Road legal in the UK

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi all.

Having built my little Red Fred I now want to use him out and about on the footpaths and fields opposite my home which is part of our community project. 

Being an ex cop I like to keep things above board if at all possible. You can bet I will get stopped crossing 15 feet of tarmac and feel the full weight of the law.

And also I know how complex road traffic law can be to interpret, even for the cops and CPS.

But I think I have a bit of a handle on it so I'll explain what I think, if anyone sees any glaring errors please shout up.

Or if you have already achieved said legal status any tips would be welcome.

Firstly, it's a light agricultural vehicle, and so that brings it into being exempt from Type approval. A major PITA if it had needed approval.

Second it's over 40 years old so does not need an MOT certificate.

Thirdly, if built before 1980 it does not need tax.

D. I have a driving licence that covers me for the requisite groups.

All I am short of is insurance for third party risks and if i want to be really cute a registration document and registration (licence) plate.

Oh, and i think i need an amber flashing light because it's so slow. 

I'm going to get a quote for insurance and it costs £55 to have it registered by the Govt. 

A lot of messing about but if I want to avoid the wrath of the cops and the local know it alls, one of whom has already raised the point of proper documentation for my toy,  then I think I will go ahead and see what comes of it. 

I will keep you posted.

Mick 

[ebinmaine 67,266]

Of course I haven't the foggiest what your regulations would be over across the pond. But it is interesting to me.

 

I've lived in Western Massachusetts and here in Southwest Maine.

The rules are very different between the two states. And of course, town to town things can change.

In Massachusetts for the most part, at least where I lived, you are absolutely positively not allowed to put anything but a road legal vehicle on a road.... Even to cross it.

 

Here in Maine however, things are much more free thinking. We have snowmobile and ATV as an industry.

if I remember correctly there was something like a 100-foot variance that you can be on the asphalt. That allows the trailmakers to cross the roads diagonally even on a wider area.

 

 

I asked my local Town folk about what I needed to have to use my tractor as a plow rig.

Keeping in mind I obviously need to get out into the road to move the snow.... No registration is required whatsoever but they WERE pretty interested in me having a flashing orange or amber light.

 

[bottjernat1 2,190]

Im not sure what our laws are in my small town for a garden tractor. People know me tho and i drive every once in a while to folks houses to help out. We are also golf cart friendly just have to pay the town $25 and have headlights,brake lights turn signals,seat belts, a rear view mirror,and a flag 7ft from the ground thats it. I have a nice golf cart i have thought about adding the couple things i need and just put around with it around town.

 

[Stormin 9,981]

 Let us know how you get on with the DVLA, Mick. I'd like to road register two of mine. My C-125 and the Sears/Roper. Biggest problem would be I've no documents whatsoever. I do know proof of date of manufacture will be required.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

Here's what the State of Michigan says on the matter:

 

Under Michigan law, vehicles used for agricultural purposes that are manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2007 must comply with the following standards approved by the American National Standards Institute and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers:

• ASAE S276.6: Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem
• ASAE S279.12: Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways.

Such vehicles, referred to in the Michigan Vehicle Code as an "implement of husbandry," include farm tractors, vehicles designed to be drawn by a farm tractor or an animal, vehicles that directly harvest farm products, or vehicles that directly apply fertilizer, spray, or seeds to a farm field.

 

An agriculture vehicle manufactured after Jan. 1, 2007 that doesn't comply with the standards listed above may not be sold in Michigan.

 

State law also requires that agricultural vehicles made before Jan. 1, 2007 and operated on a public roadway display lighted rear lamps plainly visible from 500 feet, or be accompanied by a vehicle that illuminates the agricultural vehicle with its headlights and displays lighted rear lamps visible from 500 feet.

 

Agricultural vehicles made before Jan. 1, 2007 also must have at least one white front light and a red rear light visible from 500 feet during the period between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, and at other times of insufficient light.

 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi Norm.

Yes i will let you know how things progress, if at all.

I know sometimes the answers are just too much of a pain for the authorities to answer. 

As regards documentation I'm in the same boat, nothing at all other than the plates on the engine and the makers plates.

I'm hopeful that a sensible response may be forthcoming, but I won't hold my breath.

I have filled out the necessary form a V55/5 to register a used vehicle. But even that has issues as they want an odometer reading, sorry it ain't got one, never had one, never will either.

It's worth spending 55 quid to get some kind of answer. 

Watch this space.

[ebinmaine 67,266]

5 minutes ago, Mickwhitt said:

Watch this space.

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Lights wise I have headlights, rear lights, and a flashing beacon in the post. I dont think it will need indicator lamps or brake lights as hand signals cover that.

I've also ordered a pair of motorbike mirrors to give me a rear view for safety when driving.

Amazing that I can ride a push bike on the busiest roads, with no helmet, no insurance, no road worthiness test, no cycling training and probably three times faster than my little Fred. I could cause way more carnage and problems on my bike but there is little in the way of censure. 

Its interesting to hear the requirements in your differing countries and even in differing states in the US. We dont have that over here but we are subject to the vagaries of 43 different police forces interpreting the law differently.  

Mick 

[pfrederi 17,663]

Couple years g my neighbor got nice little 2cyl Aircooled diesel SAME (italian tractor).  Mechanically she was sound but i had a heck of a time with the electric,  Headlights Hi and low beam Tail lights brake lights turn signals 4 way flashers  and a speedometer in addition to tach.  Being a tractor it had been outside most its life and moisture  and time really messed up the electronics.  Sort of like a WH 520  (

[Tractorhead 9,064]

I can give you some hope,

I did it with my Beast.

I don‘t know your actual road approval certification, but as long as brexit is not finally past, 

you can made it based on EU Rights..

Mine is a Iseki Brand, but i tried that also ahread with my Wheelhorse.

 

The approval Type was here Called Zugmaschine Ackerschlepper, what means Agricultural puller.

 

Therefore i needed followed issues to solve:

1. Headlights and park light, where headlights must go with key on ignition, parklights must be able to switch without key.

2. Flasher left and right and even Accidental flash, can be with an control light but must not, a beeper to remind is ok.

3. A coupling possibillity for Trailer with approoval for an ability to pull more than 450Kilos

with electrical coupling for lights like a Cartrailer or similar. I used a 13pin Cartrailer connector i had in spare.

4. At least one rear mirror, i used two on the Beast

5. A footbrake with an option for a continouse engage

6. The brake must be able to stop the allowed Load on a slope of 15%, including Trailer without overload the Brakes.

 

Because it is an Agricultural puller an Engine certifcate wasn‘t required here at all 👍

as long as brexit is not finally passed, maybe that is a Way you can go.

 

except points 6,5 and 4 it was closely but i fail with my Horse, because the brakes are definitely too weak dimensionated.

They could be improved, but needs an separately certification run, what costs additional 1200€ Incl. Approval,

so i stopped that and try it on my Beast with same Scenario, because it has massive better Brakes

they allowed up to 1,9 Tons of pulling load at 15% slope.

The Brake test was doing simply in a real driving test.

We hung a trailer on, loaded with Lift weights to it‘s maximum and give me a Way with 2 bars i must stop in between.

The Test was a Success and i get my road approval.

Additionally i agreed to another Approoval for the FEL, that it can stay permanently mounted on my Tractor.

also that was Success, but that cost me all together 1000€ Added for this approval.

 

Because it is my Hobby and i love it to drive also along the Road legally and even my FEL is completely selfmade,

i invested that Money. I didn‘t see it as a waste of Money, because hobby means doing things with minimum effect by maximal cost.😎

 

So my answer is just, try it and ask, hopefully you get same results as i did.

 

 

This horse failed, because of too weak brakes,

 

 

compare of the dimensions

 

 

aaaaand Road approval successfully.

 

 

 

And one of my „Tours“ i did with it to a Friend‘s property several Km‘s far.

 

Greetings from South Bavaria

 

[ebinmaine 67,266]

1 hour ago, Tractorhead said:

hobby means doing things with minimum effect by maximal cost

 

 

I love that!

 

That should be on a flippin t-shirt....

 

 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

It certainly sums up the way I do my hobbies lol.

 

Good news from the DVSA who deal with vehicle standards, it does not need type approval so that's a big bonus.

 

I'm filling in the V55/5 form as we speak and sending it off with supporting documents to start the process. 

 

Found insurance at £94 per year but I'm still searching.

 

Mick 

[Stormin 9,981]

 Mick. Have you tried Cherished Car Insurance. Got three of mine on one policy for £90 something.

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Norm.

The quote I got was from a specialist agricultural insurer so I'm sure it can be beaten on price.

I've a few more companies to try.

I'm sending off my V55 form today along with a bundle of papers to support the application.

I'm pretty confident as even if I cant pin down a date of manufacture they can issue a Q plate.

I've sent photos of the VIN plates, engine number and even the tractor itself as they seems concerned people try to register a vehicle that doesn't even exist, not sure why they'd do that.

I've also sent them the master model list to indicate a year of manufacture. 

Let's see what happens a d I will report back what our friends in Wales make of our little Red Fred.

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

I decided to do a bit of fabrication work today and made a mounting bracket for my amber warning beacon. 

I had a curious length of aluminium tube which was telescopic with a locking collar which I thought would make a good mast to mount a light on as I could extend and retract it.

I puzzled where to fit this to Fred and decided on the seat pan.

Bit of welding and turning and I'm happy I have the basis of my light mast.

Just need to make a mount for the light itself to fit the too end of the tube.

This is something that is only required for a vehicle incapable of exceeding 25mph being driven on a deristricted dual carriageway, in England a 70mph speed limit.

I dont think I will be trying that out any time soon.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

Nice work!

 

That seat pan mount looks factory!!!

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi all,

I finished my amber beacon job off today, managed to get the mounting sorted and wire the switch into the dash.

It's a little twin rocker switch, one on/off and one momentary switch to swap between 9 different flash modes. 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Still awaiting a reply from deepest darkest Wales on the registration application. 

It said four to six weeks and it's only been two weeks, but you know how antsy us wheel guys can get when things dont rush on lol.

Coldest day so far and we are all shivering lol. Bearing in mind it was 23 c yesterday. 

Mick 

 

[Stormin 9,981]

   Makes me laugh. When the DVLA opened the Swansea department, it was meant to make things more efficient. Since then there's been more cockups than enough. Especially with the plastic driving licences. People getting them back with entitlements missing. Could they get them back?   

 Oh no! The computer is always right. Cases of HGV, PSV drivers having to retake their driving tests again. Driving instructors, motorcyclists, all sorts of people. Even a police driving instructor.

  That's why I kept my paper licence till I turned 70. BTW. I can no longer drive a 7 ton wagon, but I can tow my twin axle trailer with My Land Rover Discovery, with  a total weight of about 8 ton.

[meadowfield 2,570]

good luck, I registered my first two horses relatively easy - in 2011

 

1. a letter from Toro on headed paper with the date of manufacture and location.

2. form V55

3. £60

4. Go to DVLA office in Leeds with the above and some pictures. 

 

An advisor comes and has a chat, looks at your evidence - corrects the stuff you filled in wrong and takes your money.  A few minutes later says yes, this will be the reg number and paperwork in the post.

 

Since then the offices are closed - so I tried the same with horse number 3, but sent it across to Swansea. Two weeks later rejected, insufficient evidence of date of manufacture!  I run the UK wheel Horse register, sell decals and regularly date for people. Plus I had an official letter - still not good enough...

 

[pfrederi 17,663]

Nice to know that Departments of Motor Vehicles are the same all over the world...SCREWED UP!!!

[richmondred01 2,237]

And we thought the tax on tea was bad. 

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by richmondred01

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

I can believe the DVLA in Swansea are pretty incompetent.

Very little common sense and not at all reasonable.

We too had a local office in Sheffield but I'm not sure if it is still open. 

It's been six weeks now with no word and there is currently no way to make contact with the DVLA because of covid. Despite new car sales being at an all time low they still cant get on with their regular business. 

So I just wait for the inevitable rejection letter. Secure in the knowledge that our cousins in Wales will deal with my enquiry without fear or favour because I live over the imaginary border. 

Fingers are still crossed.

Mick 

[Mickwhitt 4,584]

Hi all.

10 weeks due to covid and I got my expected rejection letter.

Two reasons for not accepting the application.  

First one was I sufficient dating information, despite me believing that didnt matter if it was issued a Q plate.

Second one it requires a NOVA notification!  A who whatnawhen I hear you cry! Yep a NOVA notufication to the dreaded HMRC  or for you non British types the IRS or for you who prefer plain speak...the TAX MAN

Apparently I have to inform the govt that it's an import, even though I didnt import it. 

I've begun that process and will continue my quest to supply the necessary information to our vehicle registration people. 

Round 1 to the DVLA, round 2 ding ding....

[Stormin 9,981]

I don't think I'll bother, Mick. I wouldn't be going far anyway.