13 replies to this topic

[ianrm]

I am in a quandary.

 

Rules say essential travel only.

 

My classic 1961 Fiat 500 is booked in at a specialist in London for repairs to the wiring for the lights, alignment, inspection and MOT. 

 

Garages are allowed to open.

 

I would trailer the car there from Luton which is approximately  30 miles. To me that is safer than driving there and using public transport to get home.

 

Is this allowed or who could I contact to clarify yes or no?

[Zoobeef]

Going for an MOT is allowed. No rules on distance.

Might get a trumped up copper because of the distance but nothing in law they can do. Hence Derbyshire police are recinding all the FPN they gave out over the last few days.

[ianrm]

Going for an MOT is allowed. No rules on distance.

Might get a trumped up copper because of the distance but nothing in law they can do. Hence Derbyshire police are recinding all the FPN they gave out over the last few days.

 

That was my thinking. 

 

Just thought that I would be an obvious target as the car is on a trailer. I am not a confrontational person, so hopefully if I was stopped they would be understanding.

[Zoobeef]

That shouldn't matter, Jon Seal has been transporting cars all over the country all year. And most car sales places do delivery at the minute.

Also the roads aren't quiet like they were last April.

[techieboy]

Sorry Ian, I reckon the fact that you're asking is all the confirmation that you need to tell you it's not essential.

 

Garages are still open to fix/maintain cars for people that are essential workers or people who have no other option than to go out to work as they can't do it from home in the lockdown. Getting some work done on the 4th (?) and possibly least used car in your fleet is not essential. The fact that you're using one of your other cars to trailer it down there kind of proves it's not essential to your everyday life.

[techieboy]

That shouldn't matter, Jon Seal has been transporting cars all over the country all year. And most car sales places do delivery at the minute.

 

I'd argue neither of those examples are essential at the moment either but at least they can justify it by saying that's their business and they have no other option.
 

[Zoobeef]

There is no law saying the trip has to be essential. You just need to have a reasonable excuse to leave home.

The legislation states that

Schedule 3A,

Part 1,

Paragraph 2 - Exemptions, leaving home.

Exception 1: Leaving home is reasonably necessary for certain purposes, e.g. to:

• buy goods or obtain services from any business or service listed in Part 3 of Schedule 3A;

 

You are leaving home to obtain services from a business that is allowed to still be open. Therefore it is a reasonable excuse.

 

Do not mix up guidance with legislation, although even the police are struggling with this.

[ianrm]

Thank you Mr Zoobeef.

 

Have you got a link to the legislation please?

 

[Zoobeef]

https://www.legislat...4a1a12d8fd6143a

 

They couldn't be bothered to write new legislation so just edited the last one and extended the date.

[Ivor]

Get going quick, listening to the news yesterday and this morning expect the lockdown to get tightened soon

[FLD]

One other way to consider this is to ask the garage to arrange trailering.  This is essential for their business or they have no work (and pay no tax).  It obviously isn't essential for you which I guess is why you've asked. 

 

It saves you a trip (and your conscience) but costs you money. 

 

Whatever you decide take care.  I'm very cautious of being part of the spread / being part of the spread. 

[ianrm]

One other way to consider this is to ask the garage to arrange trailering.  This is essential for their business or they have no work (and pay no tax).  It obviously isn't essential for you which I guess is why you've asked. 

 

It saves you a trip (and your conscience) but costs you money. 

 

Whatever you decide take care.  I'm very cautious of being part of the spread / being part of the spread. 

 

Whilst only being 35 - 40 mins down the road they don't offer a collection service. Unlike the first lockdown there are no extensions to the MOT. An MOT is a legal requirement so if for any reason I need to put my car on the road it would be illegal. The garage is allowed to be open so surely I am allowed to take work to them. Small businesses need all the help they can get at the moment.

 

I would feel 100% safe doing the trip unlike going to a Supermarket which I try to do as little as possible. 

 

I would load the car onto my trailer, unload at the garage and be able to stay at least 5m from anyone when handing the car over.

[FLD]

It sounds like you've thought this through carefully.  Should be fine

[coldel]

To be honest this and many other choices is all about taking personal responsibility more than any bit of legislation.

Having caught covid over Christmas I can tell you it’s a horrible experience, and I’m a non smoking fit healthy mid forties guy who plays football three times a week.

Ask yourself, does this really absolutely need to be done right now? If so then I would as above pass the responsibility to the garage to collect and deliver.


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