i have aquired a 2001 polo sport tho the car has not been on the road for a few years. what are the laws on towing it as it has no tax or mot. i tried a quick search online but wondering if anyone knows a definate answer to this?
If it's with a rope than you can't have it on the road. A-frame isn't quite as clear cut but might be alright provided you have the rig set-up safely and aren't going too far. Transporter trailer would probably be the best bet though to be honest.
I used to believe an Aframe was A-ok to tow with but i raised it with my policy people at work and was informed that if any wheels are on the ground then the vehicle requires Tax, MOT and Insurance when being towed... Best option is to either get a recovery agent to transport it for you or use a trailer...
I was always under the impression (at a very high level) that with the A-frame attached the car technically becomes a trailer, this brings a new set of rules into play though and it'll not be fit for purpose seeing as not all wheels are braked appropriately. Supposedly OK for recovery purposes. I wouldn't be comfortable arguing it with the Police at the side of the road mind you so have avoided A-frames and just used a transporter. I guess another way to look at is, at what point does a car to trailer (like those cars you see chopped in half) conversion officially become a trailer?
If you need it trailered over the weekend, give me a shout Jacko At least that way it will be insured and legal..
This is such a grey area and there is no precedant set in law yet and is open to an officers or his forces interpretation of the law. The only facts I could establish from lots of research is A tow rope can only be used to move a vehicle from a dangerous postion to a position of safety and no further. An A-frame can be used to tow a vehicle if the vehicle weighs less than 750kg, if the towed vehicle weighs more than 750kgs then the A-frame must be able to operate the towed vehicles brakes. A dolly (where the towed vehicles front wheels are strapped to the dolly and the rear wheels are on the ground) can be used if the towed vehicle and the dollies combined weigh is less than 750kgs, if the combined weigh is more than 750kgs then the dolly needs to have its own brakes. If using a trailer then the trailer and the vehicle on the trailers combined weigh must not exceed the tow vehicles towing capacity. If any of the towed vehicles wheels are in cotact with the road then it needs to be Taxed and Insuranced, it does not need MOT as it is not being driven on the road under its own power. All above apart from the tow rope need a tailboard on the back of the towed vehicle too. Yeah coog if your going down the "A-frame attached the car technically becomes a trailer, this brings a new set of rules" regarding weights but most cars weigh more than 750kgs and I've never seen an A-frame that operates the towed vehicles brakes. This basically makes using an A-frame illegal. Avo could you maybe check this with "policy people" but I fear until a precedant is set it will remain a very grey area. Cheers
My understanding is that if the car is not taxed or MOT'd it shouldn't be on the road, i./e towed, as its not legal in at least 1 of these 2 areas. If it's not taxed/mot'd then insurance wont cover you (traders may be different). Best option is to lend a transporter and get all 4 wheels off the ground. However, I have heard that if a car is below weight X (not sure) and only 2 wheels are on the ground, it can be classed as a trailor....
I'd say the above sums it up. A-frame may appear legal in some respects, but then it falls foul of the unbraked weight etc. In reality there actually isnt any legal way to tow an un-manned vehicle ( no way of applying the brakes, and virtually no towed car will weigh less than 750kg ) So there is no legal way it can be on the road un-manned either. There are some excellent dolly's available, but the brakes on a dolly do not count as a braked trailer, as the wheels of the tow vehicle are still unbraked. They dont like to make this stuff easy.
I was always under the impression from previous experiences/comments, that the towed vehicle cannot be on the ground if not road legal. Just make sure your own insurance covers you for towing if you go that route, easy way to get caught out too Id maybe take Nicky up on his offer to save he headaches i its not just round the corner myself...
thanks for all the replys. i asked in the local police station and they stated that it need to be taxed and insured to be towed. i will give you a pm nicky shorty and see you right! thanks very much again every one
Motorhomoists have been doing this for years now. http://www.caratow.com/system.php The systems tend to be more expensive than a decent transporter though. I assume by 'weight' you mean MAM? Anyway, looks like Nicky has the man sorted out
http://www.caratow.com/system.php Holy crap thats alot of work "The brake cable is routed through the front area of the car, bolted through the bulkhead and attached to the brake pedal. Not very practical in the context of the OP and wouldn't fancy cutting up the front of the car. Cheers