Whether it's a project car that won't start, a vehicle written off after a breakdown, or an old runabout destined for the scrapyard, moving a car that can't drive itself comes with rules you need to follow. Get it wrong and you risk fines, damage, or danger to other road users. Here's how to move a non-running or scrap vehicle safely and legally in the UK.
Can you tow a non-running car yourself?
It is legal to tow a broken-down vehicle in the UK using a rope or rigid tow bar, but there are important conditions. The person steering the towed car must hold a valid driving licence for that type of vehicle, and the towed car must be roadworthy in the ways that matter for towing — working brakes and steering, and legal tyres. An "ON TOW" sign must be clearly displayed on the back, and the distance between the vehicles should be no more than 4.5 metres (and if the gap is more than 1.5 metres, the rope must be made clearly visible).
Warning
Rope towing has real drawbacks, though. The towed car's brakes and steering are much heavier without the engine running (no servo assistance), it takes skill and good communication between drivers, and it's simply not safe on faster or busier roads. For anything beyond a short, low-speed move on quiet roads, it's not the right approach.
When you cannot tow it on a rope
Some vehicles must not be rope-towed at all. Automatic cars can be damaged by being towed with the wheels on the ground, and many need to be transported on a flatbed or with the driven wheels lifted. A car with failed brakes, steering damage, seized wheels, accident damage, or no MOT/insurance can't legally or safely be towed on the road by rope. In all these cases, professional recovery is the answer.
Moving a scrap car
If a car is being scrapped, it still needs to reach the scrapyard or Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) somehow. A vehicle without a valid MOT or insurance can't legally be driven or rope-towed on public roads, so it must be transported on a recovery vehicle. Once it's gone, remember to tell the DVLA you've scrapped it and get a Certificate of Destruction from a licensed ATF — this ends your legal responsibility for the vehicle and any tax liability.
Off-road and awkward locations
Cars don't always break down in convenient places. Moving a vehicle off a driveway, out of a garage, from a field, or from a tight car park space can be tricky and risks damage if done carelessly. Professional recovery operators have winches, dollies and flatbeds designed for exactly these situations, so the car is moved without harm to it, to property, or to anyone nearby.
Why professional recovery is usually the best option
For most people, calling a recovery service is the simplest, safest and often cheapest way to move a non-running car once you factor in the risk of damage or a fine. A flatbed recovery lifts the whole vehicle clear of the road, so it doesn't matter whether the car steers, brakes, or has locked wheels. It's suitable for automatics, EVs, accident-damaged cars and scrap vehicles alike, and it keeps you and other road users safe.
What to have ready
When you arrange recovery for a non-running vehicle, it helps to tell the operator a few things up front: the make, model and whether it's automatic or an EV, exactly where it is and how accessible that spot is, whether the wheels turn and steer, and where you need it delivered. This lets them send the right equipment first time.