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About LinkBackswhats the law on useing to tow a car?
dose the car being towed need tax,mot, inscurance?
can you use one with a normal car licence?
thats the wheight size limit of the car being towed?
whats the law on useing to tow a car?
dose the car being towed need tax,mot, inscurance?
can you use one with a normal car licence?
thats the wheight size limit of the car being towed?
If the car has wheels on the ground at all, it needs to be as legal as if it were driven, AIUI.
If you got your licence after Sept 1996 I think, you'll need to take a trailer test to tow anything.
The weight of car you can tow is limited depending on the car doing the towing, and if the trailer (if you're using one) has brakes.
They're there, in their room.
this company on ebay are saying you can use there fram on a car without taxt mot and insurance??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-FRAME-TOWING...QQcmdZViewItem
A-frames eh? I have one and its really usefull. As for the law...well, they arent illegal. Neither are they strictly legal though.
I asked a copper once. He said "dunno, as long as it looks safe, I wouldnt be bothered"
Technically, they are for recovery of a broken down car from where ts broken down to a place of safety or a nearby garage, and not to be used to transport cars.
Once the frame is clamped on the towed car is classed as a trailer, so doesnt need MOT or tax. Your towcars insurance should give third-party cover to anything it tows. (check this though, not all policies do)
Things get tricky with weights though. Any trailer over 750 kgs legally needs brakes that act on all wheels. A car on an a-frame weighs more than 750 (unless its a kit car or severely stripped) so the "trailer" is illegal. My a-frame is a fancy one with an overrun coupling and a widget which clamps to the seat in the towed car. When I brake, the frame pulls a cable which goes in through the window of the second car to this mechanism, which presses the brake pedal on the towcar. It works, but as I understand it, its not up to spec for trailer brakes so is still illegal.
Its a grey area, and asking this on any forum always brings out three responses. the "A-what?" the "YOU TWAT ITS DANGEROUS AND WILL COME UNHOOKED AND WIPE OUT A BUS LOAD OF NUNS ON THEIR WAY TO CHARITY WORK IN SOMALIA" and the folk who just quietly get on and use them when needed (like me) and who think they are fantastically usefull.
Yes, you cant beat a proper trailer, but have a look on ebay and find me a decent transporter (with brakes on all 4 wheels) in decent nick for under a grand. They are rare, with prices for a good one starting from £600 up to about £1500
£150 for an a-frame that folds away into the boot of the car for storage cant be beaten.
As Mr Dickson said, I was always led to believe that they werent really legal. Its a shame as they are such a neat solution.
hang on.... Mr dickson..... if we find a good way to interface with the car brakes then are we laughing? *adorns thinking cap*
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Total Carlton (Carlton Forum)
i dont know how many UVs ive seen towing wee cars like cinqs on the back using these A frames.
rodgerq
thick red - battery, thin black - igntion switched feed, thick red/blue - fuel pump, brown/blue - ecu light. thin green - rev counter.
Yeah, but I bet they're taxed and insured. Ben wants it as a means getting around that.
But I agree, use one, be sensible and you'll probably be OK.
They're there, in their room.
yeah thats a good point. i'm sure i read a while back that if 2 wheels are off the ground it doesnt need to be taxed etcx
rodgerq
thick red - battery, thin black - igntion switched feed, thick red/blue - fuel pump, brown/blue - ecu light. thin green - rev counter.
re the brakes - mine is a "universal" fit, its actually an ex AA thing. It has a coupling like a trailer and a big long cable. the thing clamps onto the drivers seat and has a leg which clamps to the brake pedal. The towcar brakes, the coupling compresses, the cable pulls and the leg presses the pedal.
Problem is, there is a bit of "give" in the seat so it doesnt press very hard, plus as the cars engine isnt running there is no servo-assistance.
There are specific ones ained at the motorhome folk. You get a very basic a-frame and a fitting kit specific to the car you want to tow. The kit is permanantly bolted to the car, which leaves two wee fixing opints sticking out the front slightly. the a-frame clamps onto this and is very easy to install. there is also a cable system connected to the brake pedal, but its a properly installed thing that goes through a wee hole in the cars floor and clips to the brake pedal....seemingly quite effective.
The copper I spoke to said as long as it looked ok he wouldnt be bothered, but i doubt that would work as a defence in court!
As long as you arent using a metro to pull a senator, as long as the towed car is complete, doesnt have bald tyres or bits hanging off and as long as you use a trailer lighting board, you will probably be ok.
Having said that though, seemingl;y the police are having a bit of a crack-down on shonky trailers, overloaded trailers, loads too heavy for the towcar etc due to a massive increase in people transporting cars long distances due to ebay etc.
I have been told by a fair few coppers that if the car towing a car is insured and taxed the car being towed becomes a trailer and needs no tax, insurance. As long as the car is road safe and your not taking it on a huge road trip you are fine.
Had my father-in-law tow a car with me last week for 25 miles, no tax, insurance or mot but was in good nick and he's an ex-traffic cop.
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My understanding is anything over 750kg and unbraked is illegal. Apart from A-frame/dolly use to recover a broken down car from the road in an emergency.
If your towing a track/scrap/just purchased car your gonna have trouble saying its a recovery if its no tax mot or insurance.
Having said that ive used a tow dolly numerous times and never been stopped , much easier towing a trailer though i found.
The thing is, all of the Cinquecento models are under 750kg dry.Originally Posted by rodgerq
I got my licence in Jan 97, I have towed loads of cars. Granted I have always had a thought it isn't legit but where the hell do you get a trailer licence from?
You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong.
Warren Buffett.
Apply to your local DVLA who'll tell where to apply for a test.
Quick Google throws up this site, interesting panel on the right about legality.
http://www.trailertraininguk.co.uk/?...FQ0eEgodPXxcEA
I'm OK, I passed Spet '96. I wonder if it's the same for towing a broken car with a tow rope...? Gotta be a different set of rules there.
They're there, in their room.
I passed in 99 and towed trailers for years, until 6mths ago when i got pulled over with an empty trailer (300kgs) with a blown brake light bulb. 3pts £60 fine for being out of my licence conditions (LC20). Youre allowed to tow 750kgs without the licence add on but if the trailer is plated for more like mine was (4tonne) then its illegal even though mine was empty weighing 300kgs!!!
Youve been warned!
DRIZZ
DEVELOPMENTS
Thats harsh mate , i would have been quite happy to tow an empty trailer thinking i was legal.
My thoughts exactly!
DRIZZ
DEVELOPMENTS
i passed in 2000 so will need to take the test.
what licence would a beaver tail or spec truck be under? dont think i will have that class tho on my licence.
should be ok with those being under 3.5t
DRIZZ
DEVELOPMENTS
i drive a 3.5 ton transit on a standard licence so a beaver tail tranny would be fine for you ben.
i tow my tigra where ever i race with it never been stopped with it.
am going up to scotland this weekend to pick a saab up and it will be on an a frame.
my tow car is an omega estate.
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