Tow bar fitting in Rotterdam: cost, types and sockets

Would you like to take a bike rack, trailer or caravan on holiday behind your car, van or motorhome? Then you need a tow bar. This guide explains what to tell us when you call, which tow bar and socket suit you, and how much your car is allowed to tow under Dutch rules.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say

The short answer

You can have a tow bar fitted at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, also on a van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg. What a tow bar costs depends on the type of tow bar and the options you choose, and we tell you one price in advance, based on your registration number.

Call +31 10 479 00 00 and tell us your registration number, whether you want a fixed, detachable or swivel tow bar, and whether you need a 7-pin or 13-pin socket.

Can you fit a tow bar to my car?

Yes. We fit tow bars at our garage in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, and we tell you the price in advance based on your registration number. We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg.

Which tow bar and which wiring suit your car depends on the make, model and year. That is why we do not name a brand or type here.

According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, a professional fitter can also make necessary adjustments, for example to the software of the on-board computer. Whether your car needs this, and whether we can do it for you, differs from car to car.

Call us with your registration number first, and we will tell you straight away whether we can help.

We work on the towing vehicle, not on the caravan or trailer itself. We do not work on the overrun brake, the wheel bearings or the lights of a caravan or trailer.

What should you mention when you call?

If you have these four details ready, we can help you quickly on the phone. You book an appointment by phone on +31 10 479 00 00.

  1. Your registration number. In the Netherlands this is the kenteken on your number plate. We use it to look up your car, and we tell you the price of the tow bar in advance.
  2. Fixed, detachable or swivel. Not sure yet? The differences are explained below.
  3. A 7-pin or 13-pin socket. According to the ANWB, 7-pin is enough for a bike rack or a small trailer. A caravan or larger trailer needs 13-pin.
  4. What you will use the tow bar for. A bike rack, a small trailer, a horse trailer or a caravan each place different demands on your car.

On the phone you hear straight away when your car can come in. You do not have to decide at once. The price you hear is not only valid on that day.

Ask on the phone how long it is valid. Would you like to think it over? Ask whether we can hold the day for you. Our address and opening hours are on our contact page.

We call you when the car is ready. A courtesy bike is free, as long as one is available.

Which tow bar should I choose: fixed, detachable or swivel?

According to the ANWB, a fixed tow bar is the cheapest option. A detachable or swivel tow bar does not cover the number plate, because you can remove the tow ball or swing it out of sight when you do not use it. The ANWB describes three types.

Type of tow bar Advantage Points to note
Fixed AdvantageThe cheapest type, according to the ANWB Points to noteIt must not cover the number plate. According to the ANWB it can also sit in front of the parking sensors and make them less accurate
Detachable AdvantageNo problem with the number plate Points to noteYou take the tow ball off when you do not use it
Swivel AdvantageNo problem with the number plate Points to noteThe tow ball swings out of sight when you do not use it

Source: ANWB, Trekhaak monteren (consulted November 2026, undated page).

Keep the tow ball clean and free of rust. The ANWB advises against greasing it, because grease hinders the stabiliser of a caravan. A stabiliser is a coupling on the caravan drawbar that reduces snaking.

Do you need a 7-pin or a 13-pin socket?

According to the ANWB, a 7-pin socket is enough for a bike rack or a small trailer, and a caravan or larger trailer needs 13-pin.

The socket on the tow bar passes power to the bike rack or trailer, mainly for the lights. The rear lights, brake lights, indicators and rear fog light of the trailer then work with your car.

  • 7-pin: power for the indicators, brake lights, rear lights and fog light.
  • 13-pin: also a reversing light. According to the ANWB, a caravan needs eight connections for its lights, which is more than a 7-pin socket offers.
  • Permanent and switched power: a permanent supply gives power as long as the plug is connected, for example for the tap in a caravan. A switched supply only gives power while the towing car is being driven, for example for the fridge. According to the ANWB these extra supplies are not standard on every 13-pin socket, so mention it when you call.
  • Two kinds of 13-pin: the ANWB names the Jaeger plug, which most people choose, and the Multicon plug. They are not compatible, so you need an adapter to connect one to the other.

Do you want to use the tow bar for different things? The ANWB says 13-pin is then the most sensible choice.

If the plug of your bike rack or trailer does not fit the socket on your car, you need an adapter. Take the adapter off when you drive without a trailer, because according to the ANWB rainwater can otherwise cause faults.

Have the lights on your trailer or bike rack stopped working? First check the bulbs and the plug itself. If the problem is in the socket or the wiring of the car, call us with your registration number first, and we will tell you straight away whether we can help.

How much is my car allowed to tow?

How much your car may tow is in the Dutch vehicle register of the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, and on the back of your registration card (kentekencard).

According to the RDW (opens in a new tab), code O.1 shows the maximum mass of a braked trailer and code O.2 the maximum mass of an unbraked trailer. A braked trailer has its own brakes. On a caravan this is the overrun brake.

Take care with a van. On the registration card of a light commercial vehicle (category N1) issued from 11 June 2024, the RDW lists O.2 only, the mass for an unbraked trailer.

If the braked towing weight is not on the card, look up your vehicle details in the RDW register using your registration number, or call us with your registration number. The owner’s manual also lists it.

Your driving licence counts as well. According to the Dutch government (opens in a new tab) (updated 24 September 2026), a category B licence lets you tow a trailer of up to 750 kg.

A heavier trailer is allowed only if the car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg. With code 96 on your licence (often called B+), the combination may weigh up to 4,250 kg. With a BE licence the trailer may weigh up to 3,500 kg.

The ANWB also advises that a loaded caravan should weigh no more than 75 per cent of the loaded car. For nose weight, towing weight and what to have checked before you leave, see our guide on preparing your car for towing a caravan or trailer (in Dutch).

A tow bar on a van or motorhome: what should you look out for?

We can fit a tow bar to a van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg, and we tell you the price in advance based on your registration number.

Our lifts take vans and motorhomes up to that weight. Whether your motorhome fits also depends on its height and length. For other work on your motorhome, see our page on motorhome repair in Rotterdam.

With a van or motorhome, weight matters even more. A motorhome is often heavily loaded with water, gas and luggage. A van often carries tools or materials in the back. So check the towing weight on the registration card and the rules of your driving licence before you buy or hire a trailer.

Are you self-employed or do you run a business? Even on a first visit you receive an invoice in the company name, with VAT shown separately and with the registration number and mileage.

Do you drive a lease car? Ask your lease company first whether you may choose your own garage. If you may, you are welcome. If the car belongs to you or your company, you choose your own garage.

Read more about our work on vans on our page about van and fleet maintenance in Rotterdam.

Tow bar for a bike rack in the Netherlands: what do you need to know?

For a bike rack, the nose weight is the most important figure. Nose weight (kogeldruk in Dutch) is the maximum load that may press down on the tow ball from above.

According to the ANWB, many mid-size cars have a nose weight of 75 kg. Smaller cars often have 30 to 50 kg, and according to the ANWB that is not enough for two e-bikes.

  • Weight: add up the weight of the rack and the bikes. According to the ANWB, most e-bikes weigh between 25 and 30 kg.
  • Number plate: the bike rack needs its own number plate, white with black letters and numbers. According to the ANWB you have it made by an RDW-approved number plate maker, on showing your registration certificate.
  • Lights: according to the ANWB the rack needs two rear lights, two brake lights, two indicators and two red reflectors.
  • Plug: a bike rack has a 7-pin or 13-pin plug. If it does not fit the socket on your car, you need an adapter.

Are you going on holiday with bikes or a caravan? You can also have your car checked with a holiday car check. For that check too, we tell you the price in advance based on your registration number.

How much does it cost to have a tow bar fitted?

According to the ANWB (opens in a new tab), a tow bar including fitting costs from around € 800 to as much as € 2,000, depending on the type of tow bar and the options you choose (consulted November 2026). The ANWB says fitting often takes at least two to three hours. We tell you your price in advance based on your registration number.

The price depends on things such as the type of tow bar, the socket and whether the car’s software needs adjusting. We tell you one price in advance, and we only do extra work with your approval. To see which prices we do publish on our website, visit our garage prices page.

Is something else wrong with your car? Then see our page on car repair in Rotterdam.

Frequently asked questions

What about the electrics and software for the tow bar?

That depends on your car. According to the ANWB, a professional fitter can also make necessary adjustments, for example to the software of the on-board computer. Call us with your registration number first, and we will tell you straight away whether we can help.

Do you also work on the caravan or trailer itself?

No. We work on the towing vehicle, not on the caravan or trailer. We do not work on the overrun brake, the wheel bearings or the lights of the caravan or trailer.

Can every electric car have a tow bar?

No. According to the ANWB, fitting a tow bar to an electric car is more complicated than to a car with a combustion engine, and in some cases it is not possible at all.

First check O.1 and O.2 on your registration card. Then call us with your registration number, and we will tell you straight away whether we can help.

Why does my lane assist switch off with a bike rack?

According to the ANWB, since April 2025 EU rules have required that a car does not steer or brake unexpectedly while it is towing a load. That is why systems such as lane assist, emergency braking and parking sensors may switch off as soon as a bike rack or trailer is connected.

Should I grease the tow ball?

No. The ANWB advises against grease, because it hinders the stabiliser of a caravan. Keep the tow ball clean and free of rust instead.

Can I drop the car off the evening before?

Yes. Would you rather drop the car off earlier, for example the evening before or before 8.00? That is possible by appointment. Park the car outside our garage at your own risk and put the key in an envelope through our letterbox. Write your name, phone number and registration number on the envelope.

How do I book an appointment for a tow bar?

You book by phone on +31 10 479 00 00, with your registration number. On the phone you hear straight away when your car can come in. You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, near Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip).

What customers say about our workshop

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews on Google, Facebook and the ANWB. Two reviews from our customer reviews page. Where a review is shortened, you see (…).

“Very good experience at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug B.V. with SEAT Ibiza 2009. I had a red battery warning light on the dashboard and the problem was diagnosed quickly and correctly. (…) Professional work, clear communication and friendly service. (…) A reliable garage that I would definitely recommend!”
Manea A., Google review (written in English)

“I brought my car in for an air con repair. More turned out to be broken than first thought, so the mechanic went through the options and the costs with me by phone, so we could make the best choice for my car (and my wallet). When I collected the car the next day, the mechanic showed me the replaced parts and explained again what the problem was, what had been done and why. In short, highly recommended. (…)”

Dylan R., Google review (translated from Dutch)

Would you like a tow bar fitted?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. You can have a tow bar fitted at our garage, and we tell you the price in advance.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

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