towing laws

PS If you remove the engine/gearbox from a VW then tow it, it would be dangerous over any distance, what on earth are you going to do with the flailing driveshafts?

Some answers here.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…=0&postorder=asc&start=10

Second page there's a few bits from our friendly bobby about the law.

yradave said

Some answers here.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…=0&postorder=asc&start=10

Second page there's a few bits from our friendly bobby about the law.

Doesn't fully answer the questions though - the tax one. Where is the exemption to car tax, if you're being towed???

yradave said

Some answers here.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…=0&postorder=asc&start=10

Second page there's a few bits from our friendly bobby about the law.

I wasn't wanting to enter the debate, nor have I even ventured my own opinion, just trying to help out in a debate that has already beeen touched upon in another thread.

yradave said

yradave said

Some answers here.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…=0&postorder=asc&start=10

Second page there's a few bits from our friendly bobby about the law.

I wasn't wanting to enter the debate, nor have I even ventured my own opinion, just trying to help out in a debate that has already beeen touched upon in another thread.

Cheers for the link, it was the thread I referred to earlier (but didn't put the link to), where I'd asked TOTR for clarification on the tax stuff. Anyone else have PNLD or is a lawyer, who can access the legislation and settle this?

Once you've bolted an A-frame to the front of the car you are towing and hitched it up to your tow vehicle, it's classed as a trailer - not a car.  You need to display the reg plate of the tow vehicle only, you also need a lightboard hooked up, a breakaway cable and the brakes need to come on on the trailer if it's over 750kg.

Bear in mind that you are probably over your towing weight if you are towing a Mk1 with another Mk1 too.  You don't need tax in the screen of the trailer though.

As soon as you un-hitch the "trailer", it'll legalls become a car again and will therefore need tax and it's own reg number displayed.

Have a look at this…

http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/a-frames.shtml

It has to meet the technical requirements of a trailer IN ADDITION TO the legal requirements of a car, ie tax, though. Being a trailer doesn't exempt from tax.

http://www.traffic-ans…orum/index.php?topic=6668

If ou bolt an A-frame to it and hitch it up then in the eyes of the law it becomes a trailer - totally different to a car on the end of a rope/bar.

Steve_Matthews said

If ou bolt an A-frame to it and hitch it up then in the eyes of the law it becomes a trailer - totally different to a car on the end of a rope/bar.

As well as a car, tho. You need to comply with car regs and trailer regs…..

Basically, you can't duck car tax!!!!!

As far as I could tell you don't even need to display an reg plate for the "trailer" - just the plate of the towing vehicle?  Think this is one where we need to ask a magistrate!

Yeah I've looked around for a definative answer. It just seems a bit too convenient to be able to bolt on an A frame and the car suddenly no longer requires tax. I do know that its illegal to leave a trailer on the public road unless its attached to the towcar, though…. So you couldn't really use it as a tax avoidance loophole.