Trailer number plate

[175gt]

Just a quickie to check if my memory serves me correctly:

Am I right in thinking that the number plate on a trailer doesn't have to match the towing vehicle as long as it matches the plate of any vehicle registered to the same person as the towing vehicle is registered to?

[rallycross]

I've never heard of this and doubt it very much.

Lots of trailers seem to have random number plates most likely due to people hiring or borrowing them for the event.

[shovelheadrob]

175gt said:

Just a quickie to check if my memory serves me correctly:

Am I right in thinking that the number plate on a trailer doesn't have to match the towing vehicle as long as it matches the plate of any vehicle registered to the same person as the towing vehicle is registered to?

I remember hearing something like this years ago, but I thought it only applied to agricultural vehicles (tractors etc) when being used within a certain distance of the farm.

[Dog Star]

I've also heard this - though I freely admit it could be bks.

I regularly borrow my dad's trailer and tow it with his plates on. I daresay if he gets a knock on the door and it's regarding the trailer being towed behind a C klass (he has a Landcruiser) then it'll be pretty obvious who it was

[XVar]

As said above, it seems that it is true but only for agricultural vehicles.

FarmersGuardian.com said:

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 states:

“Registration plates must be fixed to all agricultural machines and trailers. Where the towing vehicle is an agricultural machine, a plate fixed on the trailer may instead of displaying the registration mark of the towing vehicle, display the mark of any other agricultural machine kept by the keeper of the towing vehicle.”

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/machinery/mach...

[cptsideways]

For regular trailer users who swap tow cars, often not having one at all might be the safest license related option. Having the wrong plate is really not good, as is someone elses plate etc.

There might be security issues but any scrote will have worked that one out anyway.

[Toaster Pilot]

Just keep a spare plate in each of your tow cars ffs, a number plate costs £4.

I can't believe how many people try to put "plates" on their trailers that are cardboard with permanent marker letters etc, fk off.

[Noger]

Velcro on the trailer and any likely plate. Sorted.

[caziques]

But is the UK the only country which doesn't have a separate register for trailers (or anything else towed)?

Anything towed in NZ has to have the equivalent of an MOT (quite tough for caravans) - and has it's own registration number - and there is supposedly road tax to pay.

I would hazard a guess that a significant minority of trailers here have neither an "MOT" nor road tax - never heard of it being enforced.

[Turn7]

caziques said:

But is the UK the only country which doesn't have a separate register for trailers (or anything else towed)?

Anything towed in NZ has to have the equivalent of an MOT (quite tough for caravans) - and has it's own registration number - and there is supposedly road tax to pay.

I would hazard a guess that a significant minority of trailers here have neither an "MOT" nor road tax - never heard of it being enforced.

The big boys 40 tonne trailers all have individual MOTs. Smaller stuff is exempt.

[175gt]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm on a farm, so most trailers have a plate for either pickup or tractor but some (eg. stock trailer) may be used with both. Kind of got the rules a bit mixed up in my head.

Toaster Pilot said:

Just keep a spare plate in each of your tow cars ffs, a number plate costs £4.

I can't believe how many people try to put "plates" on their trailers that are cardboard with permanent marker letters etc, fk off.

I have plates for my own trailers but need to borrow one on this occasion but only spare plate matches the car which no longer has tow bar. So, for one day only, I'll be one of those winding you up with a 'temporary' solution

Edit: extra smilie removed

[Toaster Pilot]

tt