How to legally drive a tractor on the road?
Discussion
This is a bit obscure, and I think should be in plod & the law but I can't post there yet! Hoping that somone might be able to give me a definitive answer as I've been going round in circles for days on this....
I want to drive an agricultural tractor on the road. I have a genuine reason for this and I'm not completely mad! Trouble is, it is not being used for agricultural purposes, so cannot use red diesel, no problem there. Also as it's not being used as an agricultural purpose, cannot be registered as a tractor... or so I believe.
So how should it be registered? PLG has been suggested on other forums, but then would require an MOT which I don't believe it would pass. Or is it exempt from the MOT in some way? If anyone could give me chapter and verse on this I would be very grateful! It seems to be another grey ocean where each agency is doing it's own, sometimes contradictory, thing.
One possible explanation is to re register as an 'Off road tractor', there seems to be no requirement for an agricultural use for this, as long as I keep withing construction and use regs which is not a problem.
I just want to do this legally, within the law. In case it's relevant, I have a (clean) pre 97 C1+E restricted licence, the vehicle is registered (1982) and insured.
I want to drive an agricultural tractor on the road. I have a genuine reason for this and I'm not completely mad! Trouble is, it is not being used for agricultural purposes, so cannot use red diesel, no problem there. Also as it's not being used as an agricultural purpose, cannot be registered as a tractor... or so I believe.
So how should it be registered? PLG has been suggested on other forums, but then would require an MOT which I don't believe it would pass. Or is it exempt from the MOT in some way? If anyone could give me chapter and verse on this I would be very grateful! It seems to be another grey ocean where each agency is doing it's own, sometimes contradictory, thing.
One possible explanation is to re register as an 'Off road tractor', there seems to be no requirement for an agricultural use for this, as long as I keep withing construction and use regs which is not a problem.
I just want to do this legally, within the law. In case it's relevant, I have a (clean) pre 97 C1+E restricted licence, the vehicle is registered (1982) and insured.
I can't see a 30 year old tractor passing any sort of modern test!!!
Here is the relevant definition, from V355/1, repeated below. Definition of an agricultural tractor included for reference, my use won't fit into this BUT it does seem to fit into 'Off road tractor'.
So.... I'm think of re - registering as an off road tractor. Does anyone know of any reason not to, has anyone done this? Agricultural machine is of course free tax... To be honest if there was a clear cut way to do it I'd just pay the relevant tax, but it's very grey. And foggy too!
Lots of guidance saying for exampler a tractor cutting hedges in an industrial area should be PLG registered, have been through that with a quad bike and there's just as many grey areas there - any permanent 4x4 quad cannot do a brake test for iunstance! Mine passed that by proving the brakes were capable of locking the wheels on tarmac while being dragged, at my risk! But I can't see a tractor passing an MOT if examined on the same basis as a car, and my aim is to find a legal way of doing this. If possible....
Many thanks for the helpful comments, all appreciated.
Should probably point out that I can't justify or afford a new large tractor that could pass an HGV test!
11.1 Agricultural Machine
The “Agricultural Machine” tax class includes:
i) An Agricultural Tractor – a tractor used on public roads solely for the purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture, forestry or activities falling within:- a) cutting verges bordering public roads;b) cutting hedges or trees bordering public roads or
bordering verges which border public roads.
ii) An Off Road Tractor means a tractor which is not
an agricultural tractor and which is:-
a) designed and constructed primarily for use otherwise than on roads; and
b) incapable by reason of its construction of exceeding a speed of 25 miles per hour on the level under its own power.
Here is the relevant definition, from V355/1, repeated below. Definition of an agricultural tractor included for reference, my use won't fit into this BUT it does seem to fit into 'Off road tractor'.
So.... I'm think of re - registering as an off road tractor. Does anyone know of any reason not to, has anyone done this? Agricultural machine is of course free tax... To be honest if there was a clear cut way to do it I'd just pay the relevant tax, but it's very grey. And foggy too!
Lots of guidance saying for exampler a tractor cutting hedges in an industrial area should be PLG registered, have been through that with a quad bike and there's just as many grey areas there - any permanent 4x4 quad cannot do a brake test for iunstance! Mine passed that by proving the brakes were capable of locking the wheels on tarmac while being dragged, at my risk! But I can't see a tractor passing an MOT if examined on the same basis as a car, and my aim is to find a legal way of doing this. If possible....
Many thanks for the helpful comments, all appreciated.
Should probably point out that I can't justify or afford a new large tractor that could pass an HGV test!
11.1 Agricultural Machine
The “Agricultural Machine” tax class includes:
i) An Agricultural Tractor – a tractor used on public roads solely for the purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture, forestry or activities falling within:- a) cutting verges bordering public roads;b) cutting hedges or trees bordering public roads or
bordering verges which border public roads.
ii) An Off Road Tractor means a tractor which is not
an agricultural tractor and which is:-
a) designed and constructed primarily for use otherwise than on roads; and
b) incapable by reason of its construction of exceeding a speed of 25 miles per hour on the level under its own power.
Need something to use as a shunter in 3 yards, has to be able to drive between them (too far for a yard truck), a tractor could do so many other tasks that it would be ideal.
I guess I really need to find someone who has a classic restored tractor that is used on the road, see if they have solved the problem. I suspect that there is no solution!
Have a couple lined up ready to buy for the task, insurance etc. no problem (already have other tractor policies) white diesel I can cope with, just the taxation issue.
I guess I really need to find someone who has a classic restored tractor that is used on the road, see if they have solved the problem. I suspect that there is no solution!
Have a couple lined up ready to buy for the task, insurance etc. no problem (already have other tractor policies) white diesel I can cope with, just the taxation issue.
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