Is it legal to tie an office desk on top of your car to transport it?

Question

i don't have a truck and need to transfer an office desk on my volvo. Would it be legal to tie it down on top of my car and travel with it?

I'm from california.

Answer 1

I know of no law against it,  but it would be very dangerous.    The high profile will catch a lot of wind and make it difficult to secure.  

Suggestion,   rent a pick-up for a few hours.   Much safer,   a lot less likely to damage the desk.    Enterprise,  Budget,  Avis,  and Hertz all have pick-up trucks available.

Answer 2

/orI would suspect not, if you had a proper roof rack and it was secured extremely well so as not to move from side to side and front to back.  The ratchet type straps would be best.

If you just rest it on the roof and hold it with rope, I would think you'd get a ticket at least for an unsafe and unsecured load.

With that being said, rent or borrow a pick-up truck or van/minivan.

If I were in another vehicle around you, I would be unimpressed.

Answer 3

I would say that you would probably get stopped by the police and asked what you are doing and as for being legal, well it would be more of a liability issue and I would not take the chance........................

Answer 4

It is unsafe.  If it falls off, it could crash onto someone else.  And whether or not it is legal varies with state.