Spare wheel in boot - legal requirement?

[nagra]

Is it a legal requirement to have a spare wheel in the car in case of a puncture?

If it's not a legal requirement in the UK, are there any countries it is a legal requirement?

Reason I ask is because I dont have one, just a canister of puncture repair foam.

Cheers

[Classic Grad 98]

Don't know about other countries but they aren't obligatory in the UK. They aren't even checked at MOT.

[shandyboy]

There's plenty of cars around which don't have *space* for a spare wheel - just carry around some tyre-weld and you should be ok (although I always forget to put the locking wheel nuts in the car when going on a long journey so would probably be knackered if I needed a tyre replacing).

[R12HCO]

Im not an MOT tester;

But im sure if the car came with one from manufacture, it must have one and it will be checked?

[DanielC4GP]

I've just got a can of foam too, oh and an air compressor in a special slot under one of the seats.

I'm planning on getting a spare fitted to the underside of the car though as it's an added option. Mind you it'll have to be a space saver as a full size one will be too close to the floor.

[TheHeretic]

I've no idea if this is true, but I was told many years ago that there is no obligation to carry a spare, but of you do then it has to be legal tread. You can get punished for an illegal treads on a spare. Sounds odd, but I've never heard anything otherwise.

Edited by TheHeretic on Wednesday 4th January 09:36

[832ark]

R12HCO said:

Im not an MOT tester;

But im sure if the car came with one from manufacture, it must have one and it will be checked?

Rubbish

[B16JUS]

If it has a spare in the car during a mot test it has to be road legal

If it doesnt have one thats fine

J

[jagnet]

B16JUS said:

If it has a spare in the car during a mot test it has to be road legal

If it doesnt have one thats fine

J

No, the spare wheel is not checked as part of the MOT.

[AF1]

Spare whel carrier can't be ready to fall off but you could have a punctured slick in it and as said it's not part of the test so it's not a fail.

[Mr2Mike]

B16JUS said:

If it has a spare in the car during a mot test it has to be road legal

If it doesnt have one thats fine

J

Why does this myth keep getting perpetuated by people that really should know better? There is no legal requirement to carry a spare, and any spare that is carried is not covered under the MOT.

Do you really think you'd fail an MOT simply by having a worn out tyre in the boot of your car?

[Zod]

I haven't owned a car with a spare tyre in the last ten years.

[nagra]

Thanks for all your replies to my question guys, it seems like it's NOT a requirement to carry a spare in the car in the UK.

Thanks all

[Jakg]

It's not checked as part of the MOT, BUT if you have one it has to be secure (but not necessarily legal)

[kambites]

I hope not, because my boot is smaller than my wheels.

[sjg]

nagra said:

Thanks for all your replies to my question guys, it seems like it's NOT a requirement to carry a spare in the car in the UK.

Thanks all

I don't think that cars like the current Civic come with a spare wheel anywhere in Europe, just a can of foam. More manufacturers chasing better MPG and CO2 figures seem to leave the spare wheel out as they can save a fair bit of weight that way.

[y2blade]

jagnet said:

B16JUS said:

If it has a spare in the car during a mot test it has to be road legal

If it doesnt have one thats fine

J

No, the spare wheel is not checked as part of the MOT.

Jagnet..you are correct.

The Spare wheel is not part of the MOT regardless of weather the car in question had one from the factory.

HTH