AA refused to tow my untaxed car
I bought a secondhand Mercedes-Benz SLK with a full warranty from a dealer in Bolton. I have not changed my car for some years and I didn't know about the new road tax procedures. I am in my 60s and I have nine years no claimed bonus I thought I had to tax the car when the log book came back to me from DVLA.
A few days after I bought the car it wouldn't start and was 20 miles away from my home. I called the AA and a patrolman arrived. He couldn't find out what was wrong (the petrol pump was later replaced under warranty). I asked the AA man to tow the car to the dealer, but he refused as it was not taxed. I explained that I had just bought it and it isn't illegal to tow an untaxed car for repair. He refused and drove off leaving me stranded. I had to find a tow-service and pay the bill myself. I have complained to the AA but they say that this is their policy. The 4th Emergency Service, I don't think so, thank God it wasn't raining, in the dark on a motorway. Do you agree?
A few days after I bought the car it wouldn't start and was 20 miles away from my home. I called the AA and a patrolman arrived. He couldn't find out what was wrong (the petrol pump was later replaced under warranty). I asked the AA man to tow the car to the dealer, but he refused as it was not taxed. I explained that I had just bought it and it isn't illegal to tow an untaxed car for repair. He refused and drove off leaving me stranded. I had to find a tow-service and pay the bill myself. I have complained to the AA but they say that this is their policy. The 4th Emergency Service, I don't think so, thank God it wasn't raining, in the dark on a motorway. Do you agree?
Asked on 10 November 2016 by Stephen Mort
Answered by
Honest John
I agree with the AA patrolman who had to protect himself against becoming complicit in your illegal act. You had to insure and tax the car before you drove it off the vendor's property. It's an annoying new system. But ignorance does not get you off an offence. Diagnostics can only show low fuel pressure. Logic might pinpoint the fuel tank sender pump as the culprit but it would be a trial and error process.
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