Trailer parking legality
Discussion
Recently someone left a hobby trailer on a nearby road. One of those small 3' by 3' sort of things rather than a big one. No reflectors, no number plate to link it to a car. It wasn't causing an obstruction, parking space would have been fine for a car.
My neighbour mentioned the council took it away as waste so presumably it was either left out for a booked bulky waste collection or it met the council's "abandoned" threshold. But, he asked me if it was legal to do that (he has a trailer himself so it could be useful sometimes) and whichever way we cut it it seemed like it's probably illegal. But I'd be interested to know.
So: what is the legality of leaving an unhitched trailer on a public road?
I know that when I get a skip they give me the option of paying for a council permit to put it on the street (and adding lights)
I know that my car insurance only covers trailers when attached to my car.
I know I can't leave a car on the road unless it has tax and insurance.
So is it legal to leave an unhitched and unlit trailer on the road?
My neighbour mentioned the council took it away as waste so presumably it was either left out for a booked bulky waste collection or it met the council's "abandoned" threshold. But, he asked me if it was legal to do that (he has a trailer himself so it could be useful sometimes) and whichever way we cut it it seemed like it's probably illegal. But I'd be interested to know.
So: what is the legality of leaving an unhitched trailer on a public road?
I know that when I get a skip they give me the option of paying for a council permit to put it on the street (and adding lights)
I know that my car insurance only covers trailers when attached to my car.
I know I can't leave a car on the road unless it has tax and insurance.
So is it legal to leave an unhitched and unlit trailer on the road?
It would appear to me that it would meet the unnecessary obstruction rule in the highway code, Rule 242
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Racing Newt said:
It would appear to me that it would meet the unnecessary obstruction rule in the highway code, Rule 242
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Well. Except that the first paragraph says it wasn’t causing an obstruction…You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Oceanrower said:
Racing Newt said:
It would appear to me that it would meet the unnecessary obstruction rule in the highway code, Rule 242
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position orwhere it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
I played https://squaredle.com 03/25:
🔥 Solve streak: 2(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Well. Except that the first paragraph says it wasn’t causing an obstruction…You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position orwhere it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
I played https://squaredle.com 03/25:
- 31/31 words (+7 bonus words)
🔥 Solve streak: 2(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
The cul-de-sac next to my house is single yellow and you cant park down there between the hours of 0800 - 1800.
Mate of mine parks his trailer down there all the time with a road legal vehicle parked on the trailer. Never had a ticket from the ticket givers who are down there most days as we are on the seafront here.
Dafty thing is, if he parked the road legal vehicle on the the road he would get a ticket but because he parks it on the trailer, he doesn't.
Mate of mine parks his trailer down there all the time with a road legal vehicle parked on the trailer. Never had a ticket from the ticket givers who are down there most days as we are on the seafront here.
Dafty thing is, if he parked the road legal vehicle on the the road he would get a ticket but because he parks it on the trailer, he doesn't.
Oceanrower said:
Racing Newt said:
It would appear to me that it would meet the unnecessary obstruction rule in the highway code, Rule 242
You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Well. Except that the first paragraph says it wasn’t causing an obstruction…You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
(NOTE MUST NOT).
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
Obstruction
103. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
An old caravan has been left on a road on our estate for years now (it appeared during covid). It is filthy, has broken vents, a flat tyre and no reg plates. It was reported as abandoned a while ago and a letter but on a window, but the day it was due to be removed the note got removed and I assume someone claimed it. It has been reported to the Police, local council and parish council, but all say it isn't illegal and not dumped.
Red9zero said:
An old caravan has been left on a road on our estate for years now (it appeared during covid). It is filthy, has broken vents, a flat tyre and no reg plates. It was reported as abandoned a while ago and a letter but on a window, but the day it was due to be removed the note got removed and I assume someone claimed it. It has been reported to the Police, local council and parish council, but all say it isn't illegal and not dumped.
Set fire to it, worked for someone that lived about two streets down from us.As cars have to be taxed to park on the road I assumed the same applied to trailers - and as they can't be taxed independently - that it was illegal
I was wondering how all the caravan dwellers in Bristol were getting away with it
However I wouldn't dream of parking my trailer in the road - I'd expect it to be stolen within the hour, particularly if I left a car on the back !
I was wondering how all the caravan dwellers in Bristol were getting away with it
However I wouldn't dream of parking my trailer in the road - I'd expect it to be stolen within the hour, particularly if I left a car on the back !
As I understand it, there's no general 'statutory right' to park anything anywhere.
A trailer isn't a motor vehicle, so like a bicycle it doesn't need to be registered or taxed.
If you leave something on someone else's land, whether that's a public right of way or not, that's mostly a civil matter between you and the landowner.
When you start obstructing a highway, different laws start to apply.
Lots of places have byelaws.
Council 'regulations' or whatver may restrict parking and also create byelaws about caravans, trailers and anything else.
One of those things where 'other people' get away with actions you can't rely on getting away with yourself.
A trailer isn't a motor vehicle, so like a bicycle it doesn't need to be registered or taxed.
If you leave something on someone else's land, whether that's a public right of way or not, that's mostly a civil matter between you and the landowner.
When you start obstructing a highway, different laws start to apply.
Lots of places have byelaws.
Council 'regulations' or whatver may restrict parking and also create byelaws about caravans, trailers and anything else.
One of those things where 'other people' get away with actions you can't rely on getting away with yourself.
My mechanic is based in a unit surrounded by terraced housing and onstreet permit parking bays. There's a guy who regularly wheels his trailer off his drive and parks it at the end of a bay, to save a space for himself. There is no number plate on the trailer, so could I assume it's abandoned? 
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