Morris Minor Owners Club

I have had a look through the Road Traffic act, not an easy read and not that clear. I have just submitted the following question to the "ask the police" website.

What are the rules and regulations regarding towing a broken down car, if both cars are taxed, insured and MOT'd?

Interesting to see what they come up with. Not that I would see it as a problem round here. Our local police station is only open for about 2 hours a week. Although they will call you back or reply to emails after a couple of days. However, it would be sods law to get caught doing something you thought was legal, by the first local police car you had seen in years.

Answer from the police pinged back pretty quickly. The information supplied is as follows:

"When the vehicles are attached solely by a rope or chain, the maximum distance allowed between the vehicles is 4.5 metres.

If the distance between the two vehicles exceeds 1.5 metres then the rope or chain must be made clearly visible within a reasonable distance from either side to other road users. This is usually done by tying a coloured flapping cloth in the middle of the rope or chain.

The person in the broken down vehicle must be a qualified driver as he is actually driving the vehicle. A further point is that if it is dark then the broken down vehicle must have its lights on as it would under normal circumstances".

So no sign that they think it is illegal or that there are any distance restrictions

Just picked up the car from it's MOT. A pass, so now drivable after the rebuild, just need some nice weather.

According to the mechanic, it would not be too difficult to weld something onto the front chassis arms, either a thick plate
with an eye attached or some bar bent into an eye shape and welded in the same fashion.

Minor vans and pickups have proper towing eyes onthe front of the chassis legs (did the commercials break down more often? ) so it would be easy to replicate something like that if you felt like it. TBH its easier just to use the tiebar mounts as bmcecosse first said. They're designed to take suspension loads so plenty adequate for a tow.

I always carry a tow rope .If stoped when towing I will call the AA or simlar . never happened yet , but I always slow down for speed Cameras even when not towing.

Thanks for the clear reply Alan - so more or less confirms my understanding, except that a non-compliant vehicle CAN have it's wheels on the highway - IF it's an 'undriveable' trailer !!

Love it! Solves all my moving about problems.
I'll yank the lump outta my project, chuck my trailerboard on the back and shazam - one easily moveable 'trailer'.
Its almost too easy.

I'd heard the whole 'no engine/trans makes it a trailer' thing before but honestly thought any copper that pulled me would think I was taking the wee-wee were I to quote it at them.