Towbar fitting cost?

[Muddywellies]

Had two quotes today, one £499, one £607. Really?? Is that right? What have others paid?

 

[phizz4]

That's about ball park. It varies depending on whether it is fixed or removeable and, if fixed, whether it is flange or swan's neck. Bear in mind that a large part of the cost will be for a dedicated wiring loom, so the bar doesn't interfer with reversing sensors, shows up as towing on the dash etc. It also depends on whether you have a 7 pin plug or the more modern 13 pin (or both, which can be useful if you are towing different trailers).

 

[phizz4]

Oh, and don't forget to tell your insurer as it counts as a modification.

 

[Arzada]

I paid £400. It would have been more if it was needed for more lighting eg for a caravan or if the car had been more modern with more complicated electrics. Oh and I don't have reversing sensors.

 

[Muddywellies]

Thanks ever so much for that. Tbh it's already got a detachable swan neck one but obv that has to go as I'm not towing a horsebox with a detachable towbar. I was shocked at £499 but then when I got a quote of £607 from a land rover dealership, after I'd picked myself up of the floor, I wondered if the 499 one (from a local towbar fitter) might be cutting corners?

 

[ROG]

Mechanic neighbour fitted one on a vivaro van for £100 including all electrics
Towbar cost was under £90 - brand new Anker towbar on Ebay
So under £200 for the lot

 

[Afon_34]

Just paid £450 to get one put on mine, others were quoting £500/£600

 

[Equi]

£500 for fitting mine. It includes a free yearly check which is very appealing.

 

[Equi]

Oh, and don't forget to tell your insurer as it counts as a modification.

oooooh....

 

[lannerch]

I’ve been quoted £352 for a tow bar to be fitted to my Kia Sportage complete with Kia electrics so as not to invalidate the warrenty reading this thread this is definitely where I will be going .

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

£500 for my fixed one a few months ago, complete with Kia loom so my sensors all still work etc. Insurers vary, my current ones weren't bothered about the tow bar at all.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Don't feel like you have to go to a dealership for a tow bar to be fitted correctly, you will probably pay significantly more. I had a tow bar fitted at a tow bar fitting company. I had a removable ball plus electrics & it was around £350, that was about 5 months ago. You can save money by buying a used tow bar from Ebay/facebook etc and pay for a mechanic to fit it.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Had two quotes today, one £499, one £607. Really?? Is that right? What have others paid?

https://www.jimstowbars.co.uk/

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I paid £500+ for a swan neck tow bar on a Mercedes with Mercedes-specific electrics. Getting the generic version would only have been £90 cheaper which wasn't enough of a saving to be worthwhile. It was a mobile tow-bar company - the Mercedes dealer wanted well over £1000

 

[Muddy unicorn]

PS I needed to tell my insurer but it didn't change the premium at all

 

[GoldenWillow]

We paid £350 3 years ago for a non dealer fitted one. Cost was less than dealer fitted and also depends on make of car from friends experiences.