I see MASS plates in your photo. I would recommend you buy your rack in the states and install the hitch prior to shipping your car. It will be much cheaper. As mentioned, you won't be able to use anything else purchased here however (I'm sure they make some type of adapter - I just never found one). There are some gear heads on this forum that might have another solution.
In my case, I sent my hitch mounted Thule bike rack over with my shipment but didn't realize the hitch receivers were different. I eventually mounted a U.S. style hitch on the car that I acquired here. $$$$.
If you're importing your vehicle anyway, and prices are cheap, where you are, then do it there.
Tow hitches need to be fitted in accordance with (car) manufacturers guidelines, in order to conform to the requirements of the vehicle test (MFK).
Having watched the process, the standard towbar test for the UK MOT seems to be - check for rust underneath, then stand on it and bounce a few times. Which is probably the best you can do, and also my home check and my dad's before me
If the job is done properly it shouldn't be an issue
You mean the same hitch can be used for trailers, bike racks, or cargo? That's some crazy foreign concept that certainly isn't welcome here! A proper Swiss hitch does just one thing, as hitches are intended. Don't try to bring in this kind of mayhem.
Removed the receiver hitch, and the car passed.
Anyone want to make an offer on a receiver hitch and bike rack--never used?
Maybe ask your VW garage if they have this option for sale on new Swiss cars, then go back to the inspector and show him the VW product?
I have sometimes seen Swiss officials making things up, because they cannot be bothered to look up the regulations. Another way might be to ask the local VW garage to fit it again and ask the VW garage to get it tested: it might be waved through.
Is your tow bar wired up for lighting? Maybe the problem is with the absence of any trailer light socket.
(and that passed the MFK)
The insurance is technically invalidated to start with, you leave yourself open to a big fine also.
Lets say i hit/rear end you and do damage to both cars, so at first sight, 100% my fault. As soon as i find out you have no authourisation for a tow hitch (see Grey card) well bingo, i'm off the hook (no pun intended) and it's well and truely up yours where the sun doesn't shine.
Tow hooks do enormous amounts of damage, they are hard and pointy, insurance companies look to see if it is authorised first when asssesing damage.
But otherwise, a fine idea, you'll go far here !
Well, driving through a wet London (A3220 to be precise) I picked up in my mirrors a car driving erratically - swap lanes a lot, under and overtaking. I tutted in my head thinking "that driver will have an accident sooner or later"
Turns out it was sooner - I slowed to allow car out from a side street and noticed that the above driver had perhaps misjudged the conditions and was about to plough into the back of the car. SMASH!!!
The problem was that I had the towbar on the back and the other car was now embedded on it. Apparently her "brakes had failed" (in other words she hit them hard the ABS kicked in and she didn't realize that was what it felt like). I called "bollocks" she threatened to phone the police, I did. And before they had chance to get the details a couple of police motorbikes arrived - with the Inspector wearing a "you've been hit by a f%^&tard" look on his face.
Next thing a mobile Mercedes mechanic arrives as we try to figure out how to remove the f%^&tard's car from the bent tow bar. The police were up for me to make sure she was in gear and handbrake on and just yank the bar out by just gunning it!!
Instead, the wife drove forward while the 4 of us (2*police, mechanic and myself lift the nose of the other car). Throughout all of this the f%^&tard was repeating the line that her brakes had failed, much to the police's amusement.
Insurance details swapped and once at my parents we called up - f%^&tard's insurance admitted full liability immediately
What followed was 24hrs of impossible searching to find a hire vehicle with a towbar that could arrive in time to get me to the race
Looking back I suspect the towbar saved more damage being done to the back end. The car needed a new bumper and towbar but without the latter it could have been a lot worse
Some of the systems dont even need the hook at all like this one: https://paulchensystem.net/en
However: The photo in the first post clearly shows that the bike rack is in the way of your number plate. That would not go through in Europe.
Everything is marked on Grey card, including if you need to wear glasses, whether the wheels are standard and fitted afterwards (you'll also need a seperate paper showing relevent details) and other modifications that are added and authorised.