Vehicle 'Trade Plates' - anyone knowledgable?

[riverking]

I'm looking into the various possibilities for the Mercedes
Van support vehicle for the T.I.T.S. Challenge, such as bringing it back or leaving it in Banjul / wherever (Yes I know the 5 year old vehicle rule Bill).

As things stand ie. bringing the van back, I either have to have to renew the HGV Mot (hassle) then tax & insure or, fit the van out as a motorhome and have an easier Mot plus tax and insure.

It may be that the cost of the above, added to the cost of bringing the van back 4,500 miles (fuel / ferries), exceeds the value of the van.

But even if we left the van in Africa, we would need all of the above just to get it to Dover (tax) and to Gibralter (insurance).

Anybody up to date with trade plate regs for a one off trip????

Mechanically the vehicle will have no problems with an mot, it's just the hassle these days (full carrying load in rear for test etc.)

Any bright ideas?

 

[Flying banana]

RK - as far as trade plates go, you will not legally be able to use the vehicle on them in this country under these circumstances, as generally they can only be used when the vehicle is being demonstrated, for example. I will look up the definitive answer tomorrow, if i get a chance.
When you say 'mercedes van', are you talking panel van type thingy?, 3.5 tonner, Transit size?

Come back to you tomorrow hopefully, unless someone else gets there first

 

[MikeP]

You can't use them (legally) outside the UK.

In the UK you can't use them if you are carrying any 'goods' except to demonstrate the load carrying capacity and then the 'goods' have to return to the start point.

Same for carrying passengers except to demonstrate the carrying capacity.

You can't borrow Trade Plates. They are issued to the licencee and for that business use only.

When you apply for them you will have to submit to an inspection to justify their issue.

You may be better off looking into "permanent export" to get around the Excise Licence.

Edit; Forgot to mention that trade Plates do not cover insurance in any way. They just cover Excise Licence and will cost you about the same as a years Excise anyway.

 

[riverking]

It's a Merc 609, 6 & 1/2 tonner.

Am also considering converting it to an Expedition Ambulance, loading it with medical gear for the clinic & donating to them as a fitted out 'clinic' complete with big red cross thingy. Cannot remenber the rules on 'special vehicle' registrations though, I know its all tightened up in the last couple of years. Just seems stupid to chuck all this cash at the UK government for one 200 mile transit trip when it would be far more usefull for the clinic in Banjul.

Might risk a 'blind eye' run overnight in december, what do the resident traffic cops think?

 

[Deleted account W]

Shame you can't breakdown just outside your house and get AA relay to take you to your destination on the back of one of their trucks

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Shame you can't breakdown just outside your house and get AA relay to take you to your destination on the back of one of their trucks

Alternatively, I may be able to scounge up use of a trailer big enough, but it would depend on the all-up weight os the truck - I can onlt tow 3.5tonne on my wagon

 

[Fanum]

We also have two volunteers who have said they might be willing to help us out by driving a rental truck with the scoots onboard down to Gib and then bringing the rental back...doesn't help much with what to do about the Merc but it might well be a good answer to getting across the cold wet miserable bit at the start of the trip.

IIRC, a vehicle going for permanent export doesn't need an MOT on the way to the port......

As insurance goes, if the vehicle's registered in another name, I'd have thought anyone with a pre-rule change license and fully comp insurance on a car would probably qualify for 3rd party iunsurance for the merc for the trip to the port ?

I'd have to check with my company to see if they do up to that size, but as I can drive a 7.5 tonner on my car license, I would hope so.

 

[jez]

don't suppose any of us have a licence to drive a wagon and drag? if so why dont we just turn the mercedes into a trailor for the trip down, then we don't need mot, tax and insurance. having an A frame might not be such a bad idea for recovery purposes anyhow.

 

[Bilks]

...



Er i have.........

If its any help, the merc can stay at our place in france.

Bilks.