Classic Wedding Cars

[silverfoxcc]

I expect some PH's on here use their cars to supplement the running costs. ie not a business. At present wedding cars and fueral cars are excempt from licencing procedures

This could spell the end for this 'little earner'


http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/consultations/...

The bad news is

all cars and drivers and companies must be licensed by the council ie about 200gbp for each bit

each car MUST have public liabilty insurance like taxis etc

each car MUST have a plate on the back. F.... that!!, not having my Royce looking like a run down Toyota taxi

ONLY licensed drivers can drive the said vehicle

The car CANNOT be used for private purposes... hooning out then

Please write to your local MP to bring this to his attention

The idea behind it is to get the stretch limos at present within the grey area under control and also to cover the 'proms' that some people do.

Could be the bottom falls out of the Classic car market!!!

Please write, its your car and P+J that is at stake

[Riley Blue]

I know of only one owner who uses his Riley for weddings and he doesn't accept payment but asks for donations to charities. Seems a sensible way to me, if you want to turn your hobby into a money-earner surely you'd be expected to pay tax etc. on income and accept all the regulations that go with it?

[SVR]

Depends how you look at it, I have several cars that ideally I wanted to use for this purpose:

Riley RME in white (Brides)
Mk2 Jag in blue (Bride or groom)
Mk1 MGB roadster (Honeymoon or Groom)
S1 Elise 111S (Honeymoon or Groom)
S2 Elise 111S(Honeymoon or Groom)

Now, in my case it would run as a legit business along side my specialist bodyshop and car storage business(es), however, the odd wedding, for a local chap with a nice classic, which supplements the cars upkeep seems to me to be a tax on very little tbh.

I mean in the grand scheme of things the odd £50/£100 here and there would probably and realistically go back into the classic, so no real world profit, if it was every weekend then yes, it goes back to my situation as above.
The problem I have with it, is it sounds like it will end up over regulated, the ones who do it full time, will have to push prices up, then when there is no other choice, they are free to charge what they like (as with many other wedding things, venues, etc).
My main gripe, is on the hobbyist/enthusiast side, what is the difference with making a small charge now and then, for the use of your classic usually via recommendation by someone who may have been struggling to find something suitable, or have been priced out by the pro outfits?
What about your dear old uncle George who has a Triumph Roadster tucked away in the garage and wants to take his niece to church, would he have to jump through hoops?

Where is the difference in this and a `mate` acting as photographer/wedding planner/venue supplier, etc, etc.

As usual, you would have thought they have better things to focus on

[silverfoxcc]

SVR,

You have raised a lot of valid points. It means the council 'snoopers' checking on every wedding!!

As i have said on another forum. why not do a variation on the old Sunday trading laws get around, sell a potato for $300 and get a three piece suite free

hire yourself as a part time driver and throw the car in free?

[HeatonNorris]

Can't really see how anyone can complain about this.

You're hiring out your car and service as a driver - which is exactly what a 'minicab' driver is doing.

[Old Merc]

This is already being discussed in the Classic Cars etc section,see "ever been paid for it".As I said there, if you advertise your classic for hire to the public as a business enterprise you may be in trouble and have to follow the rules.How it will be policed is another matter?? Some weddings I`ve been to the classic car was "owned by a mate of the groom" that sort of thing.It was there as a favor of sorts,he got his accommodation paid for and may be a "little brown envelope".How will the new legislation effect this sort of arrangement? Also what about when your classic is used by a film company,different drivers,passengers, and you get paid at the end.

[rpguk]

For the sake of 'fairness' I can see the logic in bringing these rentals into line with other private hire operations.

However is there actually a problem to be addressed or is it a case of legislation for the sake of it?

[HeatonNorris]

rpguk said:

For the sake of 'fairness' I can see the logic in bringing these rentals into line with other private hire operations.

However is there actually a problem to be addressed or is it a case of legislation for the sake of it?

There are probably lots of MOT exempt 'wedding cars' out there now, so it's no surprise other legislation is being looked at.

I'm sure nobody would want to be involved in an accident in their 'wedding car', finding out after the event that it had no public liability or business insurance or MOT.

[Old Merc]

I`m all for getting a grip of these "Limo" firms that are all over the place and not properly licensed,insured etc.If this legislation does become law we will have to study the "wording" very carefully to find out if using your classic as a one off favor is exempt.

[Riley Blue]

Using it as a one off 'favour' is exempt - unless you charge for favours.

[snapdragon69]

"You are paying me to grace you with my presence, the fact you may have a lift in my car is incidental and between 2 consenting adults"

[GTIR]

I have no problem with someone who does weddings in their classic as lets face it most people get married on a Saturday. You will never get rich doing it.
As they do minimal miles I don't think they should come under the same rules as taxis, two MOT a year etc, and the guys I know will not travel too far anyway.

As a private hire operator I detest these horrid stretch limos that are generally unlicensed, uninsured and dangerous, which is why they have all been flogged off and shipped out of the USA where they are illegal. Most have not been "officially" converted and if you've ever seen one you can tell!

[standardman]

I am married and not likely to marry again, if you support this legislation you will be choosing new mercs and crappy rotten shadows everyone else will say sod it.

I hire my car for wedding maybe twice a year, not profit just helps towards running costs.

Legislation for Legislation sake pathetic.