Pulling a trailer - VOSA changes 4/12/2011

As someone who is in the know the vosa rule applies to any combination that exceeds or is capable of exceeding 3500 kg ie if the towing vehicle has a train weight of 4000kg and the combination as it is being used doesnt exceed 3500kg for example the trailer isnt loaded to its capacity.
Tachograph rules also apply as op licensing you will need a restricted op licence to move your own goods and a national op licence to move other peoples goods.You will fall into op licensing if there is any gain to be made ie entering a competion(even if you dont win!!) or someone getting you to move his car on the trailer for "fuel" money.
You dont need a cpc or transport manager for a restricted op licence but you do need money for maintenance needs per vehicle,a yard to park your vehicles and a maintenance contract.
Basically very complicated and can be expensive,dont fall foul of the "I didnt know policy" as it doesnt work both vosa and the police will issue fixed penalties inc points on your licence for overloading vehcile and trailer combinations,incorrect licence type if you passed your test after 1999 ( car licence).
Best answer dont put yourself into any situation where you will fall foul of the regulations.

Grrrr... whats the 'ing point of having a trailer in the first place if you cant load the stupid thing. As soon as you stick another frontey (or anything come to that larger than a kids buggy) on it and hook it up your stuffed. I hope the french etal are gonna sign up and obay it as well (not holding me breath though).

So..... if you spot a bargain on fleabay, hook up the trailor and go get it your going to need an op licence? Or would say keeping the fleabay motor for a 'time' registering it/insurance etc in your name and running it to the shops and back a few times before selling on would you then escape the op licence and only need the restricted licence?

I bet this idea was thought up by some libdem voting bicycle riding tree hugging lentil fan out to get anything and everything thats remotely fun/usefull off the road.

The only good thing is thinking about all the piky's that are gonna have to get the op licence to be able to drag their vans around as they infestate the place on the other hand vosa/the cops will just ignore them anyway cos it's against their 'uman rights init', either that or they'll get a right kicking when trying to enforce it.

This country makes me sick sometimes. Come back Maggie, at least you had some balls unlike the current bunch of twonks.

Gonna be some cheap car trailors coming up on fleabay soon though :lol:

I'm not swallowing that, sorry...
I refuse to believe even our gov't and VOSA would require everyone to have even a restricted o-license before they can use a transporter trailer.

The local VOSA office is next to the scrappy I'm visiting on Monday, I'll pop in and ask a simple question.

ive sent an email to a friend who is vosa/tacho an all transport related investigator hoping to get an answer sometime today :drink:

It'll be good to get the answers from the horses mouth, so to speak - but I think what is being missed are the key words. In the initial post the links does say, 'if the proposals go through' also the 4/12/11 is the date and for me the key is the current 'exemption' of the trailer. Also this is coming from the EU, with the UK having to look to conform. Hopefully if John gets the answers as well as what the 'police' line/instructions will be, we'll all know if this is going to become an issue or not. Fingers crossed it's only hype in the sky, but it will be good to know for sure.

Last edited by Retro Pedro on Thu Nov 24, 2011 6:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

yet another example of the bloody stupid coming out with the bloody ridiculous!,and this is partially down to the discretion of plod,whether or not you are an operator by what almost borders on entrapment by question and whether or not you are plausable enough when answering,so anyone with motortrade insurance covering a tow vehicle will be instantly on the rack,by its very definition.

You are so right it all depends on the initial answers given to questions asked by vosa or police officers..........this is the horses mouth so to speak!!

Re Insurance.
Are you insured to tow?
If you get caught towing or transporting goods for hire and reward or transporting commercial goods on private insurance then, OK, you could get fined...points...etc.
But in a serious accident the insurers could refuse to pay all but the minimum third party claims and leave the wreckage in your lap.