MOT's & Towbars
The towing attachment test was introduced in April 2009 to help prevent accidents caused by trailers becoming detached from vehicles. This test will take the form of a visual assessment to identify:
excessive corrosion, fractures or damage;
wear and tear of a tow ball, jaw, hook or eye;
the presence, security and suitability of retaining nuts, bolts, pins and locking devices towbar condition and security;
excessive damage, corrosion, fractures or inadequate repairs.
Please see below the detail on the inspection.
Information
This inspection applies to: all types of towbar fitted to the rear of a vehicle. It does not include emergency towing eyes.
Assessing wear
Wear in a pin, jaw or hook should be regarded as excessive if the thickness of the metal at any point is reduced by more than 25% of the original thickness. Pin locating holes if they are worn or elongated by more than 25% of their original diameter. These criteria also apply to pins and breckets for any height adjustment or swivel devices.
for towballs the amount of acceptable wear is considerably less. However, a towball should only be rejected if a visual assessment indicates that the towball is obviously excessively worn.
Play in detachable towballs
Some detachable towballs have play between the receiver socket and the tapered swan neck fitting. With up to 3mm movement measured at the ball end. Reason for Rejection 4a should only be used where play is greater than this.
Inspection of Components
No covers or panels shall be removed to facilitate the inspection of any components, including towball covers. However, it may be necessary to inspect some components from inside the luggage compartment, including lifting of loose fitting mats or carpets.
Quick release mechanisms must not be operated, only visually assessed.
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Method of Inspection
1. Visually assess the towbar for wear and pull on the towbar and/or its mountings to check for security, corrosion, fractures or damage.
2. Check the towbar assembly is attached to the vehicle structure using mountings, supports and fixings of an appropriate size and type.
3. Check the presence and security of:
a. retaining devices e.g. nuts & bolts.
b. locking devices e.g. split pins, 'R' pins.
4. On height adjustment or swivelling towbars, check:
a. for presence, and security of locating or swivel pins.
b. locating or swivel pin retaining devices for presence and security.
6. Check the condition of the body and chassis in the vicinity of the towbar mountings.
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Reason for Rejection
1. A towbar component insecure, fractured or excessively:
2. Towbar assembly is attached to the vehicle structure using a mounting, support or fixing which is obviously of an inappropriate size or type.
3.
a. Retaining device missing or insecure.
b. locking device missing, insecure, inadequate or damaged to the extent that its operation is impaired.
4.
a. Excessive play between a detachable towball and it's receiver socket.
b. a quick release mechanism that does not secure the towball arm as intended.
5.
a. A locating or swivel pin missing or insecure.
b. excessive play or wear in a locating or swivel pin bracket.
c. a locating or swivel pin retaining device missing or insecure.
6. Any deliberate modification, excessive corrosion, damage, fracture or indadequate repair of a load bearing structure or supporting panelling within 30cm of the towbar mountings, whch affects its strength to the extent that the security of attachment of the towbar is significantly reduced.
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Click here to download the VOSA document which covers the MOT test.
