Towing, Tachos And Trade Plates

[V8RX7]

I'm hoping someone can help as I've googled and I'm getting conflicting answers.

Does a self employed car dealer need a tacho if he is collecting cars that he will sell - ie unlike a recovery driver he is not directly receiving a reward by towing the car. (Assuming a 4x4, trailer and car combined weigh over 3.5T)

The rules on Tachos mention Gross Vehicle Weight not exceeding 3.5T yet they then seem to indicate that the trailer is being carried by the tow car (rather than towed) if this is the case then why don't they refer to Gross Train Weight ?

Secondly can a Dealer use a 4x4 and trailer on Trade Plates - ie the 4x4 isn't taxed - under any circumstances.

Thanks

[papa3]

This

As I understand it even a trader working alone needs a tacho now as it is "for business"

As for trade plates on a working vehicle I think you'd struggle

[V8RX7]

papa3 said:

This

As I understand it even a trader working alone needs a tacho now as it is "for business"

As for trade plates on a working vehicle I think you'd struggle

The problem is that when I then look at the bottom of that article I find a Compliance Tool which states:

"If goods carried are in relation to the drivers work and driving is not his/her main activity

You should not need to fit a tachograph."

It's as clear as mud.

[R0G]

google GV262 and look at the exemption examples

Your situation does not fit into an exemption for own goods

[grumpy52]

My understanding when driving a recovery/car transporter was that if recovering cars that couldn't be driven then a tacho wasn't needed if just moving cars from one location to another then it was goods in transit so tacho rules applied. I know that the rules changed a while ago but as I don't do that work these days I haven't kept up with it .
I know the general rule is if over 3.5t and business use it's tacho time .

[Kinkell]

Is their not an exemption for driving within a 100km radius for trades people whose main activity is not driving? I tow a big ifor with a Shogun 3.1 tonne tare and 5 tonne loaded and have been checked by the ministry on several occasions.

[iguana]

Need tacho legally, none if the exceptions apply to your case, no you can't run trade plates on the tow car.

[wack]

Buy a recovery truck, preferably an old one so you can get 1500kg on it , if you tow for business and it's over 3500kg train weight you need a tachograph , if they're your own goods you won't need an operators licence but if somebody rings you up and gives you money to move a car that's hire and reward so you'll need an operators licence unless it's an exempt tow vehicle such as a dual purpose 4x4

It's like they're having a competition for who can get the most obscure law through parliament , it's not wonder people don't have a clue if they're legal or not

There's was something about a trailer being under 1020kg unladen being exempt from operator licensing but that changed when the EU insisted we comply , a lot of small transport companies lost their work when the rules changed because it meant they had to employ a transport manager to get an O licence which wasn't viable , I was lucky in that I'd sat my exams in the 90 s so it was only £1000 for me to keep my job, fkers

[R0G]

B vehicle towing a big bowser with total MAM under 7.5 tonnes within 100km from base where the driver goes to a place then does pressure cleaning all day = total tacho exempt