towing a track car

[944s2222]

Hi can any one throw any light on the uk and eu towing laws. i drive my track car to the track but it would be cheaper to tow it, so no tax, insurance and mot, was thinking of a towing dolly to just lift the rear or front wheels, and is easy to store, but some one told me they think all wheels need to be off the ground,

Does any one have any ideas or loop holes,

Thanks Andrew

[rallycross]

Can’t use a dolly for this use case only for recovery (genuine recovery).

[anonymous-user]

This answer was given on another forum where the same question was asked,

"I emailed DVLA and was told that if the towed vehicle is in contact with the road at any point (even one wheel), then it must have the necessary tax, insurance, mot etc. Doesn't matter if there's anyone in it or not, if it touches the tarmac it's classed as 'using' the road."

[TwigtheWonderkid]

rockin said:

This answer was given on another forum where the same question was asked,

"I emailed DVLA and was told that if the towed vehicle is in contact with the road at any point (even one wheel), then it must have the necessary tax, insurance, mot etc. Doesn't matter if there's anyone in it or not, if it touches the tarmac it's classed as 'using' the road."

Would it be classed as being insured by the towing car, as any UK motor policy automatically provides third party cover for anything that you are towing. So if the dolly broke, and the car being towed then hit someone or something, the towing vehicles insurance would cover it?

[TooMany2cvs]

Same as any other "Can I A-frame?" question.

You can either count it as an emergency recovery - so the towed vehicle needs to be fully legal, and there are strict limits on speed and distance. This is what the AA etc do.

Or you can count the entire lot dangling from the towbar as a trailer - so all wheels need to be braked by the tow car if it's over 750kg max laden weight, and even under that weight if the wheels are fitted with brakes, they all need to be automatically braked. So do you want to fit the motorhome-style braking systems to your track car?

And what happens if you break the car at the track...?

Just get a trailer. Rent one if you can't store one.

[littleredrooster]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Would it be classed as being insured by the towing car, as any UK motor policy automatically provides third party cover for anything that you are towing. So if the dolly broke, and the car being towed then hit someone or something, the towing vehicles insurance would cover it?

I have witnessed this exact scenario, where a 3.14key's Transit being towed by another 3.14key's Transit broke free from its tow-rope and hit another car before coming to rest. Police had no hesitation in charging him with no insurance, no tax and no MOT before impounding it, because at the point of collision, it wasn't being towed. To make it even more hilarious, it had actually freewheeled past the tow-vehicle...

[bolide]

See this thread from a couple of days ago:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

It looks as though the rules wrt A-frames being allowable only for recovery may have changed. But, IMHO, a trailer is still the better option for track cars

Nick Froome

[TwigtheWonderkid]

littleredrooster said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Would it be classed as being insured by the towing car, as any UK motor policy automatically provides third party cover for anything that you are towing. So if the dolly broke, and the car being towed then hit someone or something, the towing vehicles insurance would cover it?

I have witnessed this exact scenario, where a 3.14key's Transit being towed by another 3.14key's Transit broke free from its tow-rope and hit another car before coming to rest. Police had no hesitation in charging him with no insurance, no tax and no MOT before impounding it, because at the point of collision, it wasn't being towed. To make it even more hilarious, it had actually freewheeled past the tow-vehicle...

But legally that's not so. A towed vehicle is covered tpo by the towing vehicles insurance, even if it breaks free of the towing vehicle. So long as it was being towed prior to breaking free and causing damage.

I suspect with the diddycoys, the towing vehicle wasn't insured!

[Order66]

If you use an a-frame or dolly for anything other than emergency recovery to the closest safe place the towed car becomes a trailer.

As it has brakes, those brakes MUST work (even if under 750kg) as a proper trailer brakes would work. You'll also need working rear lights, license plate and meet all reflector regs etc.

I believe if towed in this manner it does not require to be road legal (i.e. MoT/insurance etc) as it is classed as a trailer - so long as you meet all the trailer requirements.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-frame...

Get a proper trailer - towing on A-frames is for idiots.

[john2443]

littleredrooster said:

at the point of collision, it wasn't being towed. To make it even more hilarious, it had actually freewheeled past the tow-vehicle...

That happened to a friend....the overtaking car started off on his trailer! Ooops!

[944s2222]

Thanks every one for your reply's so the best thing is to get a trailer. i have a e36 track car weighing in at just over 1100kg , does anyone know of a trailer that will fit in the same garage as the car ? i did see one on line but its 2.5 k . to much for me, www.allytrailer.co.uk

Thanks Andy

[TwigtheWonderkid]

john2443 said:

littleredrooster said:

at the point of collision, it wasn't being towed. To make it even more hilarious, it had actually freewheeled past the tow-vehicle...

That happened to a friend....the overtaking car started off on his trailer! Ooops!

Tp damage still covered by the towing vehicle's insurance.

[HustleRussell]

944s2222 said:

Thanks every one for your reply's so the best thing is to get a trailer. i have a e36 track car weighing in at just over 1100kg , does anyone know of a trailer that will fit in the same garage as the car ? i did see one on line but its 2.5 k . to much for me, www.allytrailer.co.uk

Thanks Andy

If you passed your driving test after 1997 you’ll need to take a towing test.

All the info you need with respect to that is on here already