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[ians]

Anyone know if you need road tax on a vehicle that is being towed?

[Kevin Wood]

If it's running on its' own wheels then yes...

Kevin

[ians]

you mean as in not on a trailer?  

[Kevin Wood]

Yes. On a trailer is obviously no problem. If it's towed using a rope or a bar it needs to be fully road legal. Not 100% sure what the situation is if it's up on 2 wheels on a dolly or similar.

It came up in Legal Questions Thread within the last page or two so have a look there for the definitive answer.

A project in mind?

Kevin

[Danny]

you mean as in not on a trailer?  

correct, if it is on a trailer for its entire time being towed, it doesnt have to have any such requirements

if you're ever unsure about what's legally required to transport an "unroadworthy" car, tis best to stick it on a trailer that'll hold it completely, ie vehicle not in contact at all with the road

[ians]

Yes. On a trailer is obviously no problem. If it's towed using a rope or a bar it needs to be fully road legal. Not 100% sure what the situation is if it's up on 2 wheels on a dolly or similar.

It came up in Legal Questions Thread within the last page or two so have a look there for the definitive answer.

A project in mind?

Kevin

just contemplating one thats got MOT but no tax.  hmmm.  If I recall ebay sales get 7  days Norwich Union insurance.  Suppose I could then buy tax and cash it in straight away.   I don't have a trailer or tow bar so that's not realistic short term.

[Kevin Wood]

If it's an omega you'll need a pretty sizeable trailer and it'll be over the max towing weight for another Omega anyway.

6 Months tax and free insurance sounds like the cheapest way if the car is  a runner and has MOT.

Kevin

[ians]

If it's an omega you'll need a pretty sizeable trailer and it'll be over the max towing weight for another Omega anyway.

6 Months tax and free insurance sounds like the cheapest way if the car is  a runner and has MOT.

Kevin

breakdown and RAC is another option I suppose

[ians]

this was the one, decent deal but the transport issues weighed against it plus I have numerous jobs car and other to do at the moment.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200188196866&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

zero rated buyer may not complete though..

[Paul M]

Yes. On a trailer is obviously no problem. If it's towed using a rope or a bar it needs to be fully road legal. Not 100% sure what the situation is if it's up on 2 wheels on a dolly or similar.

It came up in Legal Questions Thread within the last page or two so have a look there for the definitive answer.

A project in mind?

Kevin

just contemplating one thats got MOT but no tax.  hmmm.  If I recall ebay sales get 7  days Norwich Union insurance.  Suppose I could then buy tax and cash it in straight away.   I don't have a trailer or tow bar so that's not realistic short term.

You can't tax it with temporary insurance cover anyway.

I think you can tow a car with an A-frame (i.e. front wheels raised) and it then effectively becomes a trailer of the car towing it. So you need a number plate bar with lights on it attached to the back of the towed vehicle, showing the plate of the towing vehicle and connected to the brake lights, tail lights and indicators of the towing vehicle. In this case the towed vehicle doesn't have to be roadworthy, although I expect the rear tyres will have to be legal, just like a trailer.

I stand to be corrected though, so don't take this as gospel

[Kevin Wood]

I think if it were me I'd go and buy it, drive it straight home untaxed but insured and MOTd having picked it up on a Sunday or something, and, if stopped, explain, showing documentary evidence, that I'm waiting for a cover note in the post and I couldn't have taxed it on a Sunday anyway.

Trouble is, with the "policing by post" system we have these days, you're liable to get caught on camera and have a bill for whatever the fine is dispatched by post with no opportunity to reason with anyone nor any grace period.  

Almost every used car has the tax cashed in so the buyer can't take posession of it legally when it's purchased. It was the same when I bought my car. I traded in my old car so how was I going to get home in a new car without tax? In the event I drove it to the nearest post office and taxed it. Luckily I had the foresight to get insurance documents organised beforehand but I still drove it untaxed to the post office.

Kevin

[ians]

On a related note, I notice that my insurance covers me to drive a car belonging to someone else (presumably 3rd party cover only).

If my wife buys a car (and doesn't specifically insure it), can I then drive it home under my cover above,  or does the car need to be directly covered under a policy somewhere?  Anyone know?

This is relevant if the car is then going to be off the road for a while and the only need for insurance is the initial trip from seller to home.

[Elite Pete]

The car will have to covered by another policy then your insurance will allow you 3rd party cover on the car.

[Bandit127]

Driving without tax may invalidate your insurance.

However, if you are prosecuted for driving without a Road Fund License you will normally be required to pay the "back tax" plus a fine which, the last time I was convicted, was 1.5 times the "back tax". Plus costs. No points on your license.

However, if you purchase tax for January this is enough for DVLA and you should be OK. In my experience. I am a good lad now but "in my experience" is more times than I have fingers to count with.

I would drive it (did the same with my MV6), but don't have an accident!

Jim

[Paul M]

The car will have to covered by another policy then your insurance will allow you 3rd party cover on the car.

This appears to be a very common, but false belief. Unless your insurance policy specifically states that the car owned by someone else must have insurance cover of its own for your third party cover to be valid, then it's not the case. The only problem with driving an otherwise uninsured car with your third party cover is that the car is only covered while you're driving it. So if you park at the side of the road the car is then uninsured on a public highway. Thus it's only really viable to drive someone else's uninsured car from one piece of private property to another, without stopping off anywhere on the way.

Double check your policy documents to be sure, as each policy may vary. But it would be unusual for it to have a clause like that above -- certainly none of mine have.