towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

Sat 22 Sep 07 23:08

towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

Hi guys,

anyone know what the law is on towing another car with a car?

If I wanted to buy a car who's MOT expired and had no tax but was essentially road worthy but engine knackered so needed work, am I allowed to tow that car with a taxed and MOTd and insured car? e.g. with a rope for about 10 miles?

If not, what are my options, and cheapest methods?

I have looked on google and some people seem to sat if you use a solid towing bar then the towed car can be said as being a trailer and so doesnt need mot and tax?

Anyone know the actual rules here? seems a bit grey and I'm too tight to pay a recovery truck.

Cheers

Aaron

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1974 C3 Convertible 350ci L48 Auto. Met Blue
1967 Ford Mustang Convertible 289ci V8
2004 MG ZT 260 V8 SE (1 of 882 made)

Sun 23 Sep 07 00:11

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

It used to be that a towed vehicle didn't even need a driver with a license. He would classed as a 'steersman' and wouldn't need one. Harks back to days of steam powered vehicles when it was the 'stoker' who held the license. I'm sure you are correct about solid tow bar now. It seems (certainly in London) that not too many people would concern themselves about the legalities of towing. How many trailers do you see without number-plates or even lights?

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'68 coupe - 4 speed - 3.08 - F41 - 489 cu in - 528 bhp @ 5850 rpm - 565 ft/lbs torque (766 Newton Metres) @ 3850 rpm - (225 bhp & 465 ft/lb Torque @ 2500 rpm)

Act like a juvenile before turning senile !

Sun 23 Sep 07 00:21

It's a grey area, and I had the same concern when I had to tow my car without its engine.

If it's a solid towing bar then I think there's a risk that your towed car is classed as a trailer, in which case it'll need to weigh within the towing vehicle's limit for an unbraked trailer. On my Audi A6 this limit is something low like 700kg so there's no way the Vette could be towed in that way.

The rules must cover the temporary recovery of a vehicle by using a tow rope but I guess the assumption is that the towed vehicle is legally on the road (i.e. with tax, insurance and MOT) and it's therefore all legit.

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Blue-with-white-stripes 1976 manual L82 since 1995
"A stiff upper lip is always well dressed when accompanied by mountains of torque and an indomitable will." -unsprung

Sun 23 Sep 07 08:27

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

First time I was was ever towed by another car we had a tow rope far, far too long. When entering a roundabout the towing vehicle was so slow pulling away that it gave time for another car to come around the roundabout, ignore (or not see) the fact we were towing, cut between both cars and get caught-up in tow rope. Car still didn't stop until it had managed to pull tow rope, lead car and towed back in to itself. The driver was so confused with what had happen she just drove off afterwards in dis-belief. Imagine having to fill out an insurance claim form for that!

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'68 coupe - 4 speed - 3.08 - F41 - 489 cu in - 528 bhp @ 5850 rpm - 565 ft/lbs torque (766 Newton Metres) @ 3850 rpm - (225 bhp & 465 ft/lb Torque @ 2500 rpm)

Act like a juvenile before turning senile !

Sun 23 Sep 07 18:33

Ben wrote (View Post): If it's a solid towing bar then I think there's a risk that your towed car is classed as a trailer, in which case it'll need to weigh within the towing vehicle's limit for an unbraked trailer. On my Audi A6 this limit is something low like 700kg so there's no way the Vette could be towed in that way.

The rules must cover the temporary recovery of a vehicle by using a tow rope but I guess the assumption is that the towed vehicle is legally on the road (i.e. with tax, insurance and MOT) and it's therefore all legit.

My understanding is that any car that actually rolls on the road must be MOTd and legal, even with an A-bar tow arrangement. The only legal way to transport a car that is not legal is on a low-loader trailer, wheels off the ground...

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Pete S.

May the Force be Quite a Long Way Behind You

Mon 24 Sep 07 10:11

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

thanks guys, yes unfortunately that's what I thought.

I would happily "bend the rules" but I dont want to get pulled over by the boys in blue for breaking the law if I cant tow a car that has no MOT.

I did think of another plan though - and by the way, this isnt for a VETTE but I thought I'd ask on here for sensible answers! I also have my old Rover 200 amoungst my obsessive car collection and I want to buy another one for a ton who's head gasket has gone so I can take all the goodies off it (like leather seats etc etc) and then scrap it. They weigh about 1050kg and I would be towing with a Volvo 960 3.0 24v estate.

Anyway, plan I thought is that my breakdown cover with GEM covers me not the car. Could I buy it, have it parked on the pavement or side of the rod and claim it'd broken down and get them to recover it home? they wouldnt check things such as MOT or tax would they?

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1974 C3 Convertible 350ci L48 Auto. Met Blue
1967 Ford Mustang Convertible 289ci V8
2004 MG ZT 260 V8 SE (1 of 882 made)

Mon 24 Sep 07 10:14

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

PS, Robscobb that did make me laugh That's exactly the sort of thing that would happen to me!

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1974 C3 Convertible 350ci L48 Auto. Met Blue
1967 Ford Mustang Convertible 289ci V8
2004 MG ZT 260 V8 SE (1 of 882 made)

Mon 24 Sep 07 17:40

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

You can drive an untaxed and non MOT car on the road if it is insured and it is being driven to a garage for repair work or for an MOT test. Towing it would make no difference. Bribe your local garage to say you had it booked in for repair. Regarding car breakdown, the AA will only recover a taxed car .

Mon 24 Sep 07 18:29

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

astockley wrote (View Post):
Anyway, plan I thought is that my breakdown cover with GEM covers me not the car. Could I buy it, have it parked on the pavement or side of the rod and claim it'd broken down and get them to recover it home? they wouldnt check things such as MOT or tax would they?


I did know 'someone' that loved 'Yank Tanks'
And, on more than 1 occasion, he removed a 'controlling fuse' from under the dash and called for Road recovery/Relay
Last time was Glasgow to Hampshire with a HUGE Lincoln Continental (saving him the 700miles at 15 to the gallon)
But he had to have it done in stages(Relay system) and it took over 18 hrs
i think he might (should) be inside now

Last edited by Pigginvet on Mon 24 Sep 07 18:30; edited 1 time in total. [4 %]
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There's just no point in havin the power...
Unless you ABUSE IT!!!

Mon 24 Sep 07 20:27

Re: towing another vehicle - what's the rules?

astockley wrote (View Post):PS, Robscobb that did make me laugh That's exactly the sort of thing that would happen to me!
Things were a lot slower then. My car being towed was a Mk 1 Zodiac which had a broken half shaft from wheelspinning in reverse. The towing vehicle was a Moggie Minor van (the act of towing wrecked the big ends) Oh, the tow rope was 30 foot long!

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'68 coupe - 4 speed - 3.08 - F41 - 489 cu in - 528 bhp @ 5850 rpm - 565 ft/lbs torque (766 Newton Metres) @ 3850 rpm - (225 bhp & 465 ft/lb Torque @ 2500 rpm)

Act like a juvenile before turning senile !