Traders driving without trade plates
Discussion
I've recently set up a little part time car dealership and so got a trade policy and trade plates and registered my stock cars to be "in trade". This means I don't have to tax them but have to display trade plates if they are used on the road.
Near me is a Big Motoring World with hundreds of cars on display, I see them being test driven all the time, but not trade plates are used from what I can see. Surely they aren't all registered to BWM and taxed? Do the big boys have a different system to us minnows of the trade? Or have I just misunderstood everything?
Doesn't really affect me at all, I'm just curious
Near me is a Big Motoring World with hundreds of cars on display, I see them being test driven all the time, but not trade plates are used from what I can see. Surely they aren't all registered to BWM and taxed? Do the big boys have a different system to us minnows of the trade? Or have I just misunderstood everything?
Doesn't really affect me at all, I'm just curious
SandhurstCars said:
I've recently set up a little part time car dealership and so got a trade policy and trade plates and registered my stock cars to be "in trade". This means I don't have to tax them but have to display trade plates if they are used on the road.
Near me is a Big Motoring World with hundreds of cars on display, I see them being test driven all the time, but not trade plates are used from what I can see. Surely they aren't all registered to BWM and taxed? Do the big boys have a different system to us minnows of the trade? Or have I just misunderstood everything?
Doesn't really affect me at all, I'm just curious
The rules and regulations are the same for all car traders regardless of size of operation. Bigger dealerships and car supermarkets will have more than one set - many sets - but the strict usage and display of them are prescribed.Near me is a Big Motoring World with hundreds of cars on display, I see them being test driven all the time, but not trade plates are used from what I can see. Surely they aren't all registered to BWM and taxed? Do the big boys have a different system to us minnows of the trade? Or have I just misunderstood everything?
Doesn't really affect me at all, I'm just curious
Anecdotally, from what I hear, there are a number of thought processes from those in the trade and how they are used. These thoughts range from displaying them to the letter of the law, having them in the car and not displayed through to not even bothering with them.
JimmyConwayNW said:
They simply just don't bother, after a while you realise no one ever pulls you for it.
I'm motor trade and never bother with them. I always get pulled when I have them in, without seem to go unbothered for months.
Maybe there is some truth in the old adage of ‘Red & White, Stop on Sight’ in that case then?I'm motor trade and never bother with them. I always get pulled when I have them in, without seem to go unbothered for months.
Another factor which may affect things is all cars in dealerships will (or should be) registered as 'in trade' with the DVLA.
I've got no evidence for this, but I would imagine that the ANPR systems won't be triggered for a vehicle with no tax/no insurance that is registered as "in trade"
I've got no evidence for this, but I would imagine that the ANPR systems won't be triggered for a vehicle with no tax/no insurance that is registered as "in trade"
When I was trade plating, a lot of drivers laid their plates flat so they were in the car but 'fallen over'. Not only did they draw less attention, the driver could also pretend he owned the car - if it was a desirable car.
If they were busy, one company I worked for would split a pair of plates between two drivers while they ordered more sets. The chances of both drivers being pulled was negligible.
I was only questioned once, when I stopped for something to eat. The copper told me I worked locally and had used the plates to take any old car from the forecourt to go to the caff. I wasn't, I was delivering as usual. From then on, I would park off the road and hide the plates.
Generally, the law gives, or certainly 'gave' when I was doing it, a wide berth. Far too much agro and form filling.
If they were busy, one company I worked for would split a pair of plates between two drivers while they ordered more sets. The chances of both drivers being pulled was negligible.
I was only questioned once, when I stopped for something to eat. The copper told me I worked locally and had used the plates to take any old car from the forecourt to go to the caff. I wasn't, I was delivering as usual. From then on, I would park off the road and hide the plates.
Generally, the law gives, or certainly 'gave' when I was doing it, a wide berth. Far too much agro and form filling.
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