Towing a broken down vehicle - Page 2

bob13 · Nov 28th, 2006, 11:14

The way i understand the law when towing a untaxed and uninsured car is if the front wheels are off the ground when being towed it is classed as a trailer.

Towing on the motorway with a rope is a no no. The police may turn a blind eye if only towing a short distance to get to a safe area. I think the same goes for a pole but if the car is taxed etc towing on non motorway road is ok i belive.

If you have a long distance to go with no tax etc a trailer is the best way and then a good 'A' frame that gets the front wheels up.

LankyTim · Nov 28th, 2006, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob13

The way i understand the law when towing a untaxed and uninsured car is if the front wheels are off the ground when being towed it is classed as a trailer.

.

I was looking into buying an old "spec lift" leyland daf truck recently. Apparently even if the front wheels are off the ground the car still has to be taxed and moted. I dont believe it, but thats what someone "in the know" told me.

bob13 · Nov 28th, 2006, 14:56

Like most gray areas of the law it is down to the person who reads it and how they understand it. And that goes for the police aswell !

LankyTim · Nov 28th, 2006, 15:03

The weirdest thing is that some recovery vehicles can be classed as "mot exempt" thats is, they never have to be MOTed as the certificate they have lasts forever. The exemption is only valid aslong as the trucks being used for the recovery of broken down vehicles but to date ive never known of anyone being done even though they were transporting race cars or scrap metal. Theoretically an invalid MOT would invalidate the insurance as well, leading to all kinds of problems.

Mike_Brace · Nov 30th, 2006, 17:09

Judging by the recent campaigns against untaxed vehicles I would be certain that whether or not it is being towed it needs to be taxed if it is on the public highway and could be impounded. Retreival becomes expensive - towing fee deposit against tax or tax disc and then a fine. They are making it not worth the risk. They can even be akward about taking to a pre-booked MOT and from what I was told it is not legal after getting the MOT to drive it to the post office to tax it! At the ned of the day no valid tax and the vehicle is liable to be seized and you can argue afterwards about it. A lot of garages in our area ran into trouble with untaxed vehicles parked on the road awaiting work or MOT.

Mike

Mike

Glen Morangie · Dec 1st, 2006, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_Brace

They can even be akward about taking to a pre-booked MOT and from what I was told it is not legal after getting the MOT to drive it to the post office to tax it!

What? Where did you hear this - surely that would make it impossible to return a SORN vehicle to the road.

I can understand the 'Post Office trip' being arguably unnecessary, but it must be possible to take a car to a pre-booked MOT. (From some of my other posts you might have seen I do this from time to time!).

(BTW Mike sorry for not following up on the hinge | asked you about a while ago - my 240 is currently 'off the road')

Mike_Brace · Dec 2nd, 2006, 21:12

This was from a DVLA enforcement officer. The crunch being how far away - it must be local and there is no legal definition of local. In our area your "local" garage might be up to 20 mile away. As has been discussed elsewhere some MOT stations do not promore confidence. I was also told that if it failed and you wanted to take it back for repair this would not be legal nor would driving it away after testing. It seems one is at the mercy of the particular person involved and the attitude is no MOT we impound and you can fight it out. I know one garage had a car booked in and it was left on the highway and seized. It should have been left on the forecourt.
It seems that at the end of the day the "system" only wants cars that are permanently taxed and MOT and will make it as hard as possible for those that do not fit into the system. One heard a lot of stories of cars that were seized illegally and later returned including off of drives (that might have appeared to possibly be highway). Whether these stories are true is another matter but judging by the attitude when I was paid a visit I find it wholey believable.

Mike

radiomark · Dec 3rd, 2006, 14:08

According to www.askthe.police.uk you can drive to and from Mot station and I read somewere on official website that you can also drive to garage for repairs.

LankyTim · Dec 3rd, 2006, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiomark

According to www.askthe.police.uk you can drive to and from Mot station and I read somewere on official website that you can also drive to garage for repairs.

Thats what ive heard too, although over zealous enforcement and an attitude of "seize first ask questions later" seems to be becoming normal.

If you dont win your car back within a certain amout of time it gets crushed too!

stephen-in-hull · Dec 6th, 2006, 10:42

I went onto our local (Humberside Nick) pages of the national Plod Web enquire within upon (almost) everything.

http://www.askthe.police.uk/

http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/default.mth

I also asked a specific question:

What are the rules for towing, using rope, chain or pole, on a motorway of
MOT-failed, or partly restored car where the vehicle under tow does not
have valid tax disc?

This question arises from a query on the Volvo Owners' Club forum.

I also posted a link to this thread, but I can't tell from the reply if the respondent has read our thread.

The Plod reply was as follows:

Hello Stephen

Your question relates to a topic already covered on the web site. Please
see question number(s) Q558 for relevant information. See below for a link
to the question.

http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q558.htm

The question above relates to towing a vehicle that is taxed. If the
vehicle is not taxed and is not on its way to or from a pre arranged
appointment at an MOT testing station then all 4 wheels must be off the
road. The vehicle is a trailer but is also still a vehicle and must be
taxed and insured if it is on the road.

Please note:
PNLD does not have the resources to research every email in depth. This
reply is intended as a guide only. The advice you are given is based on the
information provided. You are advised to seek professional advice before
any further action is taken, see Terms and Conditions for further
information.

(By the way, the textual emphasis in the passage above is mine!)

So, I rather think that my earlier gut feeling refers if the towed vehicle isn't an utter wreck, and it has a decent towing arrangement, and in particular a proper caravan style light panel plugged into the towing vehicle's electrics, and a number plate for the towing vehicle on display.

It still doesn't answer the 64,000 Euro question as to whether it is acceptable to choose an MOT station in John O'Groats, passing dozens of others on the way, pre-booked appointment or not.

I guess it comes down to the professionalism with which you tow, and the kind of "That looks suspicious, I'll pull him over!" profile that you present en route.

Nov 28th, 2006, 15:03	#14
LankyTim Missing the point Last Online: Feb 5th, 2023 23:12 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stoke-On-Trent View Photos By: LankyTim	The weirdest thing is that some recovery vehicles can be classed as "mot exempt" thats is, they never have to be MOTed as the certificate they have lasts forever. The exemption is only valid aslong as the trucks being used for the recovery of broken down vehicles but to date ive never known of anyone being done even though they were transporting race cars or scrap metal. Theoretically an invalid MOT would invalidate the insurance as well, leading to all kinds of problems. __________________ Tim 1968 Volvo 145 long term project. Currently without a Volvo daily driver.

Nov 30th, 2006, 17:09	#15
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	Judging by the recent campaigns against untaxed vehicles I would be certain that whether or not it is being towed it needs to be taxed if it is on the public highway and could be impounded. Retreival becomes expensive - towing fee deposit against tax or tax disc and then a fine. They are making it not worth the risk. They can even be akward about taking to a pre-booked MOT and from what I was told it is not legal after getting the MOT to drive it to the post office to tax it! At the ned of the day no valid tax and the vehicle is liable to be seized and you can argue afterwards about it. A lot of garages in our area ran into trouble with untaxed vehicles parked on the road awaiting work or MOT. Mike Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Dec 2nd, 2006, 21:12	#17
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	This was from a DVLA enforcement officer. The crunch being how far away - it must be local and there is no legal definition of local. In our area your "local" garage might be up to 20 mile away. As has been discussed elsewhere some MOT stations do not promore confidence. I was also told that if it failed and you wanted to take it back for repair this would not be legal nor would driving it away after testing. It seems one is at the mercy of the particular person involved and the attitude is no MOT we impound and you can fight it out. I know one garage had a car booked in and it was left on the highway and seized. It should have been left on the forecourt. It seems that at the end of the day the "system" only wants cars that are permanently taxed and MOT and will make it as hard as possible for those that do not fit into the system. One heard a lot of stories of cars that were seized illegally and later returned including off of drives (that might have appeared to possibly be highway). Whether these stories are true is another matter but judging by the attitude when I was paid a visit I find it wholey believable. Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Dec 6th, 2006, 10:42	#20
stephen-in-hull stephen-in-hull Last Online: Sep 22nd, 2007 14:09 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kingston-upon-Hull	Plod web answer I went onto our local (Humberside Nick) pages of the national Plod Web enquire within upon (almost) everything. http://www.askthe.police.uk/ http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/default.mth I also asked a specific question: What are the rules for towing, using rope, chain or pole, on a motorway of MOT-failed, or partly restored car where the vehicle under tow does not have valid tax disc? This question arises from a query on the Volvo Owners' Club forum. I also posted a link to this thread, but I can't tell from the reply if the respondent has read our thread. The Plod reply was as follows: Hello Stephen Your question relates to a topic already covered on the web site. Please see question number(s) Q558 for relevant information. See below for a link to the question. http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q558.htm The question above relates to towing a vehicle that is taxed. If the vehicle is not taxed and is not on its way to or from a pre arranged appointment at an MOT testing station then all 4 wheels must be off the road. The vehicle is a trailer but is also still a vehicle and must be taxed and insured if it is on the road. Please note: PNLD does not have the resources to research every email in depth. This reply is intended as a guide only. The advice you are given is based on the information provided. You are advised to seek professional advice before any further action is taken, see Terms and Conditions for further information. (By the way, the textual emphasis in the passage above is mine!) So, I rather think that my earlier gut feeling refers if the towed vehicle isn't an utter wreck, and it has a decent towing arrangement, and in particular a proper caravan style light panel plugged into the towing vehicle's electrics, and a number plate for the towing vehicle on display. It still doesn't answer the 64,000 Euro question as to whether it is acceptable to choose an MOT station in John O'Groats, passing dozens of others on the way, pre-booked appointment or not. I guess it comes down to the professionalism with which you tow, and the kind of "That looks suspicious, I'll pull him over!" profile that you present en route.

Nov 28th, 2006, 11:14	#11
bob13 Senior Member Last Online: Jul 20th, 2014 21:11 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bridgend View Photos By: bob13	The way i understand the law when towing a untaxed and uninsured car is if the front wheels are off the ground when being towed it is classed as a trailer. Towing on the motorway with a rope is a no no. The police may turn a blind eye if only towing a short distance to get to a safe area. I think the same goes for a pole but if the car is taxed etc towing on non motorway road is ok i belive. If you have a long distance to go with no tax etc a trailer is the best way and then a good 'A' frame that gets the front wheels up.

Nov 28th, 2006, 14:56	#13
bob13 Senior Member Last Online: Jul 20th, 2014 21:11 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bridgend View Photos By: bob13	Like most gray areas of the law it is down to the person who reads it and how they understand it. And that goes for the police aswell !

Dec 3rd, 2006, 14:08	#18
radiomark Senior Member Last Online: Mar 6th, 2020 14:24 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: eastbourneish View Photos By: radiomark	According to www.askthe.police.uk you can drive to and from Mot station and I read somewere on official website that you can also drive to garage for repairs.

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