I have another car that I have had in storage for over 4yrs, and I need to move it before the end of the month (unable to re new the lease)

Question is, is it legal for me to tow it with a mate?

It's only 3 miles to get it to here and put it in my garage at home.

The car has no mot or insurance etc, like I say has been off the road 4yrs.

Or am I looking at having to get someone with a flat bed to move it?

I would coverthe number plates and put yours over them . Then auto recognition cameras won't pick it up. Its not like you're driving it

If any of its wheels are on the road then IIRC it needs tax. To get tax you need MoT and insurance

Cheers blue, was thinking along them lines.

Not sure about that Taylor, I'm not planning on driving it or using it on the road as such.

Effectively would it not just be like a trailer or a caravan for 3 miles?

As taylor has mentioned if any of the four wheels are on the road, regardless of someone being behind the wheel then its deemed on road and must be taxed and insured with valid MOT. The only way to move a car with no Tax/Insurance or MOT is loaded onto a trailer.

i think the issue is that because its a car which could technically have the ability to propel itself its treated differently to a caravan/trailer which requires a vehicle to move it.

I would just tow it! Its just 3 miles and the police aren't that bad are they? It a clean and tidy looking car with no sharp bits or bits falling off I assume?

 

You have a very good and legitimate excuse and haven't been 'done' for similar offenses before?

No insurance, no tax, no MOT and possibly unroadworthy too. All that is left is for you to tow it while drunk to hit the jackpot! I would pay to have it moved. JMTPW.

No you can't as Taylor 93 has said

I'd also add wrong license to the list of offences unless the OP has done the B+E test as they're of an age they don't get it automatically.

Oh yes younger drivers aren't allowed to tow, I had forgotten that!

 

I guess I am someone who is less christian about anything I do or a bit more cavalier towards laws, hence my feeling that you will be ok, and even if the police do see you they will ignore you, and if they do pull you over like I said you have a damned good excuse, you will get a ticking off and that's it. Christ they will probably help! Then again, I live in Suffolk where we are all a bit more backward out here. I hope we get that magic electricity stuff soon.

 

You could of course book an MOT somewhere near home... Then you are totally allowed to drive it because of course you are taking the car the the MOT centre! Then cancel the MOT.

 

Ohh ohh, I just had another idea. Call in a bomb scare across the other side of town.... that will distract them!

As others have said, if the car is currently SORN'ed then as soon as you put it's wheels on the road it needs taxing and insuring. If you did get stopped then it would be very easy for both of the vehicles to be impounded and the uninsured vehicle destroyed..

 

If you passed your test after the relevant date then it is unlikely that you legally can tow it, due to the weight regulations.

 

Booking a MOT test won't work as you have to DRIVE to an MOT station not tow it there.

 

If the car has been off the road for 4 years do the brakes work correctly and fully; doubtful, so another illegality. Also are the tyres fully legal and safe?

 

The use of a rope is now frowned upon, except in an emergency.

 

To be honest you will be better and safer getting a flatbed.

Best case you get it back with no issues.  Worst case you have a problem which damages both cars (possibly brakes/steering fail on towed car), police stop you and get points/fines/summons for various offences including driving with no insurance which I believe is deemed quite serious when trying to subsequently get insurance. And there is the potential to cause injury to yourself or others as the car is not roadworthy.

 

Arrange a flatbed, 3 miles won't cost much and takes away all the risk.  No brainer in my opinion.

Yeah I will be sorting a flat bed, a few of you have raised very valid points that hadn't even occurred to me.

Thanks

Another point is that it is effectively going to be an unbraked trailer.  How heavy is it and what are you going to tow it with?  Somewhere at the back of my mind is the idea that any trailer over 750kg has to have automatic brakes.  Not too many cars are rated to tow much over 500kg unbraked, either.

Not sure of the kerb weight of it off top of my head, but it's a V6 vectra supertouring so not going to to be anywhere neat under 750kg.

I was planning on towing it with my octavia at the weekend, once it's back from the garage, but as I say above I've been talked out of the idea and I'll just sort someone local with a flat bed.

It is just an Illegal Vehicle on the end of a Rope,  not a Trailer or the likes,  2 Vehicles and Drivers breaking Road Traffic Laws.

 

It is not a Legally on the road being towed to the nearest place of safety.

So 2 Vehicles and Drivers breaking the law.

 

On a Bar, or even on a A Frame with an Autobrake system,

it is still a Declare SORN, on Not DEclared SORN vehicle with no VED or Insurance with Tyres on the Public Highway.

Grey Areas really do not exist.

 

You just Trailer it, because even a Dolly has it being Illegal with 2 tyres on the Road.

Unless you are a Recovery Company Disposing of a Dumped Vehicle for the Authorities.

 

george

to move an un road worthy or legal vehicle you need a O licence  for your flat bed truck , can of worms is an understatement regarding recovery

Not sure of the kerb weight of it off top of my head, but it's a V6 vectra supertouring so not going to to be anywhere neat under 750kg.

I was planning on towing it with my octavia at the weekend, once it's back from the garage, but as I say above I've been talked out of the idea and I'll just sort someone local with a flat bed.

 

ooooh V6 super touring, is it a minter or in need of work, miss my old Courtneay sport tuned V6, lets see some pics. from what I remember they weigh about 1425kg, would be a lot lighter if they hadn't used an anchor as a flywheel

Agree with everyone else arrange a flatbed to shift it.

ooooh V6 super touring, is it a minter or in need of work, miss my old Courtneay sport tuned V6, lets see some pics. from what I remember they weigh about 1425kg, would be a lot lighter if they hadn't used an anchor as a flywheel

Agree with everyone else arrange a flatbed to shift it.

A couple of old ones from my photo bucket

Then someone did this to it

I changed all the panels for second hand white ones after that, but then lost heart with it and shoved it into storage for 4yrs.

I finally now feel ready to get it back on the road, it had no mechanical problems when I stored it. So should be just a case of a few age related things to change, cambelt etc and get the body work tidied up properly.

Paint stripper? Bar stewards thankfully the a*** holes that have been doing stuff to my cars haven't gone that far! It's really not nice and you start to lose enthusiasm in your pride and joy!

A couple of old ones from my photo bucket

Then someone did this to it

I changed all the panels for second hand white ones after that, but then lost heart with it and shoved it into storage for 4yrs.

I finally now feel ready to get it back on the road, it had no mechanical problems when I stored it. So should be just a case of a few age related things to change, cambelt etc and get the body work tidied up properly.

 

COMPLETE B******S    

 

Hop you everything goes well and you get it back in to A1 condition.

Cheers mate, I doubt it will be something I sort quickly.

But at least if it's in my garage here I will actually do something with it, rather than ignoring it for years in the lock up miles away lol

to move an un road worthy or legal vehicle you need a O licence for your flat bed truck , can of worms is an understatement regarding recovery

Doesn't that only apply if it's being moved for hire or reward?

Edited 23 July, 201411 yr by StevesTruck

Doesn't that only apply if it's being moved for hire or reward?i

I now we can't move a vehicle that does not have tax, mot or is sorn, but our trucks can because they have o licence, but this is only on some fleet and businesses  accounts

 but spec lifts can't do it as some wheels are on the ground,

but the company I work for are a belt and braces company so you may well be right