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Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Graham Bullock on June 25, 2010, 11:49 am
Message modified by board administrator June 25, 2010, 1:53 pm

Does anybody have any firm information as to what can and can't be done when towing a vehicle please.

I ask because one of my customers was telling me his son, a newly qualified driver has just received a £60 fine and three points on his license after being stopped whilst towing his friends broken down car on a tow rope. Not speeding or doing anything daft, just sensibly towing.

All we can find on the DVLA website is how anybody who passes their test after 1st Jan 1997 does NOT have TRAILER rights as us older folk would. They will have to pass a separate test for larger trailers exceeding 3.5t MAM.

Nowhere can i find anything regarding towing a vehicle other than the usual forum talk about if a vehicle is on an A bar it is classed as an unbraked trailer and is illegal to tow unless fitted with an auxiliary braking system because it will weigh over 750kg but if this braking system is fitted then it is legal to tow with no tax test or insurance as it is trailer, but if it is on a towing bar with a driver in then it is legal as long as it is taxed tested and insured. I can not even confirm if the above is correct or not.

Has anybody any links to info please.

Thanks

Graham

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Colin Calder on June 25, 2010, 5:21 pm, in reply to "Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Colin Calder

licences obtained before 1 January 1997
If you passed a car test before 1 January 1997 you keep your existing entitlement to tow trailers until your licence expires. This means you're generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997
If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

The

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Graham Bullock on June 25, 2010, 6:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Graham Bullock

Thanks Colin, I had seen that, but what about say a VW Polo towing another Polo on the end of a rope? It is not a trailer and both will be under 3.5 tonnes MAM.

Graham

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Colin Calder on June 25, 2010, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"

Did the weight of both vehicles (joined together) exceed the 3.5T MAM allowed?
Did the weight of the towed vehicle (the trailer) exceed that of the towing vehicle?
If yes, then case to answer. (fair cop,guilty your honour, V sorry)
If no, then no case to answer. (not guilty m'lud)
The keyword being 'COMBINATION'
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or, a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle
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Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by les smith on June 27, 2010, 8:20 am, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Leslie Smith

Hi. If your towing a trailer you are using your brakes to slow the trailer down. If you are towing a car using a rope what slows down the towed car? No start, no servo brakes. Asking for trouble, no matter the law.
Les

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Tony Ludford on June 27, 2010, 11:49 am, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Tony Ludford

For the purposes of the law, a broken down car IS NOT a trailer. I believe there was a test case regarding broken down vehicles and towing dollys, which defines it, even though the dolly is a trailer, with a broken down car on it, it is no longer a trailer, but a means of moving a casualty vehicle.
I think he needs to find a good motoring law solicitor and appeal.

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Tony powell on June 27, 2010, 3:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Anthony Powell

sounds like the "officer" has taken the broken down car as a trailer and as it weighs more than 750kgs issued a ticket for driving outside his licence.

having driven for many years in both cars and HGV's i've come accross many "officers " that don't know the law. i agree with tony ludford find a motoring solicitor and contest it.

many "officers" issue fixed penalty notices knowing most will not be contested so get away with their mistakes and everyone is non the wiser!!

tony

Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #

Posted by Graham Bullock on June 27, 2010, 10:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Law regarding Towing a vehicle #"
Graham Bullock

Hi Les, To give the two lads some credit for their thinking they had diagnosed failed drive shaft splines, no drive but dive shaft was rotating, they had the engine running for power steering and braking. As it was I think they ended up causing an obstruction until a grown up appeared to move it, this probably caused more danger than towing.

Graham

Thanks for the replies, i will tell him to enquire with a solicitor.

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