Is it legal to drive a Fiesta when the boot won't open?

prowla

The boot door could be crumpled without the car floor/chassis being affected.

However, the lights, number plate, etc. have to work. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding the spare tyre. And of course, if there is anything structural and/or the fuel tank is affected then the car may not be safe.

It obviously depends upon the condition of the particular car.

Sgt_Pepper_2

prowla wrote: »

The boot door could be crumpled without the car floor/chassis being affected.

However, the lights, number plate, etc. have to work. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding the spare tyre. And of course, if there is anything structural and/or the fuel tank is affected then the car may not be safe.

It obviously depends upon the condition of the particular car.

You don't need a spare tyre, if you fit one it must be legal.

Thems the rules.

prowla

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

You don't need a spare tyre, if you fit one it must be legal.

Thems the rules.

OK - thanks!

datostar

prowla wrote: »

The boot door could be crumpled without the car floor/chassis being affected.

However, the lights, number plate, etc. have to work. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding the spare tyre. And of course, if there is anything structural and/or the fuel tank is affected then the car may not be safe.

It obviously depends upon the condition of the particular car.

My daughter was rearended on the M1 in a newish Micra. No great visible damage and all the lights still worked. It was the ripples in the floor that did for it and the car was written off as beyond economic repair. She got a full payout. I know the car was sold as salvage and was repaired by a local small bodyshop as a private project and put back on the road. They are designed to crumple.

red_eye

kirsteenSK9 wrote: »

My son was rear-ended last night by a taxi.

He phoned his insurance company immediately and was told that even though the car was drive-able he shouldn't do so and they would arrange a hire-car. The hire-car hasn't arrived and he really needs to get to work.

Does anyone know if it is illegal to drive his car in the meantime please?

Thanks
kirsteen

I might me 15 years out of date but if its a hatch (5 door) then it would be an mot failure. But I don't see why it should be un drivable.

AliceBanned

My Fiesta was rear-ended two weeks ago, and the third party's insurer told me it was illegal to drive it if the boot wouldn't open. They made it a Category C and I had to put it through an MOT to put it back on the road, which it failed on account of the boot floor damage, (by then I had managed to prise the boot open but it wasn't fully aligned) and several other things unrelated to the accident. It should be checked out but if no one has told you it is illegal to drive it then maybe you should ask the insurer and give them an account of the damage, just to make sure it is legal? I did drive mine to the MOT place and back but I think that was ok (only 1 mile each way). You should have a courtesy car straight away, within a day or two so what's the hold up with this?