how long can we leave our car in a layby?

worto03

Hia,

My girlfriend broke down on the way home from work today but with all the local garages shut already and no breakdown cover we've had to leave it in the layby until the garages open tomorrow so we can get one of them to have a look at it?

Is it OK to leave the car in the layby overnight or will it be towed away, clamped, ticketed, blown up in a controlled explosion?

Thanks for any help,
Worto.

anewman

Not having breakdown cover is no barrier to calling a recovery/tow firm in the yellow pages. Might cost a bit. The answer to your question depends largely on where it was parked and what markings/signs there were nearby.

worto03

Thanks - we can get it to a garage ourselves tomorrow at no cost and I've picked her up now and we're all at our house with the little one tucked up in bed so it's something we want to sort out tomorrow really.

It was on a dual carridgeway but shes not sure about signs - the only sign she saw was about litter apparently :rolleyes:

whatmichaelsays

If the car is parked on an urban clearway or bus clearway, you will be issued with a penalty charge notice. If the vehicle is causing an obstruction to traffic or pedestrian safety, it may also be towed away by the police (in which case you will be charged the standard fee of £120 for recovery and £12 per day storage) or the local authority (or a contractor working on behalf of).

You will not be clamped as this is only done on public roads by the DVLA with regards to tax offences.

rictus123

It will be fine if its 3 days max.

rev_henry

I would have thought you'd be fine. As long as you're not sleeping in it or trying to sell it there or anything like that I don't think its restricted.

whatmichaelsays

rictus123 wrote: »

It will be fine if its 3 days max.

Depends what you've parked and where.

Leave a rented van outside the Bank of England and I'd wager that it wouldn't be there in three days time.

elektra-2007

If its a proper layby for parking i would have thought it will be o.k, even if people thought it was abandonded the police would put a 7day removal sticker on it. If your moving it tommorow i cant see a problem, aslong as like the op poster said its not causing an obstruction ect.

worto03

thanks for the answers guys, it's not causing any obstruction or anything and shes definately not sleeping in it! We're going to leave it until tomorrow and see what happens - I'll let you know - if it's anything the rest of this year so far something crazy will probably have happened!

rictus123

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

Depends what you've parked and where.

Leave a rented van outside the Bank of England and I'd wager that it wouldn't be there in three days time.

I doubt its outside the bank of England or rented...

Ivrytwr3

Can you not sort a tow rope and car and get the vehicle moved? It's not the 'will it get towed away?' element, but the fact that sometime during the night someone is going to put out the windows, steal your stereo, steal the car etc etc....

Get it moved while it's still in one piece!