Is remote start legal in the UK?
Discussion
I used remote start on my new Land Rover for the first time today. It’s a facility whereby you can warm or cool the car before you get in it by setting the temperature via an app on your phone.
Great idea, but it occurred to me that it may break the law by leaving a vehicle running while unattended. The car was parked on a private driveway but I guess as it isn’t gated the RTA still applies.
When remote start is operational the car is locked and I understand that unless you have the key on you it won’t drive.
I understand some emergency vehicles have a system whereby the engine runs - to keep onboard IT booted up - but that they too can’t be driven. Is that some sort of exemption?
To be clear, the system on my car isn’t one of those Webasto heaters. It’s the engine that’s running,
Great idea, but it occurred to me that it may break the law by leaving a vehicle running while unattended. The car was parked on a private driveway but I guess as it isn’t gated the RTA still applies.
When remote start is operational the car is locked and I understand that unless you have the key on you it won’t drive.
I understand some emergency vehicles have a system whereby the engine runs - to keep onboard IT booted up - but that they too can’t be driven. Is that some sort of exemption?
To be clear, the system on my car isn’t one of those Webasto heaters. It’s the engine that’s running,
So a bit of a grey area then,
It’s a feature new to me, but if it’s fitted to a fairly mainstream vehicle like mine, I imagine it’s a pretty common feature.
I did wonder about insurance but it is part of the car’s standard spec and being used in accordance with the manufactures instructions and specs - ie double locked.
As the feature runs the engine with the sole purpose of powering the climate control dies this mean it isn’t unattended in the same way a car turned on manually would be?
Could it be one of those odd illegal but rarely or never enforced things like cars with lights that are lower than the minimum height above the ground?
It’s a feature new to me, but if it’s fitted to a fairly mainstream vehicle like mine, I imagine it’s a pretty common feature.
I did wonder about insurance but it is part of the car’s standard spec and being used in accordance with the manufactures instructions and specs - ie double locked.
As the feature runs the engine with the sole purpose of powering the climate control dies this mean it isn’t unattended in the same way a car turned on manually would be?
Could it be one of those odd illegal but rarely or never enforced things like cars with lights that are lower than the minimum height above the ground?
Lord Marylebone said:
whytheory said:
I had this feature on a Holden rental car and thought it was cool, did wonder why you don't see it over here but evidently it is possible. Like you say can't see any problem if the car allows you to do it from factory in UK spec.
Yes. Some UK cars did/do have Auxiliary heaters as standard.GroundEffect said:
I'm not aware of any cars sold in the UK with a Fuel Operated Heater. They're normally only sold in Nordic countries in Europe.
I've definitely seen cars like the diesel Rover 75 and BMW X5 fitted with fuel burning heaters in the UKA friend of mine had a S Type Jag a few years ago and it used to belch smoke out from under one side of the front bumper and we thought the car was on fire... turns out the S Type is fitted with a Webasto heater that runs off the diesel supply.
I think the remote start from the key fob - as seen on some US cars - isn’t allowed in the UK.
Edited by Wildcat45 on Friday 18th September 09:44
Lord Marylebone said:
Wildcat45 said:
Yes it was an option on earlier Land Rovers and I recall as far back as the 1980s you could get a timer based system on Mercedes.
I think the remote start from the key fob - as seen on some US cars - isn’t allowed in the UK.
Are you sure about key fob start not being allowed in the UK?I think the remote start from the key fob - as seen on some US cars - isn’t allowed in the UK.
I can't honestly see why it would be banned when you can sit in your house and start your car with an app?
Glasgowrob said:
What’s the legality of fitting run lock to a non emergency services vehicle
Say for a multi drop courier as an example
Courier could be stop starting every 50 yards and a feature like this would be beneficial
This guy has done it Say for a multi drop courier as an example
Courier could be stop starting every 50 yards and a feature like this would be beneficial
https://youtu.be/i92zAPyx4W0
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