Are Roll Cages, Including SW Motorsport and Safety Devices, TUV-Approved?
Roll cage guide
We are regularly asked whether roll cages from SW Motorsport and Safety Devices carry TUV approval, usually by customers thinking about road use in Europe. The short answer is no. These cages are built for motorsport, and the approval that matters for them in the UK is Motorsport UK's.
TUV approval is a German road approval for aftermarket parts. A roll cage bought for track days, racing or rallying is judged against motorsport rules. This guide explains what TUV is, what approvals the cages we sell do carry, and what to think about before fitting a cage to a road car.
- TUV is a German technical inspection body that approves parts for road use
- SW Motorsport and Safety Devices cages do not come with TUV approval
- Safety Devices list many cages as Motorsport UK Nationally Homologated, once the installation is approved by Safety Devices
- SW Motorsport cages we list are described as MSUK compliant
- For competition, check the cage against your championship's regulations
What is on this page
What TUV approval is
TUV, short for Technischer Uberwachungsverein, is the name used by German technical inspection organisations. They test and certify products, and for cars that includes approving aftermarket parts for road use. A TUV approved part has been inspected against German engineering and safety requirements.
TUV approval matters most in Germany and in some other European countries, where modifications to a road car may need that kind of paperwork. It is a road approval. It is not the standard motorsport uses to judge a roll cage.
Are SW Motorsport and Safety Devices cages TUV approved?
No. Neither SW Motorsport nor Safety Devices cages come with TUV approval. Both companies build cages for motorsport, track and competition use, and that is how the cages are designed and approved.
What they do carry, according to our listings, is UK motorsport approval:
- Safety Devices. Many of their cages are listed as Motorsport UK Nationally Homologated, with the condition that the installation has been approved by Safety Devices.
- SW Motorsport. The SW Motorsport cages we list are described as MSUK compliant.
Approval varies from cage to cage and design to design, so always read the approval line on the specific listing, and check it against what your class asks for.
A single car can have several cage designs to choose from. Safety Devices often offer a rear cage with a single diagonal or a cross diagonal, with or without door bars, and bolt in or weld in.
The design affects both the approval and how the cage suits the car's use, which is why the regulations for your championship are the place to start.
What approvals matter for a roll cage
Which approval you need depends on what you do with the car:
- Motorsport UK. For UK events run under Motorsport UK, the cage needs to meet their requirements for your class. Many Safety Devices cages are nationally homologated for this.
- FIA. International events run under FIA rules have their own cage requirements. Check your championship’s regulations if you compete abroad or in an international series.
- Installation. How a cage is fitted affects whether it meets the rules. Some approvals, like Safety Devices’ national homologation, depend on the installation being approved.
For competition, the regulations and the scrutineer have the final say, so read your class rules before you choose a cage.
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What about a road car?
TUV approval is not part of the UK system for road cars, so the lack of it does not stop a cage going into a UK road car. What matters is that the cage is properly installed and does not interfere with the car’s safety systems, such as seat belts and airbags. Many cages also need interior trim removed or modified to fit, which the listings say.
Outside the UK the rules differ, and in some European countries a road car modification may need TUV or similar approval. If you are fitting a cage to a road car abroad, check the local requirements first.
Garreth’s advice is to be honest with yourself about how the car will be used. A full multipoint cage suits a track or competition car; for a road car that sees occasional track days, a rear cage is often the more practical choice. If you are also fitting harnesses, our guide to running a harness with or without a roll cage covers the mounting side.
SW Motorsport and Safety Devices
SW Motorsport make bolt in roll cages for a wide range of cars, aimed at track day and motorsport use, along with cage accessories and DIY self assembly cages. You can see the range in our SW Motorsport roll cages section.
Safety Devices are one of the best known names in UK roll cages, making cages for competition, track and road cars, in bolt in and weld in forms. Browse them in our Safety Devices section.
Are Safety Devices roll cages TUV approved?
No. Many Safety Devices cages are listed as Motorsport UK Nationally Homologated, once the installation is approved by Safety Devices.
Are SW Motorsport roll cages TUV approved?
No. The SW Motorsport cages we list are described as MSUK compliant.
What is TUV approval?
It is a German road approval for aftermarket parts, issued by German technical inspection organisations.
Do I need a TUV approved roll cage in the UK?
TUV approval is not part of the UK system. For competition, the cage needs to meet your championship’s regulations.
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The short answerBuilt for motorsport, not TUV
Choose a cage by the motorsport approval your class asks for, not by TUV.
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