Is it illegal to drive a vehicle with 3 locking nuts on tyre instead of 4?

Question

Is it illegal to drive a vehicle with 3 locking nuts on tyre instead of 4?

Answer 1

I dont think so but i would drive quite slow.

Get a mechanic to put one more nut on for you (it'll prob be free!) ...don't take the chance as it could be deadly!

Answer 2

Yes it is its to do with road safey.

Answer 3

You would fail MOT

Dangerous as well as the risk of damaging other parts of car due to vibration etc.

Making sure the other nuts are really tight is not an option.

get a nut for everywhere that needs one, does not have to be locking.

Answer 4

Locking nuts? is this a trick question as there is normally only one locking nut per wheel.  Its otherwise not illegal and quite safe to be honest, just get it fixed asap, if you gotta drill out the old stud i can reccomend a good extraction set.

Answer 5

Its not illegal but definitely a safety concern. Why would you not use all 4 lug nuts?

Answer 6

Nah! Just make sure that the other 3 are plenty tight! And re order the missing wheel nut asap.

Answer 7

No - it is legal

Answer 8

i do not know if it is illegal but they would not put 4 on if only 3 would do the job

Answer 9

what are these guys on about it could be deadly youve got 3 hefty ****** bolts on there it'll be fine i dont think its illegal either as if anyone checks

Answer 10

The correct answer:

The wheel was designed by the manufacturer to be held in place by a certain number of nuts. Usually four, but some vehicles have 3.

Under the Motor Vehicle Construction and Use regulations, having one of the nuts missing would cause the vehicle to be in breach of one the regulations, namely 'using the vehicle in a dangerous condition'.

You would also discover (if you were unlucky enough to be involed in an accident) that your insurance company would only pay for 3rd party damages as the use of an unroadworthy vehicle is a breach of their terms of contract.

As stated, it also an MOT fail item as it breaches the laws quoted above

Answer 11

It is ILLEGAL, as it contravenes the Construction and Use Regulations. The offence is "driving a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition". To secure a conviction, the Police have only to show that the vehicle was fitted with four nuts, but one was missing or broken at the time of the offence.

You have only one of two defences in law.

First, that the nut has just sheared off or worked loose. However, this will not work if there is the very slightest trace of rust.

Secondly, although you were aware of the fault, you were driving the vehicle for the sole purpose of taking it for a repair. In such cases, you would be well advised to travel at no more than 30mph, or the Police may charge you with the additional offence of "driving without due care and attention".

Anyone who advises you to drive a vehicle in that condition is guilty of the offence of "being an accessory before the fact".

Driving a vehicle in such a state also invalidates your insurance policy, so if you had an accident, the Police could also charge you with "driving without a valid insurance certificate."

Whether or not the manufacturer considers it to be within their safety design criteria to have one nut missing, is totally irrelevant in law.

Answer 12

you can use 3 but dont overtighten them, its a common mistake that people crank them up that much that 1 or more will then sheer off under the strain

Answer 13

Hi

Definitely YES.

Ray. West York's.U.K.