Absolute loon drivers on trade plates
Discussion
Yesturday I did ~500miles down the length of the Country. Driving down the M74, multiple cars passed me at speed whilst undertaking other vehicles on the road. Some of these cars with no plates, but all had a single trade plate in the front window. Traffic wasn't too heavy, so the impact to other drivers wasn't too bad.
We then hit the M5, I'm guessing cars being moved from Portishead docks to Exeter. Saw some of the poorest standard of driving. Multiple cars travelling at speed, through flowing but busy roads, like fast and the furious, all of which with a single trade plate in the front window.
Now I don't mind having fun in cars, but it struck me as damn right dangerous. Is this a regular occurance?!
We then hit the M5, I'm guessing cars being moved from Portishead docks to Exeter. Saw some of the poorest standard of driving. Multiple cars travelling at speed, through flowing but busy roads, like fast and the furious, all of which with a single trade plate in the front window.
Now I don't mind having fun in cars, but it struck me as damn right dangerous. Is this a regular occurance?!
Is say quite probably.
When I was starting out on my car buying journey I remember an article highlighting the practice of moving vehicles around the country by disconnecting the speedometer/odometer cable and driving them rather than transporting them. Sadly time is money - was then and always will be.
When I was starting out on my car buying journey I remember an article highlighting the practice of moving vehicles around the country by disconnecting the speedometer/odometer cable and driving them rather than transporting them. Sadly time is money - was then and always will be.
Driversmatter said:
Is say quite probably.
When I was starting out on my car buying journey I remember an article highlighting the practice of moving vehicles around the country by disconnecting the speedometer/odometer cable and driving them rather than transporting them. Sadly time is money - was then and always will be.
Have you got a link? I have been in the vehicle industry ( manufacture and leasing) a long time and have seen and heard of most things but never this.When I was starting out on my car buying journey I remember an article highlighting the practice of moving vehicles around the country by disconnecting the speedometer/odometer cable and driving them rather than transporting them. Sadly time is money - was then and always will be.
In regards trade plate drivers. They are normally minimum wage and hard to recruit so you can get some wrong in’s but they still have to follow the law.
Auto810graphy said:
Have you got a link? I have been in the vehicle industry ( manufacture and leasing) a long time and have seen and heard of most things but never this.
In regards trade plate drivers. They are normally minimum wage and hard to recruit so you can get some wrong in’s but they still have to follow the law.
If he mentions disconnecting a speedo cable, then I suspect we’re talking approx 50 years ago. Somehow I doubt that car dealer magazine was digitised back then!! In regards trade plate drivers. They are normally minimum wage and hard to recruit so you can get some wrong in’s but they still have to follow the law.
Reminds me years ago of an incident in London on the Hendon Way where two big S class Mercs we're on trade plates and carving in and out of traffic racing each other and nearly drove someone off the road. At the lights one of the Merc drivers got out and spat in the face of the car driver who'd nearly been run off the road.
A few years ago PHers spotted one of my cars being driven rather badly and messaged me, whereupon tracker data showed how the chap had been driving, which I discussed with him when he arrived at my flat.
Conversely, the chap who recently delivered a car to me drove from London to here slower than my mother would have done.
I suspect that just like any job there are wronguns and more than plenty perfectly good ones?
A few years ago PHers spotted one of my cars being driven rather badly and messaged me, whereupon tracker data showed how the chap had been driving, which I discussed with him when he arrived at my flat.
Conversely, the chap who recently delivered a car to me drove from London to here slower than my mother would have done.
I suspect that just like any job there are wronguns and more than plenty perfectly good ones?
I would say highly unusual. As said above, a simple, low paid job. It's actually a job regularly taken by older guys who have retired but want a bit of extra money.
Normally trade plate cars are driven pretty sensibly as ultimately they are meant to be used for a reason - i.e. collection, delivery, test drive. I use mine for other means occasionally, but as a result don't do anything to draw attention to myself!
I did recently see a guy in a car with his whole family, and a trade plate. That's a pretty big red flag to wave to police that you are not using the trade plate as intended, but of course because it technically signifies the car is exempt from tax, you'd have to find a very petty police officer who would really care enough to do anything about it.
Normally trade plate cars are driven pretty sensibly as ultimately they are meant to be used for a reason - i.e. collection, delivery, test drive. I use mine for other means occasionally, but as a result don't do anything to draw attention to myself!
I did recently see a guy in a car with his whole family, and a trade plate. That's a pretty big red flag to wave to police that you are not using the trade plate as intended, but of course because it technically signifies the car is exempt from tax, you'd have to find a very petty police officer who would really care enough to do anything about it.
My Grandfather had a main dealer and I drove on trade plates a few times - legitimately to collect cars as a summer job during uni - and everyone who used them at the garage drove decently because the trade plates were seen as something important not to be abused. I was under the impression that they can be revoked?
mwstewart said:
My Grandfather had a main dealer and I drove on trade plates a few times - legitimately to collect cars as a summer job during uni - and everyone who used them at the garage drove decently because the trade plates were seen as something important not to be abused. I was under the impression that they can be revoked?
This is true. Revoked if misused. If they were only displaying one, I’d say they are sharing plates. Cuts down the costs for the person applying for them. If you don’t see the hologram, they’ll be sharing. We are very strict with our set. There is a report facility for this if you think they are acting dangerously. I won’t say much else, but they do attract a certain type of person, trade plate drivers. This is based on the 10 or so people I see most days who collect from where I am.
Edit to add. The two groups are either old codgers or d
heads. I know guys who deliver cars like this, as said most are older mechanics and ex dealership staff doing it to top up their income. They get paid a fixed rate for the miles covered plus a train fare from the destination.
If they want to make it pay a bit better they can deliver three cars in a day instead of one and thumb a lift back (the ones I know are to docks so plenty of lorries on the return leg).
If they want to make it pay a bit better they can deliver three cars in a day instead of one and thumb a lift back (the ones I know are to docks so plenty of lorries on the return leg).
Decky_Q said:
I know guys who deliver cars like this, as said most are older mechanics and ex dealership staff doing it to top up their income. They get paid a fixed rate for the miles covered plus a train fare from the destination.
If they want to make it pay a bit better they can deliver three cars in a day instead of one and thumb a lift back (the ones I know are to docks so plenty of lorries on the return leg).
It was one of these who smashed into the back of me as I sat still at red light. He'd ben tooo busy looking at directions to the customers house. He'd driven over 200 miles and was within 1 mile when he hit me.If they want to make it pay a bit better they can deliver three cars in a day instead of one and thumb a lift back (the ones I know are to docks so plenty of lorries on the return leg).
Auto810graphy said:
Have you got a link? I have been in the vehicle industry ( manufacture and leasing) a long time and have seen and heard of most things but never this.
In regards trade plate drivers. They are normally minimum wage and hard to recruit so you can get some wrong in’s but they still have to follow the law.
A link. No I'm old enough to remember when things were in print. This was in a magazine of said manufacturer which I won't name. In regards trade plate drivers. They are normally minimum wage and hard to recruit so you can get some wrong in’s but they still have to follow the law.
WPA said:
Just information, most of the VAG group cars are delivered to the docks and then onto the dealers in transport mode, max revs 2k this is to prevent them being raced around the docks, it would be taken out of transport mode when the PDI was carried out.
Thinking about it, they definitely weren't new vehicles and they weren't confined to one brand. So maybe coming from the nearest auction, for those I saw north of Exeter, Bridgewater possibly?Ones north of Exeter included, c class Merc wagon, one series convertible, Hyundai of some description. All coming through together, as I say a darn sight faster than 70 and whatever lane they could fit into.
Just struck me each one had a trade plate in the front window only. I wonder if they were sharing trade plated also.
Rob_125 said:
WPA said:
Just information, most of the VAG group cars are delivered to the docks and then onto the dealers in transport mode, max revs 2k this is to prevent them being raced around the docks, it would be taken out of transport mode when the PDI was carried out.
Thinking about it, they definitely weren't new vehicles and they weren't confined to one brand. So maybe coming from the nearest auction, for those I saw north of Exeter, Bridgewater possibly?Ones north of Exeter included, c class Merc wagon, one series convertible, Hyundai of some description. All coming through together, as I say a darn sight faster than 70 and whatever lane they could fit into.
Just struck me each one had a trade plate in the front window only. I wonder if they were sharing trade plated also.
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