car is not in use, no one has the right to fine the owner for its conversion. When operating a car with towing device(TSU), you need to have the following papers available: Passport (installation instructions) of the towbar with a car service mark on its installation. A copy of the towbar certificate. Certificate of work done. Do you need to register the towbar with the traffic police: new rules for installing a towbar on a passenger car? Many drivers are concerned about the question : How to legally install a traction device? Any changes made to the design of the car must be registered with the traffic police. The installation of a towbar on almost all car models is permitted by the manufacturer. This is indicated in the operating manual. Installation of a trailer hitch does not apply to design changes to the vehicle. The towbar does not need to be registered with the traffic police in the following cases: Installation of the trailer hitch is provided by the manufacturer. The towbar has a passport and a certificate of conformity. The trailer device is installed according to the instructions given in the passport, i.e. the design of the car has not been changed. When installing a tow bar on a car, you should be guided by the information from the operating documents for the car. If they reflect that the installed trailer hitch is certified for use as part of a given vehicle, then there is no need to register changes. The new rules establish: the trailer hitch is not checked and approved by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (clause 77 of the Technical Regulations) in the following cases: The towbar is intended for this vehicle. The compliance of the trailer hitch with the vehicle has been assessed, supporting documents are available. The installation is provided for by the manufacturer. Information on whether it is permitted this car trailer towing, specified in its load table. It is located on the right B pillar of the car or under the hood. It informs about the possibility of connecting a trailer. If the corresponding line does not contain data, the towbar must be registered with the State Traffic Inspectorate. Requires registration of a trailer hitch attached with bolts or welded to power elements machine, and necessary for serious traction loads. When installing a tow bar with your own hands, you should follow the following rules: Selecting a device suitable for a specific make and model of car. Reading the instructions for the trailer hitch. Preparing the necessary tools. Dismantling the bumper and its reinforcement. Installing beams and brackets for body side members according to the diagram specified in the instructions. Attaching the socket box to the beam; connecting the electrical wiring harness to the beam with plastic cords. Pulling the harness through the opening in the rear panel. Electrical installation, the connector for it is on the car diagram. Connecting two blocks. Installing the removed parts of the car. Attention! The bolts connecting the trailer hitch elements to the body must be carefully tightened. If the attachment points are rusty, they should be treated with anti-corrosive. Proper installation of the trailer hitch will ensure longevity of its operation, reliability on the road and trouble-free operation. What documents are needed to register the towbar with the traffic police? To register the trailer hitch with the traffic police and obtain a certificate, you first need to undergo a technical examination. Stage 1 Preliminary inspection at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate The car owner must visit the traffic police and write an application for a preliminary examination of the car’s design, submit documents to the window and receive a decision after a certain period of time. The following papers must be submitted to the inspection: Application in the established form (issued by the traffic police). PTS (double-sided copy). Documents. on the towbar. Certificate of registration of the passenger car. Stage 2. Examination after changes with safety assessment. A trailer hitch is installed on the car. The work must be performed by a specialized center that will issue supporting documents: a certificate of completion of work, a declaration statement, a copy of the certificate of conformity. The owner takes the car for inspection , where the safety of design changes is checked and a diagnostic card is drawn up. Then the technical examination is carried out by the traffic police and a certificate is issued. To obtain it, the car owner provides: A diagnostic card. A trailer hitch purchase agreement and other documents. A certificate for the towbar. A declaration from the car service center. An application and a decision made by the preliminary examination. When installing a towbar on a passenger car is prohibited - the amount of the fine. Legislation prohibits installing a towbar on a car if it is not specified as additional equipment in the OTTS. A copy of the document can be requested from dealership or from the car manufacturer. It is received by companies that produce or import cars into the Russian Federation. It is impossible to equip a car with a tow bar if it is prohibited to use a trailer on it. So, having category “B”, it is legal to drive with a trailer if its weight is not higher maximum weight equipped car. And the permitted masses of the vehicle and trailer in total do not exceed 3.5 tons. In other cases, or for the use of a heavy trailer, category “E” is required. When inspecting a vehicle with a tow bar, the inspector may issue a fine if the trailer hitch is: Non-standard or faulty. Covers the license plate or optics. Installed in places not provided by the manufacturer. If problems arise when registering a car due to the presence of a towbar, you should ask the traffic police officer for a written explanation of why he banned registration. Based on the explanations received, you can write a complaint addressed to the boss Traffic police. The fine for a vehicle is provided for in Part 1 of Art. 12.5 Code of Administrative Offences. Its size is 500 rubles. You can pay for it with a 50% discount. This is permitted by Art. 32.2 Code of Administrative Offences. This can be done within 20 days from the date of its discharge. All new traffic police fines in 2017 Important. Driving without registering design changes to the car implies administrative liability and increases the danger to the life and health of road users. Is it possible to avoid a fine for a towbar without registering it with the traffic police? Is it possible to avoid administrative punishment? A car owner can avoid being issued a fine for having a towbar in several ways :1. First, you should conduct a dialogue with the inspector that everything will be corrected in the near future. Ask him to limit himself to a warning. The legality of this is confirmed by Art. 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. This tactic is especially effective if the driver has not violated traffic rules in the last 6 months or a year.2. Use of a removable tow bar It is difficult to logically claim that these design changes will affect the likelihood and outcome of an accident. Any reasonable inspector would accept this point of view since there is no protruding element.3. The towbar is installed by the factory, or there are fastenings for it. In this case, the towbar is not a structural change to the vehicle.4. Link to clause 77 of the Technical Regulations If the requirements of this document for a car are met - the trailer hitch is certified for the car on which it is installed - this means that the traction device has been assessed and you can drive with it. So, if you have a towbar, you need a certificate of compliance with the Technical Regulations. Thanks to the certificate, the traffic police officer will not be able to fine the car owner. If the installation of the trailer hitch does not involve structural changes to the car and does not cover the license plate, you can install it yourself. No additional registration with the traffic police is required.