Is a Tow Bar Legal in the UK?

Legal

Fitting a tow bar is legal in the UK. On any car first used from 1 August 1998 the towbar must be a type-approved unit made for that model, correctly rated, and not blocking the rear plate or lights when nothing is on it.

Why?

Tow bars are a standard, legal accessory. The one firm rule is type approval: cars registered from 1 August 1998 must use a towbar that is type-approved (to the EC/UNECE standard) for that specific vehicle, which means buying the right bar for your car rather than a generic weld-on.

Beyond approval, it must be fitted to the manufacturer's mounting points and rated for what you tow, and it must not obscure the rear number plate or lights when a trailer is not attached - which is why detachable and swan-neck bars are popular. Retractable or removable necks solve the plate-obscuring problem neatly.

Get the right approved bar, fit it properly and keep the plate and lights visible, and there is no further legality issue. The towing itself then has its own separate licence and weight rules.

What decides if it's legal

On cars first used from 1 Aug 1998 the towbar must be type-approved for that vehicle.
It must be correctly rated for the loads you intend to tow.
It must not obscure the rear number plate or lights when not towing.
Fit it to the manufacturer’s mounting points and torque.

Does it depend on your car?

The approved towbar is specific to each car, and towing weight limits vary by vehicle. The requirement - an approved, correctly rated bar that does not hide the plate - is universal.

Related legality guides

Find your car in the garage

Sources

This page is general guidance, not legal advice, on the rules in the UK for tow bar. The detail varies by exact vehicle and changes over time - confirm with your insurer and the latest DVSA and GOV.UK guidance before modifying.