Scrape in Tesco car park

Fat_Walt

arcon5 wrote: »

The general rule is if it is accessible by the public... A supermarket car park is. Where as for example private parking for an office isn't as public aren't permitted to use the land.

General rule for what?

You don't need a driving licence, mot or vehicle excise licence to drive on supermarket car park, unless it's actually classed as a road. Which it is unlikely to be.

jrtfan

OP, a few years ago I answered our front door to a WPC, who asked if my husband was in. He wasn't, so the WPC handed me a sealed envelope and asked if I could give this to him as soon as he came home.

The envelope turned out to contain a summons for my husband to attend court on a certain date, as he was to face charges of leaving the scene of an accident without giving his details to other parties involved and without reporting the accident to the police (which is what he was obliged to do, in the absence of exchanging details at the scene).

The 'accident' had apparently taken place in the car park of our local ASDA some months earlier. According to a so-called eye witness, my husband had clipped another parked car whilst leaving his parking space; stopped his car; got out and walked around both vehicles to inspect for any damage; then got back into his car and driven away. The other vehicle had sustained some damage and the eye witness had passed my husband's registration details on when the owner returned.

There was no CCTV footage of the car park and my husband had no memory of having done what he was being accused of. As it happens, the case was thrown out on the day (I forget what the reason they gave was, but a policewoman friend said it translated to somebody had been trying their luck and there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations).

My advice would be not to hang around but to inform the police as soon as you can, otherwise your wife could find herself in the same position as my husband did. Good luck.

arcon5

Fat_Walt wrote: »

General rule for what?

You don't need a driving licence, mot or vehicle excise licence to drive on supermarket car park, unless it's actually classed as a road. Which it is unlikely to be.

If you keep up you'll know what we're talking about... and it certainly isn't Tax and test

arcon5

phill99 wrote: »

Without a doubt, MSE is the best forum for people offering their unhindeed advice on subjects they know absolutely nothing about. Makes you proud to be a member.

That's why we need people like you to keep us all on the straight and narrow..

Oh, wait a minute..

Steve456

Fat_Walt wrote: »

General rule for what?

You don't need a driving licence, mot or vehicle excise licence to drive on supermarket car park, unless it's actually classed as a road. Which it is unlikely to be.

An excellent demonstration of why you shouldn't take advice at face value!

You *do* need a driving licence (and you also need insurance) if you drive in a publicly accessible supermarket car park.

If the car park is closed to the general public (and that would be physically closed and not just a little sign), then you may very well be OK without.

Oh - and it's whether it is classed as a "public place" that counts, not whether it is a "road".

Rover_Driver

A problem is that some of the Road Traffic Act 1988 applies "on a road", and some applies "on a road or other public place".

A driving licence is required to drive a motor vehicle 'on a road' (s.87).
The requirement for a current test certificate is also 'on a road' (s.47).
Insurance is required for the use of a vehicle 'on a road or other public place" (s.143).

There may be a problem with the insurance if they require the driver to hold a licence, even if it is not legally required.

Fat_Walt

Steve456 wrote: »

An excellent demonstration of why you shouldn't take advice at face value!

You *do* need a driving licence (and you also need insurance) if you drive in a publicly accessible supermarket car park.

If the car park is closed to the general public (and that would be physically closed and not just a little sign), then you may very well be OK without.

Oh - and it's whether it is classed as a "public place" that counts, not whether it is a "road".

Only if it's a road, which most aren't.

Public place is for insurance and not a licence.

Fat_Walt

arcon5 wrote: »

If you keep up you'll know what we're talking about... and it certainly isn't Tax and test

Tax is required for a road maintainable at public expense and mot is on a road. So you'll be fine without most on a supermarket car park.

Feel free to keep up the arguement. But you're incorrect.

takman

Fat_Walt wrote: »

Tax is required for a road maintainable at public expense and mot is on a road. So you'll be fine without most on a supermarket car park.

Feel free to keep up the arguement. But you're incorrect.

But what about the insurance that you require?. I doubt many insurance companies ( if any) would insure a car without MOT.

Fat_Walt

takman wrote: »

But what about the insurance that you require?. I doubt many insurance companies ( if any) would insure a car without MOT.

There's millions on our roads fully insured and without an mot.

Even if it had expired they'd still cover any third party liability.