Towing car - Best options

cts_casemod

Hi Everyone,

I just found this car, not very far away. Went to see it I'm happy with condition.
Now the problem is that the car has an engine fault and needs to be towed 20 miles.

I couldn't find any quotes for this. Do I have to sign up for a recovery service? Isn't there anything like a one off service?

Also on the recovery services I can see there is an excess - But I cant seem to find what that relates too. I am right in assuming I have to pay the excess whenever there is a call out charge?

Any clarification would be brilliant. Thanks.

SailorSam

Haven't you got any family or mates that could give you a tow with their car ? If not you should be able to find plenty of garages that do breakdowns and will get you home as a one-off rather than joining one of the recovery services.

Example but depends where you live

http://www.manchesterrecoveryandtransport.co.uk/

cts_casemod

SailorSam wrote: »

Haven't you got any family or mates that could give you a tow with their car ? If not you should be able to find plenty of garages that do breakdowns and will get you home as a one-off rather than joining one of the recovery services.

Example but depends where you live

http://www.manchesterrecoveryandtransport.co.uk/

I can tow, I just find the legislation a bit blurry on that respect.
I have a towing pole, would that be acceptable to tow a car for 20 miles?

Do I need an extra plate for the towed car as with a trailler?

Thanks

facade

Depending on the car, there may be restrictions placed by the manufacturer on how far or how fast you can tow it with the wheels on the floor, or even if it can be towed at all.

(In The Olden Days this was pretty much just automatic models, but nowadays with all the "better" designs and manufacturing techniques it applies to a lot of manual transmission models too.)

SailorSam

I broke down once south of Birmingham and got a mate to bring me up to Liverpool. Not something i'd recommend, when you're that close to the car in front and staring at the rope, any speed seems so fast. But we got here.
Reading this there shouldn't be a problem, and if you've got a pole already that's much safer than a rope. I suppose ask a couple of garages for a price and decide whether you'd be confident enough to do it yourself.
http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/towing-a-broken-down-car#

AdrianC

By far and away the best way to move it is on a trailer or a flatbed.

If you rope or pole it, or even use an A-frame or towing dolly that doesn't brake all the towed car's wheels, then it is legally classed as an emergency recovery - and the towed car must be fully road legal. If you've just bought it, in the full knowledge that it's a non-runner, you are definitely stretching "emergency recovery"...

If it's only 20 miles, you should be able to find plenty of car transport people who'll do it for a very reasonable price. eBay, Shiply etc. Your local second-hand car places and garages are also likely to know somebody.

cts_casemod

Yes the towed car is fully road legal, just a misfortune with the engine. The owner is willing to come with us so that the vehicle is covered tax and insurance wise, if the new car thing is an issue.

What would you consider a 'reasonable price'?
I can get one year worth of recovery/road side assistance for about £40-45 (They offer towing up to 6 times),

I'm finding that quite hard to beat to be fair. The only issue is that I have to wait a few days for the new V5 to arrive in my name

cts_casemod

SailorSam wrote: »

[...] Not something i'd recommend, when you're that close to the car in front and staring at the rope, any speed seems so fast. [...]

This is quite funny, the other day I was overtaken, assuming the two cars were racing. To my surprise the one on the back was actually being towed using a rope. I was driving at 50MPH, before being overtaken

AdrianC

cts_casemod wrote: »

Yes the towed car is fully road legal, just a misfortune with the engine. The owner is willing to come with us so that the vehicle is covered tax and insurance wise, if the new car thing is an issue.

It's still not an emergency recovery, though, is it?

I can get one year worth of recovery/road side assistance for about £40-45 (They offer towing up to 6 times),

You'll find that breakdown providers don't take kindly to being used as a taxi service for previously-broken vehicles.

Rover_Driver

AdrianC wrote: »

If you rope or pole it, or even use an A-frame or towing dolly that doesn't brake all the towed car's wheels, then it is legally classed as an emergency recovery

An un-braked A-frame or towing dolly may be restricted to emergency recovery only.


A car being towed with rope or pole may be considered to be a braked trailer if it complies with s.19, The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, and not so restricted.

AdrianC

Rover_Driver wrote: »

A car being towed with rope or pole may be considered to be a braked trailer if it complies with s.19, The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, and not so restricted.

...which says...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made

Application of brakes of trailers

19. Where a trailer is drawn by a motor vehicle the driver (or in the case of a locomotive one of the persons employed in driving or tending the locomotive) shall be in a position readily to operate any brakes required by these Regulations to be fitted to the trailer as well as the brakes of the motor vehicle unless a person other than the driver is in a position and competent efficiently to apply the brakes of the trailer.

Provided that this regulation shall not apply to a trailer which—

(a) in compliance with these Regulations, is fitted with brakes which automatically come into operation on the overrun of the trailer; or

(b) which is a broken down vehicle being drawn, whether or not in consequence of a breakdown, in such a manner that it cannot be steered by its own steering gear.