TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED
Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is a UK-based e-commerce retailer and fitting service provider specializing in towbars, towbar electrics, trailer parts, roof bars, and cycle carriers, serving individual vehicle owners and trade customers through its website and two NTTA-accredited depots in Hull and Rotherham.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersHull, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED does
Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is a privately held UK retailer and service provider specializing in vehicle towing equipment and accessories. Operating under the trading names Towing Centres, Towing Centres UK, and Towone, the company has been a member of the National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA) since 1998 and is led by Director Glynne Raleigh, who has served on the NTTA Council since November 2009. Its core product range covers towbars (stockist for Witter, Westfalia, Brink, PCT, and Tow-Trust), towbar electrics (universal and dedicated wiring kits), trailer parts (Knott, AL-KO, BPW), cycle carriers, Thule roof bars and boxes, security products, and motorhome and caravan accessories, with a catalog of more than 15,000 SKUs spanning these categories.
The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer model combining a WooCommerce e-commerce storefront (towingcentres.com) with two NTTA-accredited physical fitting centres — Towone Towing Centre in Hull and Rotherham Towing Centre in Rotherham — that deliver professional towbar fitting, trailer servicing, and trailer hire. The Hull depot additionally offers hybrid/electric vehicle-trained technicians with vehicle coding and reprogramming capability, plus a two-year warranty on towbar fits and a free one-year safety check. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (towbars £200–£308, electric kits £130–£155), professional fitting services with non-refundable deposits, short-term trailer hire from the Hull depot (£35–£80/day), and trailer servicing from £96, supplemented by a separate trade account channel with distinct pricing and returns policies for business customers.
Geographically the company is UK-only and does not ship internationally, with both fitting centres concentrated in northern England. The company holds NTTA Quality Secured accreditation and 5-star workshop ratings tested annually under the NTTA QS Code of Practice, and offers free NTTA trailer safety checks at its depots. With only five employees and no disclosed external funding, Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is structured as a founder/management-owned specialist retailer relying on authorized-brand stockist relationships, regulatory credentials, and accumulated technical content rather than proprietary technology for its competitive position.
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED
- Legal name
- Towing Centres UK Ltd
- Website
- https://towingcentres.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is a UK-based e-commerce retailer and fitting service provider specializing in towbars, towbar electrics, trailer parts, roof bars, and cycle carriers, serving individual vehicle owners and trade customers through its website and two NTTA-accredited depots in Hull and Rotherham.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Towing Equipment Retail and Fitting Services
- NAICS
- All Other Support Activities for Transportation (488999)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lifting Accessories & Rigging (Slings, Shackles, Hooks, Spreaders) (IMAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time sale of physical products including towbars, electric kits, trailer parts, roof bars, security products, and cycle carriers. Products are sourced from world-leading manufacturers.
- Fitting Services: Professional towbar and trailer fitting services through sister company Towone Towing Centre. Non-refundable deposit required to confirm booking.
- Trailer Hire: Short-term trailer rental from Hull depot with daily, weekend, and weekly rates. Includes insurance coverage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Towbars - supply only pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trailer hire rates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trailer servicing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is a UK-based specialist retailer that supplies towing equipment and vehicle accessories — including towbars, electric wiring kits, trailer parts, cycle carriers, roof bars, and security products — sourced from world-leading manufacturers (Witter, Westfalia, Brink, PCT, Tow-Trust, Thule, Knott, AL-KO). Through its sister companies Towone Towing Centre (Hull) and Rotherham Towing Centre, it also provides NTTA-accredited towbar fitting, trailer servicing, and trailer hire.
Product overview
Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited operates as a specialized e-commerce retailer and service provider for vehicle towing equipment and accessories. The business is structured around three main pillars: (1) Product sales through WooCommerce including towbars (Witter, Westfalia, Brink, PCT, Tow-Trust brands), towbar electrics (universal and dedicated wiring kits), trailer parts (Knott, AL-KO, BPW), cycle carriers, roof bars (Thule), security products, and motorhome/caravan accessories; (2) Installation services through NTTA-accredited Towone Towing Centre offering towbar fitting with hybrid/electric vehicle trained technicians; and (3) Trailer services including hire (from Hull depot) and servicing (Hull and Rotherham depots starting at £96). The company has been NTTA members since 1998 and offers both supply-only and supply-plus-fitting options across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Towone Towing Centre: NTTA accredited fitting centre in Kingston Upon Hull offering towbar fitting, trailer services, trailer hire, and vehicle accessories
- Rotherham Towing Centre
Products and services
- Towbars
Quantifiable outcome
- Products from world-leading manufacturers ensure robust and appropriate fit for each vehicle
Companies that use TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WittercoreOfficial stockist of Witter towbars, a world-leading manufacturer. Witter products ensure quality, robustness, and appropriate fit for vehicles.
- WestfaliacoreOfficial stockist of Westfalia towbars, a world-leading manufacturer known for quality towing equipment.
- BrinkcoreOfficial stockist of Brink towbars and electric kits, a world-leading manufacturer. Products include fixed flange, detachable, and swan neck options.
- PCTcoreOfficial stockist of PCT towbars, providing quality options for vehicle-specific applications.
- Tow-TrustcoreOfficial stockist of Tow-Trust towbars, a world-leading manufacturer ensuring quality and vehicle compatibility.
- National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA)coreLong-term member since 1998. Glynne Raleigh, Director, serves on NTTA Council since November 2009. Company assessed annually under NTTA QS Code of Practice. Provides free NTTA trailer safety checks at fitting centres.
- ThuleminorStockist of Thule roof bars, roof boxes, and cycle carriers. Includes fitting kits and foot packs for various vehicle applications.
- Knott AvonridecoreStockist of Knott Avonride trailer parts and brake systems, a leading manufacturer of trailer components.
- AL-KOcoreStockist of AL-KO trailer parts including brake shoes and suspension systems. Manufacturer of quality trailer components.
- BPWminorStockist of BPW trailer brake shoes and components, a leading trailer axle and suspension manufacturer.
- KarttminorStockist of Kartt trailer parts, providing quality replacement components for trailers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ATS Euromaster: Major UK automotive service chain specialising in tyres, MOTs, and general vehicle maintenance. Comparable as a UK vehicle service network with multiple physical locations, but broader in scope than the towbar/trailer specialty of Towing Centres.
- Formula One Autocentres: UK automotive service chain offering tyres, MOTs, and vehicle repairs across multiple branches. Comparable as a UK vehicle service retailer with multi-location operations, though operating in a much broader and more commoditised service category than the towbar niche.
- Halfords Group plc: UK's largest automotive and cycling products retailer with fitting services across hundreds of stores. Comparable as a mass-market UK vehicle accessories retailer with installation services, but operates at much greater scale and product breadth than the specialist Towing Centres.
- National Tyres and Autocare: UK-wide automotive service chain offering tyres, MOTs, servicing, and repairs. Comparable as a UK vehicle service retailer with multiple branches, but operating at much greater scale and broader scope than the towbar-specialist Towing Centres.
- Kwik Fit: UK's largest automotive servicing and repair chain with hundreds of centres nationwide. Comparable as a UK automotive service business with multi-location coverage, though focused on tyres and general repairs rather than specialised towbar and trailer work.
- LKQ Euro Car Parts: UK's largest distributor of car parts, accessories, and equipment with extensive e-commerce and trade accounts. Comparable business model around automotive parts distribution, but at far greater scale and broader product range than Towing Centres.
Direct peers
- Witter Towbars: Leading UK towbar manufacturer that also sells directly to consumers and operates a national fitting network. Directly comparable as a UK towbar specialist; Towing Centres is also an official Witter stockist, making them both channel partner and partial competitor.
- Towsure: UK-based specialist retailer of trailer, towing, and outdoor accessories. Operates a similar niche specialty e-commerce model focused on the same UK consumer towing market as Towing Centres.
Others
- AL-KO: German manufacturer of trailer components including brake systems, axles, and chassis. Towing Centres is an official stockist of AL-KO trailer parts, making AL-KO a key supply partner with overlapping product categories in the trailer parts segment.
- Thule Group: Swedish manufacturer of roof racks, bike carriers, and active outdoor equipment sold globally. Towing Centres is an official Thule stockist for roof bars and cycle carriers, making Thule a key brand partner with overlapping product categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED social profiles
Digital presenceTOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED
What does TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED do?
Towing Centres (U.K.) Limited is a UK-based specialist retailer that supplies towing equipment and vehicle accessories — including towbars, electric wiring kits, trailer parts, cycle carriers, roof bars, and security products — sourced from world-leading manufacturers (Witter, Westfalia, Brink, PCT, Tow-Trust, Thule, Knott, AL-KO). Through its sister companies Towone Towing Centre (Hull) and Rotherham Towing Centre, it also provides NTTA-accredited towbar fitting, trailer servicing, and trailer hire.
Is TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED a public or private company?
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED founded?
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED based?
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED is headquartered in Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are fitting Services and trailer Hire.
Who are TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ATS Euromaster, Formula One Autocentres, Halfords Group plc, National Tyres and Autocare, Kwik Fit and LKQ Euro Car Parts. Direct peers are Witter Towbars and Towsure. Others are AL-KO and Thule Group.
Does TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED have an API?
No public API is recorded for TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED.
What industry is TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED in?
TOWING CENTRES (U.K.) LIMITED's product category is Towing Equipment Retail and Fitting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHABAJ, Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging), with a secondary code of IMAHAJAI, Lifting Accessories & Rigging (Slings, Shackles, Hooks, Spreaders). Its NAICS code is 488999 and its SIC code is 5013.