[important bit]
I'd seriously encourage anyone who is in any doubt about their legality to tow to phone VOSA and speak to them before towing - it'll take a lot less time than arguing the toss with them at the side of the road when you're in the wrong because you didn't know the facts.
[/important bit]

Seriously Ian... ring 'em before you leave. It'll take 5 minutes tops. The advice from VOSA today will be relevant to any changes in the law which may or may not have taken place since I phoned them.
 
Right I have emailed VOSA asking for clarification. As soon as they reply i will post it on here..


Watch this space. ??
 
The issue raised above about tractors and large trailers etc (regardless of intricate detail etc) when you can’t tow much with a car etc… tractor drivers were allowed to do this as it was expected that they would only complete small trips on road, between fields and farm etc. With the vast majority of their driving being off the roads. Hence the grey area in comparison to cars and trailers.
 
The issue raised above about tractors and large trailers etc (regardless of intricate detail etc) when you can’t tow much with a car etc… tractor drivers were allowed to do this as it was expected that they would only complete small trips on road, between fields and farm etc. With the vast majority of their driving being off the roads. Hence the grey area in comparison to cars and trailers.


Another factor is, tractors are limited to 20mph or 25mph. If you exceed his, eg JCB Fastrac, Unimog, etc then you need C+E licence and a whole bunch of other regulations need to be adhered to.
 
I didn't get to test this out because the guy didn't answer my calls about buying that trailer. Still watching the thread with interest, it's been useful.
 
The issue raised above about tractors and large trailers etc (regardless of intricate detail etc) when you can’t tow much with a car etc… tractor drivers were allowed to do this as it was expected that they would only complete small trips on road, between fields and farm etc. With the vast majority of their driving being off the roads. Hence the grey area in comparison to cars and trailers.

i think there is a ruling regarding the use of red diesel on the road outside a distance from your home farm, i.e. red can only be used when going from field to field and not hauling to market, as hauling to market is no longer farmwork its haulage
 
i think there is a ruling regarding the use of red diesel on the road outside a distance from your home farm, i.e. red can only be used when going from field to field and not hauling to market, as hauling to market is no longer farmwork its haulage

Yep As I said earlier within 1mile of the farm is ok any more is illegal
 
Yep As I said earlier within 1mile of the farm is ok any more is illegal

The 1 mile limit is for limited use vehicles (ie cars and vans which have been reregistered as such), not tractors. Tractors and other proper ag machinery don't have a mileage limit based on distance from base, but must be doing ag work. But you'd need to satisfy the exemptions from requiring an operator's licence, which are a slightly different set of rules and exemptions than the red diesel in ag vehicles. Put simply, there's 6 different sets of regulations which you need to be aware of, and stay within, to operate vehicles:

- Driver (licence)
- Vehicle type approval and construction & use
- Tow bar coupling (as applies to 1998-on cars and vans)
- Trailer construction & use
- Operator licence regulations/exemptions
- HMRC tax and duty exemptions
 
Another factor is, tractors are limited to 20mph or 25mph. If you exceed his, eg JCB Fastrac, Unimog, etc then you need C+E licence and a whole bunch of other regulations need to be adhered to.

28mph ;)

As for a fastrac it's still classed as an agricultural vehicle and I'm not aware of any extra entitlements required on your licence to drive one.


Lads younger than me on other farms drove them no prob.
 
The 1 mile limit is for limited use vehicles (ie cars and vans which have been reregistered as such), not tractors. Tractors and other proper ag machinery don't have a mileage limit based on distance from base, but must be doing ag work. But you'd need to satisfy the exemptions from requiring an operator's licence, which are a slightly different set of rules and exemptions than the red diesel in ag vehicles. Put simply, there's 6 different sets of regulations which you need to be aware of, and stay within, to operate vehicles:

- Driver (licence)
- Vehicle type approval and construction & use
- Tow bar coupling (as applies to 1998-on cars and vans)
- Trailer construction & use
- Operator licence regulations/exemptions
- HMRC tax and duty exemptions

Yes I was on about Big- P's comment on his boss driving to a 2nd farm and G spots comment about towing stock to market etc. both would be limited to within 1 mile of the farm as they aren't counted as agricultural work.
 
Yes I was on about Big- P's comment on his boss driving to a 2nd farm and G spots comment about towing stock to market etc. both would be limited to within 1 mile of the farm as they aren't counted as agricultural work.


I don't know what Big P's boss was going to do at the 2nd farm, but I suspect its ag-related. Towing (your own) stock to market is DEFINITELY ag-related! Its not a complex test. Someone used a tractor towing a low loader to transport a JCB digger. They tried to do him for haulage, instead of ag exemption. In court, the farmer won because the digger was going to be used to clear ditches on the farmland, etc, ie ag-related.
 
28mph ;)

As for a fastrac it's still classed as an agricultural vehicle and I'm not aware of any extra entitlements required on your licence to drive one.


Lads younger than me on other farms drove them no prob.

What year Fastrac and what class of type approval did it have? After 2005, things are much simpler because there is a T5 type approval category which is fast tractor. Before then, Fastracs were type approved to truck regulations (ABS, suspension, front hinging doors, mechanical steering, etc etc) but also met tractor requirements. The operator had to choose whether to operate it as a tractor (including meeting the 40kph speed limit) or a commercial vehicle (including driver licensed as such, operator licence, etc etc). It was widely misused at the time and police basically turned a blind eye, because they prefer a fast tractor to go fast and not hold up traffic, than slow. Even they didn't understand the rules properly! Things are now a big simpler for 2005 on Fastracs.
 
What year Fastrac and what class of type approval did it have? After 2005, things are much simpler because there is a T5 type approval category which is fast tractor. Before then, Fastracs were type approved to truck regulations (ABS, suspension, front hinging doors, mechanical steering, etc etc) but also met tractor requirements. The operator had to choose whether to operate it as a tractor (including meeting the 40kph speed limit) or a commercial vehicle (including driver licensed as such, operator licence, etc etc). It was widely misused at the time and police basically turned a blind eye, because they prefer a fast tractor to go fast and not hold up traffic, than slow. Even they didn't understand the rules properly! Things are now a big simpler for 2005 on Fastracs.

Year - Before 2002

As for type approval, pass. We never had one but a couple of neighbouring farms had one. As did one of the local contractors.

A fastrac is about the only tractor I never actually got behind the wheel of.
 
I don't know what Big P's boss was going to do at the 2nd farm, but I suspect its ag-related. Towing (your own) stock to market is DEFINITELY ag-related! Its not a complex test. Someone used a tractor towing a low loader to transport a JCB digger. They tried to do him for haulage, instead of ag exemption. In court, the farmer won because the digger was going to be used to clear ditches on the farmland, etc, ie ag-related.

Boss only ever went to other farms in his Hilux for agri related work. He didn't abuse it by going to the shops in it.

I'm fairly sure the distance you're allowed to travel is more than 1 mile too.
 
But to be honest, which farm worker goes and does the full tractor test? I've never even heard of one. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm orf to me ****in' chariot.


16 year olds are the ones who would do a tractor test (at age 16), then they're licensed for driving on the roads in a tractor. There's no point sitting the test if you're 17 or over, you may as well sit the car driving test since passing this also adds category F (tractors) to your licence, as well as a few others.

The distance limit for 'limited use' reregistered van/car, might have been greater in years gone by but currently its 1.5km.
 
16 year olds are the ones who would do a tractor test (at age 16), then they're licensed for driving on the roads in a tractor. There's no point sitting the test if you're 17 or over, you may as well sit the car driving test since passing this also adds category F (tractors) to your licence, as well as a few others.

That's what I thought but G Spot says otherwise.:confused:


The distance limit for 'limited use' reregistered van/car, might have been greater in years gone by but currently its 1.5km.


Any chance that could also be different in Scotland?
 
just had a word wiv me dad... theres been loads of stuff in the caravan club mag on towing limits.. aparently when you get to a certain age you lose the grandfather rights of pre 1997 driving licence.. and your towing limit is reduced to that of having passed your test after 1997.. lots of old folk wiv 4x4 are towing their caravans illegally..

or so it sez in cc mag...
 
you C+E expires when you reach 45 and your licence in general when you reach 70.
if you look on the back of the photocard it gives you the expirey dates.
 
my mate did it, luckily paid for by work (£500).. he said it was the biggest ball ache load of **** ever. its as youd imagine, rediculously by the book. if you toutch the hitch with your tow ball its an instant fail and such like..

definately worth doing if you licence is worth more than £500 to you
 

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