Tow Bar on The Altea - Obscuring Number Plate?

[ppw]

Hi Guys,

Just got a Altea TDi Sport (54 plate) and need to get a tow bar fitted. In the past I have always gone for standard (non-detachable) tow bars, but due the the low position of the number plate, i am a little worried that this will be a prob. The towing centre insists that the manufacturers would not make one that obscures the plate (while admitting they have never fitted one) but I cant see how it can't and obviously once its fitted there aint much i can do about it as they have to cut a very small section of the bumper to do it.

Its an extra 150 quid for the detachable one which i would rather not spend if i dont have to.

Anybody any experience of this??

Cheers
Paul

 

[varadeo]

I have a fixed witter tow bar fitted no problems with the number plate.

 

[googies]

Should be no problems with the towbar and plate. Have one myself.

 

[altea-xl]

spoke to my mate today who is a traffic police officer and he told me that to obscure a number plate in any way is illegal and you would get a fine and points on your liscence and a document to have the towbar removed and the document would have to be stamped by a mot centre and then produced at the police station, i have a towbar fitted but have the removable one which i think personally is better option but its not worth the £150 extra id shop around as mine was only £15 more to fit, you could take the chance and fit a fixed towbar but i wouldnt.

 

[markirel]

Had a fixed one on my Sport and it didn't obscure the plate.

Now on the XL I've got the removable towbar which "altea-xl" mentions and which gives a neater finish (but at a price). It's just a shame that the lighting sockets can't be more discretely mounted.

 

[googies]

Standard Towbar WILL not obsure the plates.fixed, or removable. Use your head, check the neck length to see if it will..... Mine is a brinks made towbar and doesnt obscure the plate in anyway.

 

[ppw]

Thanks.

I assumed that it would obscure because i measured the distance from ground to tow ball on my dad's Discovery and compared to my Altea. Turns out my dads is mounted too high.

Found a local mobile guy who came to look at the car before i commited to having one fitted and he reckons it will be fine. Still cant get a detachable one for less than 150 quid more than a standard Witter bar.

Thanks again.
Paul

 

[robint]

Standard tow balls do not obscure number plates. Detachable ones are neater but a fixed one allows you to reverse up to a wall without damaging the bumper........

 

[chrisash32]

wow, your tow bars are so low!!!!!
mine was fitted by SEAT and it comes right up in front of the number plate!!!
Keep grounding the rear of our caravan out because my tow bar is so high!!

Hmmm how odd....