Spain imposes €400 fine for illegal tow hitch installations

The Spanish Official Gazette (BOE) confirmed that vehicles equipped with a tow hitch (bola) that has not been properly homologated can be fined up to €400. The regulation requires the hitch to be installed by an authorized workshop and to be accompanied by a conformity report and an installation certificate. During the technical vehicle inspection (ITV), authorities will check that the installation complies with Real Decreto 920/2017, article 12.

A separate €200 penalty applies if the hitch obstructs visibility of the vehicle's registration plate. The rule is part of the anti‑tuning legislation aimed at ensuring that tow hitches are installed safely and do not compromise vehicle identification.