Towing vehicle that has no mot/insurance

[Norse]

As subject says

Googling isnt helping fully. some people are saying aslong as the towbar is solid it'd transform the car into a trailer so i'd just have to make sure trailer board with working lights was attached wheras others say a dolly is fine THEN others say its still a car being towed so must have mot/insurance.

[dt1968]

hi, it is a very iffy subject this.. i investigated this thoroughly as, up untill a few months back i did a lot of recovery work using a towing dolly and also an a-frame. The law has now been altered and it is now the rule that should a vehicle have any wheel on the ground then it must be taxed/motd and insured in its own right. there were a lot of grey areas but this has now been amended to this new ruling to clarify once and for all. an a-frame no longer makes a vehicle a trailer in effect !! trailer is the only legal way of transporting a vehicle without mot/tax and insurance.

[Norse]

[AskDean]

Department for Transport factsheet on the subject is available here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicle ... frames.pdf

In summary:-
"From the above I hope it is clear that we believe the use of "A" frames to tow cars behind other vehicles is legal provided the braking and lighting requirements are met. However, while this is our understanding of the meaning of the Regulations, it is only the Courts which can reach a definitive interpretation of the law."
Source(s):
Department for Transport

so if you can borrow a dolly your safer as you simply put a light board over the back of the car with the towing cars plate on and it is a trailer.

how far are you going as if it is local then not a problem if it a bit further then for peice of mind these HSS rent car trailers
http://www.hss.com/g/60257/Car-Transporter-Trailer-2000kg.html

search for something like this local to you and see if they will rent it you

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/towing-dolly/88964198

[AskDean]

[Rifleman]

The first reply is correct. The vehicle being towed MUST be totally off the ground.
Trailer / transporter / or spec lift with the rear wheels on dollies.
But the latter has speed restrictions and distance restrictions.

[dt1968]

also, just to add that dollys now have to be braked versions to comply with the new laws !hence a lot of cheep non braked appearing on ebay just lately.

[Rifleman]

They are no good now, unless the vehicle is street legal. ALL wheels must be off the ground.
I have a mate in the trade who has been to court over this, and so has a local vehicle dismantler, as their truck which is a double platform and spec arrangement, is not allowed to use the spec without rear dolly wheels.
This is the reason that when the police uplift illegally parked cars, they are craned onto a platform truck.

[Norse]

so trailer it is hmmmmmm now to hunt down a trailer that can take a 1900KGish fronty

[Rifleman]

If its being scrapped, they will usually pick it up for free these days.

[dt1968]

if your towing that weight what vehicle are you goin to use to tow with?? as i believe the trailer and load combined cannot weigh more than 75% of the tow vehicles weight although i may be wrong

[Norse]

[fudge]

As far as i know Greg has one that can take it no prob

[BadBoy]

If you add it to trade insurance you still have the problem of MOT.
However there is a loophole which allows you to drive to and from any MOT station in the UK without tax, provided you're pre-booked and only travel on the day directly to and from the station via a reasonable route
All you need to do is find an MOT station near the picnic site which is open for MOT's on Sunday's.

[dt1968]

not wishing to be a kill joy,, just tryin to keep you within the boundaries of the law... if u get stopped on trade plates (which are registered to the garage) you could find the police will check that you are an actuall employee of that company and can check with d of employment to see if you are an employee. if it comes to light that you arent,, and it will,... youll be open to a whole new world of poo !!! really not worth the grief mate.

[Norse]

[Loki]

Hey mate

i had to tow a car i was restoring, gave the police a call to make sure it was ok and they said if any of the wheels are touching the ground its has to have tax, mot and insurance just incase anything happens accident wise

[Bigga]

think the mot station has to be the closest one to you......

anyhow,i have a trailer that will take most things up for sale shortly,had a 2.1 ton disco on there without a problem,4 wheeled braked,if anyone interested !

[Norse]

[Frenchfarmer]

False use of trade plates can be a go to jail job.