the maoster:
I think most of us are aware that European trucks and trailers are registered as separate entities thus having different number plates.
My question is why sometimes I see for example a Polish unit pulling eg a German trailer thus displaying a German number plate to the rear. So, if this is legal then how come UK reg trucks need to display a UK plate whilst pulling a foreign trailer? Surely what is legal in EU land should be legal here too?
Also, if for example a UK truck was in Spain pulling a Spanish trailer would he need to display both UK and Spanish plates on the trailer?
I think it is insurance matter.
In UK pulling vehicle’s insurance covers trailer. In Poland, trailer has separate insurance.
It might be that for example French trailers are insured only to minimum requirements when abroad, so taking them “under the truck’s insurance” when in Britain may extend the cover?
I think you should be rather worried about opposite situation: Polish tractor towing British trailer not only does not displays any legal number plate on the back (as British made (or cardboard made ) repetition of the numbers of the towing vehicle does not work as a number plate for trailer) and if it has standard insurance, trailer is not covered.
My friend was importing horse trailers from Holland, that has similar solution, and he has problems to tow them in Poland, as it were considered to be unregistered vehicle…
I know that it is now possible to buy insurance in Poland that covers also towed vehicle (in that case trailer, but I think it was designed for recovery vehicles) and the proper companies doing traction work for UK companies do posses this, but do every cowboy has this insurance?
Edited: just found out I was wrong. Pulling vehicle’s insurance covers trailer in Poland as well, when in motion. But there is a legal obligation to insure trailer separately as well for the damages it can cause when uncoupled. So while Polish truck pulling British trailer would be illegal in Poland (unless the trailer has that insurance) it seems that all is perfectly OK when in UK (apart from the number plate questioN).