Board logo

Towing a car on a rope on a public road
sonic - 4/5/16 at 06:40 PM

Hi all

Is it still legal to tow a broken down car on a tow rope if its taxed and tested on public roads ?

morcus - 4/5/16 at 06:46 PM

I could be wrong but I thought it was only legal to recover it from the road to the nearest safe place.

I don't think the police like it because it is quite dangerous.

Toprivetguns - 4/5/16 at 07:06 PM

I have a solid towing bar that I use in emergency, better than a rope.

loggyboy - 4/5/16 at 07:09 PM

Its a grey area - but if it is taxed and insure and they cant prove you arent 'recovering' then theres nothing much they can do.
Ive towed back cars for one reason or an other from fairly long distances, you just obviously avoid the Motorways!
As above, a bar does make like a lot easier.

sonic - 4/5/16 at 07:14 PM

So is towing with a bar legal then?, do they do bars that collapse for storage or are they just a solid bar of a certain length?

I have always kept a tow rope stored away in my boot just in case and a friend of mine said that it is illegal to use it now so can a bar of some type be bought small enough that say telescopes out so it can be kept in a boot.

loggyboy - 4/5/16 at 07:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sonic
So is towing with a bar legal then?, do they do bars that collapse for storage or are they just a solid bar of a certain length?

I have always kept a tow rope stored away in my boot just in case and a friend of mine said that it is illegal to use it now so can a bar of some type be bought small enough that say telescopes out so it can be kept in a boot.


From the askthe.police website:

When the vehicles are attached solely by a rope or chain, the maximum distance allowed between the vehicles is 4.5 metres.

If the distance between the two vehicles exceeds 1.5 metres then the rope or chain must be made clearly visible within a reasonable distance from either side to other road users. This is usually done by tying a coloured flapping cloth in the middle of the rope or chain.

The person in the broken down vehicle must be a qualified driver as he is actually driving it. A further point is that if it is dark then the broken down vehicle must have its lights on as it would under normal circumstances.

no mentioned of insurance, road tax or limitations etc. hence why its a grey area.

from the highway code
'In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional recovery.'

So no mention of it not being legal there either.

[Edited on 4-5-16 by loggyboy]

tr7v8 - 4/5/16 at 07:36 PM

Perfectly legal. But the car being towed should be taxed, insured & MOT'd as its wheels are "on the road"
A bar is better & if you do it more than occasionally then it is worth getting one, I think ours was £30 or so from Machine Mart.

sonic - 4/5/16 at 08:10 PM

Thanks very much guys, that is conclusive as being legal then

Thank you

myke pocock - 4/5/16 at 09:15 PM

So, if you tow with an A frame the vehicle you are towing is technically a trailer and therefore needs brakes if over a certain weight in relation to the towing vehicle. (I know theres a lot more technical stuff here but I wont go in to that) So why is it therefore legal to tow on a rope or even a bar. Doesnt sound right to me.

robinj66 - 4/5/16 at 09:23 PM

Hopefully this provides an answer Using a Tow Rope

[Edited on 4/5/16 by robinj66]

SteveWalker - 4/5/16 at 09:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by myke pocock
So, if you tow with an A frame the vehicle you are towing is technically a trailer and therefore needs brakes if over a certain weight in relation to the towing vehicle. (I know theres a lot more technical stuff here but I wont go in to that) So why is it therefore legal to tow on a rope or even a bar. Doesnt sound right to me.


Because with a rope or a bar you have a driver in the second vehicle, steering (so it is not simply a trailer) and operating the brakes.

Having used both ropes and bars, I'd always go for a bar if possible. Far less stressful and dangerous.

[Edited on 4/5/16 by SteveWalker]

nick205 - 5/5/16 at 01:13 PM

I have towed cars with a rope before, not overly safe as there's a reasonable chance of the driver of the towed vehicle going into the back of you IMHO. However I've not been told it's illegal to do so and never been given any stick for doing it. I wouldn't go far though!

tr7v8 - 5/5/16 at 06:05 PM

Takes practice a few years ago a mate & I used to tow on a rope, a lot. When you get practised you can be both safe & quick!