Is It Legal

[LBrown59]

Is It legal to tow an unlicensed uninsured vehicle with a wrecker?

 

[Cat_Driver]

There are too many variables to answer your question. What state, define towing, define unlicensed ( because some vehicles don't need a license ) etc.

What I would do is put anything you have on a Flat bed wrecker then there is no problem.

I mean if it's a stolen Escalade ....you might run into a few problems.

 

[Inspector507]

A lot of tow trucks also carry a license tag marked "special" in Ohio. That covers anything they tow. Their Insurance probably covers them towing a vehicle and any damage they cause to it or any other vehicle.

 

[LBrown59]

There are too many variables to answer your question. What state, define towing, define unlicensed ( because some vehicles don't need a license ) etc.

What I would do is put anything you have on a Flat bed wrecker then there is no problem.

I mean if it's a stolen Escalade ....you might run into a few problems.

I had a wrecker Tow my 92 Toyota with a tow truck to the shop.
I did not have any license plates on it and no insurance on it.
I really don't know if this was legal or not.
This was in Ohio.

 

[Matt_Jr]

As long as the tow truck was tagged licensed and insured it was legal.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Here in Kentucky a wrecker can haul anything as long as the wrecker has insurance and a plate.

And you don't need a license plate on a boat trailer or any kind of trailer pulled behind a pickup truck

The heavier the load than the trailer needs license.
they don't even require a inspection sticker, only on a commercial truck.

 

[DieselPower]

I know quite a bit about the towing industry. I have a lot of friends who own towing companies and I have done quite a bit of towing myself. The short answer to your question is YES. The price of tags and insurance is many times more expensive than you would have for a regular vehicle. The reason the insurance cost so much more (many thousands of dollars a year) is that it covers the towing vehicle and anything it is towing, same goes for the tags. The key is that it must have tow truck/towing tags on it and not regular tags. It varries from state to state what they call the tags but every state has them. The cost of tags and insurance on a tri-axle heavy wrecker easily go over $10,000 a year.

A example would be that Maryland has two types of tow truck tags. TT and TE tags. The tag number has either the TT or TE as part of the license number. The TT stands for tow truck and the TE stands for towing and equipment. The difference is you can only tow vehicles with a TT tag and it would be illegal to tow a pallet on the back of a rollback with TT tags. With TE tags you can tow anything to include commercial cargo, it does not have to be a vehicle. The TE tags cost a bit more because you can transport more things with them.

 

[ultrarunner]

My police department told me I can tow unlicensed/unregistered vehicles as long as no part of the vehicle is in contact with a public road...

I can also tow with a free one-day trip permit a unlicensed/unregistered vehicle...

Licensed Tow Company Operators are not bound by the above retractions and often carry "Dismantler" Plate issued by the State.

I live in California.

 

[Ductape]

Is It legal to tow an unlicensed uninsured vehicle with a wrecker?

This depends on your state. Here in NH it is perfectly legal.......... in other states it is not. No reason it couldn't be loaded on a ramp truck, or as mentioned, a special plate could be affixed by the towing service just for the tow. Generally speaking, the illegality comes from states with mandatory auto insurance. Having current tags on the vehicle in tow insures that it is insured, should a mishap happen during the tow.

 

[MikeD74T]

In the states that require plates & insurance on the towed vehicle, how do the cops get an abandoned unregistered or a simply expired vehicle off the street? That's the logic for tow companies being able to tow unregistered vehicles in New Hampshire. Also NH does not require insurance, it requires financial responsibility, if you have enough assets you can self insure. MikeD74T

 

[radioman]

here in new york state - i asked a police officer that a freind need to move a car with no plates. He said as long the car never disconnects from the tow vehicle, you will be fine. If the rope,chain etc, breaks, there are severe fines. What are they , I never asked. Ignorance is a bliss here.

 

[LBrown59]

Here in Kentucky a wrecker can haul anything as long as the wrecker has insurance and a plate.

1*And you don't need a license plate on a boat trailer or any kind of trailer pulled behind a pickup truck

2**The heavier the load than the trailer needs license.
they don't even require a inspection sticker, only on a commercial truck.

1*So I could transoprt my tractor on a trailer pulling the trailer with my PU truck and would not need a license plate on the trailer. Correct ?!.
2*I thought you just said I didn't need a license on a trailer being pulled with my Pick up.

 

[scoutcub]

in Kentucky...........

 

[gerard]

In NY - as long as the wrecker is licensed as such, insured etc it can tow uninsured/unlicensed etc because being "towed" does not meet the definition of "operating on a public highway" which is when you need insurance/plates etc. This is NOT the same as a private non wrecker operator towing an uninsured vehicle with a chain or tow rope. That is NOT legal in NY because it requires an operator behind the wheel and is then "operating on a public highway".

 

[LBrown59]

My police department told me
I can tow unlicensed/unregistered vehicles as long as no part of the vehicle is in contact with a public road ...
I live in California.

Translation :
In other words you can't do it with out a license / registration since at least 2 tires of a towed vehicle are in contact with a public road.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Here in Kentucky a wrecker can haul anything as long as the wrecker has insurance and a plate.

And you don't need a license plate on a boat trailer or any kind of trailer pulled behind a pickup truck

The heavier the load than the trailer needs license.
they don't even require a inspection sticker, only on a commercial truck.

1) True on all above.

1*So I could transoprt my tractor on a trailer pulling the trailer with my PU truck and would not need a license plate on the trailer. Correct ?!.
2*I thought you just said I didn't need a license on a trailer being pulled with my Pick up.

Sorry to put in the trailer and boat trailer.

These are Kentucky state laws

1) I have Two boats, I don't need a license plate on them, only a license on the boat to be legal on the water.


2) I have a 20 FT. flat bed trailer that i haul my tractor on, I don't need a license plate on it either.

 

[LBrown59]

In the states that require plates & insurance on the towed vehicle, how do the cops get an abandoned unregistered or a simply expired vehicle off the street? That's the logic for tow companies being able to tow unregistered vehicles in New Hampshire.
NH does not require insurance, it requires financial responsibility, if you have enough assets you can self insure. MikeD74T

What if you don't have the assets to self insure?

 

[ultrarunner]

Translation :
In other words you can't do it with out a license / registration since at least 2 tires of a towed vehicle are in contact with a public road.

Yes... and they are sticklers at the DMV... that's why my cars are always trailered

 

[LBrown59]

Yes... and they are sticklers at the DMV... that's why my cars are always trailered

Wouldn't you still need insurance and license on the car in case it came off the trailer some how?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Translation :
In other words you can't do it with out a license / registration since at least 2 tires of a towed vehicle are in contact with a public road.

Unless you put the wheels on one of those dollys that tow trucks use for 4WD vehicles, etc.