Warning! Are you going to Spain or Italy and do you have a bike carrier on the tow bar?

Warning! Are you going to Spain or Italy and do you have a bike carrier on the tow bar? Then keep the following in mind: you obviously need the white license plate. You are not allowed to place a country sticker on it (in my case NL)! But you *must* have a country sticker on the carrier! It is also mandatory to place two signs. Perhaps a bit excessive, but still... If you don't, the fine in Spain is 150 euros, and in the worst-case scenario, you won't be allowed to continue driving!
I attached the boards with zip ties. Use strong ones; I used 360 mm long ones. Pull them tight so the boards don't flap and you don't damage the bike. At your destination, just cut them loose. They cost about 15 cents each online.
I attached the carrier and the bike to the tow bar; there is a small opening under the ball that a long padlock fits through perfectly. Then I secured it with a chain and cables. That might seem a bit excessive, but what could happen? Crooks park a large van next to your Cali, cut everything loose with bolt cutters, and your (expensive) bike is gone!
One more little tip: place a tennis ball at the end of your handlebars. This can prevent your handlebars from going through your rear window, for example when braking abruptly.
Have a safe trip!

Forget the tennis ball, take the appropriate allen key with you and turn the handlebars.

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Forget the tennis ball, take the appropriate allen key with you and turn the handlebars.

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Well said that man.

What's with the white plate requirement and is that a thing for us Brits too?

Lost Boy said:

What's with the white plate requirement and is that a thing for us Brits too?

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That's a Dutch numberplate

RedWhiteMonkey said:

That's a Dutch numberplate

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I know that but they are normally yellow when on the car, so wondered if that was a Dutch requirement or a Spanish/Italian one?

Lost Boy said:

I know that but they are normally yellow when on the car, so wondered if that was a Dutch requirement or a Spanish/Italian one?

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White ones are used in Holland for caravans, small trailers and bike carriers. Dutch requirements, not required by Spain, Italy or any ithe country.

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Forget the tennis ball, take the appropriate allen key with you and turn the handlebars.

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I am not sure if I can turn the handlebars of my bike (Cube). In any case, not just like that...
If that can be done easily, then you are of course absolutely right.

According to my information, this is European regulation. But anyway, I don't know how that is regulated in the UK. In any case, this applies to every Dutch car. There are many Dutch users affiliated with the California Owners Club. Maybe I should only post this in Dutch next time... I'm just trying to help! So if you get pulled over in the Netherlands or Spain and get a ticket, I have warned you.

RedWhiteMonkey said:

White ones are used in Holland for caravans, small trailers and bike carriers. Dutch requirements, not required by Spain, Italy or any ithe country.

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You are right, but you are not allowed to put an NL sticker on the white plate. However, in Spain you do need an NL sticker on the bike carrier.

RedWhiteMonkey said:

White ones are used in Holland for caravans, small trailers and bike carriers. Dutch requirements, not required by Spain, Italy or any ithe country.

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To be precise, then, our country is called the Netherlands, not Holland. Holland is the name of the two coastal provinces, North Holland and South Holland.

Allard Jongebloed said:

I am not sure if I can turn the handlebars of my bike (Cube). In any case, not just like that...
If that can be done easily, then you are of course absolutely right.

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Presumably still turns but looks possibly too complicated for a quick twist.

Allard Jongebloed said:

To be precise, then, our country is called the Netherlands, not Holland. Holland is the name of the two coastal provinces, North Holland and South Holland.

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Apologies, of course the Netherlands is the proper name.

I realize I may have caused some confusion with my post. Just for the UK, if you fit a bike carrier on the towbar, it must have a UK sticker on it. Image one, not ok, image two ok... With image one, you must have a separate sticker.

Allard Jongebloed said:

To be precise, then, our country is called the Netherlands, not Holland. Holland is the name of the two coastal provinces, North Holland and South Holland.

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So why did we used to play HOLLAND at the World Cup?

Wannabecamperman said:

So why did we used to play HOLLAND at the World Cup?

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Hahaha, you mean the UK versus Holland, or England versus the Netherlands (World Cup 1990)? Or maybe you are Scotsman, Welsh... Oh, I see, Birmingham...

I think we're straying a bit from our topic...

Lost Boy said:

I know that but they are normally yellow when on the car, so wondered if that was a Dutch requirement or a Spanish/Italian one?

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In some countries you can get a third license plate with the same number as your regular ones but with a different colour. If you don't have one then you just transfer your regular rear number plate to the carrier.
The colour of the third plate is different so it can't be used on a car. The ones in Italy are yellow and my Swiss one is red.

I was in Italy for a bicycle meet 2 years ago with a large group of Italians. They asked me if the sign on the carrier was a Swiss requirement and were surprised when I told them that it was actually an Italian requirement. I'm guessing its not really enforced in Italy.

Allard Jongebloed said:

I realize I may have caused some confusion with my post. Just for the UK, if you fit a bike carrier on the towbar, it must have a UK sticker on it. Image one, not ok, image two ok... With image one, you must have a separate sticker.


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Image 2 is not ok as that’s the old GB sticker it now needs to be UK

For Spain the sticker on the end of the number plate isn’t enough, it needs to be a seperate white oval

That's what I love about Europe, conformity throughout the Union!

And in Portugal you can’t have bikes on a rear bike rack, or have I misread that?