DEBATE- Towing a car on public road, legalities....

[Dan]

Didn't consider the weight thing. Good point there, Trist.

Well, that's a pain in the ***.

[re2500]

I agree with the comment on nasty trailers, some trailers can be far more dangerous than an A frame but potentially perfectly legal.....

I had a feeling this would open a can of worms

The car would be going to Charlie at pro-speed for exhaust mods, but i wouldnt be MOTing it or taxing it in Cardiff, i have a local MOT station that knows me and my cars, so i always take it there.

Just to clarify, the car would not be towed on the motorway it would be A-roads (dead easy to cardiff), it would be on an A frame, not some flimsy rope. And the vehicle towing would be the Discovery. So as far as i can tell the only issue here is the weight due to it being un-braked.

What a pain....

[Dan]

Well, if you were willing to MOT it in Cardiff this once, once you had an appointment booked there you'd be well within your rights to drive it to that appointment (and therefore Cardiff).

You could then sneak it to Pro-Speed on the way, get MOT and tax there and then drive back normally.

Assuming it drives and isn't unsafe.

[re2500]

Doesnt it have to be your local MOT station, for example you cant book and MOT at the otherend of the country and drive all the way? I dont know but i thought that was the case.
I think it might attract alot of attention with just the downpipe on though.

[Dan]

From S47 RTA 1988 - as in Traffic Officer's Companion:

Vehicles are exempt from the requirement for a test certificate when used for the following purposes:

a) i) submitting it by previous arrangement for, or bringing it away from, an examination

Can't see any mention of distance limitation further down. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Fair point though - might attract a bit of unwanted attention!

[re2500]

Fair enough, interesting to know!!

[Gompa]

It's all to do with looks as well though half the police force don't know the law it's a fact! I would say with a proper a-frame using a disco to tow it and with a light board you wouldn't even get a second look. If it's a small inappropriate car using a rope then you will get pulled and probably impounded to teach you a lesson.
Funny really I'm not allowed to tow a car trailer using a shogun jeep but I can take my bro's 7tonne tractor grab a trailer full of grass 14tonne and I ain't done anything illegal!!!! Madness

[4WheelDrifter]

You could tow it with a tractor, as they appear to be exempt from all traffic laws.

[re2500]

True, but it might take me a week to get there!

[S2central.net]

The previous suggestion is sound to me.... book MOT in your destination and get written confirmation of that to bring with you - then you are technically driving to the test location and should be legal in all respects.

The MOT system in NI is slightly different in that you book the car into local government test centres that are dotted around - NOT garages. Booking is all done on line so you can choose locations that are close for convenience or as I did - chose one that was much further away as they had a slot for retest the following day. Its all good.

[bluequattro]

Pre book the MOT, I always do and have never had any trouble.
As for the towing, it is classed as a trailer (ex father in law had his own large recovery firm and worked for th epolice, he gave me an a frame)
however, if over 750kg the a frame needs the attachment that makes the cars own brakes work, mine had one-strapped to the driver's seat and ten around the brake pedal, worked a treat
Towed a crash damaged 16v coupe 90 miles with no worry and did the same with a gt for 120ish miles
If the tow outfit looks good old bill normally ignore you
if its a manky home made trailer with knackered lights or a recovery truck with crap n glass over the bed n knackered straps then time how long it takes before you get pulled over
My recovery truck was old, but clean and I had new straps, I even moved cars for a few coppers with no problems ( one of them gave me 2 coupe quattros for moving 2 of his other cars!)
cover the plate on the car being towed if no tax or test, if a camera van or anpr gets you it will send a fine, just take th eplate off
either that or borrow a plate from a legal car in the same colour! I did that once for a short journey, red gt and coupe quattro looked the same to old bill

[daveknee]

I was under the impression the if the towed car had wheels on the ground then it needed an mot etc but that seem to have been answered! but just one more thing to think about i understand that is illega to tow a car onto a motor way! just something else to consider if your journey will involve using aone to get to your destination.