Towing a car (Skoda Octavia 5E)

Cars with manual transmission may be towed using a tow rope or a rigid hitch, as well as with the front or rear axle raised. Cars with automatic transmission may be towed using a tow rope or a rigid hitch, or with the front axle raised. Towing with the rear axle raised may damage the gearbox! The safest and best way for a car is to tow using a rigid hitch. Use of a tow rope is only permitted if there is no rigid hitch. Therefore, when towing, follow the instructions below.

To the driver of the towing vehicle

When starting off, especially with a soft coupling or with an automatic transmission, press the gas pedal especially carefully. In a car with a manual transmission, press the gas pedal only when the cable is taut. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.

To the driver of the towed vehicle

Switch on the ignition to prevent the steering wheel lock from working and to be able to use the direction indicators, horn, windscreen wiper and windscreen washer. Disengage the gear, and for automatic transmission, set the selector lever to position N. Remember that the brake booster and power steering only work when the engine is running. When the engine is switched off, you need to press the brake pedal especially hard and apply more force to turn the steering wheel. When using a tow rope, make sure that the rope is always taut.



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Caution! It is prohibited to start the engine by towing the car - risk of damage to the engine and catalytic converter! As a starting aid, you can use the battery of another car. If there is no oil in the gearbox due to a malfunction, towing is only permitted with the drive wheels raised (by partial loading method) or on a tow truck. If conventional towing is not possible or if the towing distance exceeds 50 km, the vehicle must be transported on a tow truck or trailer. The towing cable must be sufficiently elastic to avoid damaging both vehicles. Cables made of synthetic fibres or other elastic materials should be used for this purpose. Avoid excessive tension or jerking of the cable when towing. When towing on unpaved roads, there is a risk of overloading and damaging the fastening parts. The towing cable or rigid coupling must be attached to the towing eyes or to the removable ball end of the towing hitch.

Front bumper: cover removal/towing eye installation

Press the cover in area A. Remove the cover in the direction of arrow 1. After unscrewing the eyelet, install the cover: place edge B under the front bumper on the right and press the opposite edge. The cover should be securely fixed.

Removal and installation the towing eye

Screw the towing eye in by hand until it stops, turning it in the direction indicated by arrow 2. For tightening, you can use, for example, a wheel brace, an eye from another car or a similar object that can be inserted into the eye. Unscrew the towing eye, turning it in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 2.

Caution! The towing eye must be screwed in firmly and to the stop, otherwise it may come loose during towing.

Rear bumper: cover removal/towing eye installation

Press the cover in area A (in Octavia RS, Combi RS press on the right edge of the cover). Remove the cover in the direction of arrow 1. After unscrewing the towing eye, insert the part of the cover with the protrusion B under the upper side of the hole in the rear bumper (in Octavia RS, Combi RS under the right side of the hole). Press the bottom of the lid (in Octavia RS, Combi RS press on the left edge of the cover). The lid should be securely fixed.

Removal and installation the towing eye

Screw the towing eye in by hand until it stops, turning it in the direction indicated by arrow 2. To tighten it, you can use, for example, a wheel brace, an eye from another car or a similar object that can be inserted into the eye. Unscrew the towing eye, turning it in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 2.

D/m with towing hitch

If there is a standard towing hitch, there is no threaded hole under the cover. For towing, use the removable ball end of the towing hitch. Towing with a towing hitch is a full replacement for towing with a towing eye. If the towing hitch is completely removed, it must be replaced with a serial rear bumper reinforcement, part of which is also a mount for the towing eye. If this instruction is violated, the vehicle may not meet national requirements.

Note: The removable ball end should always be kept in the vehicle so that it can be used for towing if necessary.