Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994

InterpretationU.K.

[F160A Meaning of “revenue weight”.U.K.

(1)Any reference in this Act to the revenue weight of a vehicle is a reference—

(a)where it has a confirmed maximum weight, to that weight; and

(b)in any other case, to the weight determined in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2)For the purposes of this Act a vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight shall have a revenue weight which, subject to the following provisions of this section, is equal to its design weight.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), the design weight of a vehicle is, for the purposes of this section—

(a)in the case of a tractive unit, the weight which is required, by the design and any subsequent adaptations of that vehicle, not to be exceeded by an articulated vehicle which—

(i)consists of the vehicle and any semi-trailer capable of being drawn by it, and

(ii)is in normal use and travelling on a road laden;

and

(b)in the case of any other vehicle, the weight which the vehicle itself is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden.

(4)Where, at any time, a vehicle—

(a)does not have a confirmed maximum weight,

(b)has previously had such a weight, and

(c)has not acquired a different design weight by reason of any adaptation made since the most recent occasion on which it had a confirmed maximum weight,

the vehicle’s design weight at that time shall be equal to its confirmed maximum weight on that occasion.

(5)An adaptation reducing the design weight of a vehicle shall be disregarded for the purposes of this section unless it is a permanent adaptation.

(6)For the purposes of this Act where—

(a)a vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight is used on a public road in the United Kingdom, and

(b)at the time when it is so used—

(i)the weight of the vehicle, or

(ii)in the case of a tractive unit used as part of an articulated vehicle consisting of the vehicle and a semi-trailer, the weight of the articulated vehicle,

exceeds what, apart from this subsection, would be the vehicle’s design weight,

it shall be conclusively presumed, as against the person using the vehicle, that the vehicle has been temporarily adapted so as to have a design weight while being so used equal to the actual weight of the vehicle or articulated vehicle at that time.

(7)For the purposes of this Act limitations on the space available on a vehicle for carrying a load shall be disregarded in determining the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden.

(8)A vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight shall not at any time be taken to have a revenue weight which is greater than the maximum laden weight at which that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain.

(9)A vehicle has a confirmed maximum weight at any time if at that time—

(a)it has a plated gross weight or a plated train weight; and

(b)that weight is the maximum laden weight [F2which must not be equalled or exceeded in order for] that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer [F3to lawfully] be used in Great Britain;

and the confirmed maximum weight of a vehicle with such a weight shall be taken to be the weight referred to in paragraph (a).

(10)Where any vehicle has a special maximum weight in Northern Ireland which is greater than the maximum laden weight at which that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain, this section shall have effect, in relation to that vehicle, as if the references to Great Britain in subsections (8) and (9) were references to Northern Ireland.

(11)For the purposes of this section a vehicle has a special maximum weight in Northern Ireland if an order under Article 29(3) of the M1Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (authorisation of use on roads of vehicles and trailers not complying with regulations) has effect in relation to that vehicle for determining the maximum laden weight at which it may lawfully be used in Northern Ireland or, as the case may be, for determining the maximum laden weight at which an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used there.]

61 Vehicle weights.U.K.

(1)In this Act a reference to the plated gross weight of a goods vehicle or trailer is a reference—

(a)in the case of a trailer which may lawfully be used in Great Britain without a Ministry plate (within the meaning of regulations under section 41 or 49 of the M2Road Traffic Act 1988), to the maximum laden weight at which the trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain, and

(b)otherwise, to the weight which is the maximum gross weight which may not be [F4equalled or] exceeded in Great Britain for the vehicle or trailer as indicated on the appropriate plate.

(2)In this Act a reference to the plated train weight of a vehicle is a reference to the weight which is the maximum gross weight which may not be [F5equalled or] exceeded in Great Britain for an articulated vehicle consisting of the vehicle and any semi-trailer which may be drawn by it as indicated on the appropriate plate.

(3)In subsections (1) and (2) “appropriate plate”, in relation to a vehicle or trailer, means—

(a)where a Ministry plate (within the meaning of regulations under section 41 or 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) has been issued, or has effect as if issued, for the vehicle or trailer following the issue or amendment of a plating certificate (within the meaning of Part II of that Act), that plate, [F6and]

(b)where paragraph (a) does not apply but such a certificate is in force for the vehicle or trailer, that certificate, F7...

F7(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8(3A)Where it appears to the Secretary of State that there is a description of document which—

(a)falls to be treated for some or all of the purposes of the M3Road Traffic Act 1988 as if it were a plating certificate, or

(b)is issued under the law of any state in the European Economic Area for purposes which are or include purposes corresponding to those for which such a certificate is issued,

he may by regulations provide for references in this section to a plating certificate to have effect as if they included references to a document of that description.]

(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)In this Act “weight unladen”—

(a)in England and Wales and Scotland, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the M4Road Traffic Act 1988 by virtue of section 190 of that Act, and

[F10(b)in Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 by virtue of Article 7 of that Order.]

F9(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)In this section “trailer” has the same meaning as in Part VIII of Schedule 1.

[F1161A Certificates etc. as to vehicle weight.U.K.

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—

(a)for the making of an application to the Secretary of State for the issue of a certificate stating the design weight of a vehicle;

(b)for the manner in which any determination of the design weight of any vehicle is to be made on such an application and for the issue of a certificate on the making of such a determination;

(c)for the examination, for the purposes of the determination of the design weight of a vehicle, of that vehicle by such persons, and in such manner, as may be prescribed by the regulations;

(d)for a certificate issued on the making of such a determination to be treated as having conclusive effect for the purposes of this Act as to such matters as may be prescribed by the regulations;

(e)for the Secretary of State to be entitled, in cases prescribed by the regulations, to require the production of such a certificate before making a determination for the purposes of section 7(5); and

(f)for appeals against determinations made in accordance with the regulations.

(2)Regulations under this section may provide for an adaptation of a vehicle—

(a)to be taken into account in determining the design weight of a vehicle in a case to which section 60A(6) does not apply, or

(b)to be treated as permanent for the purposes of section 60A(5),

if, and only if, it is an adaptation with respect to which a certificate has been issued under the regulations.

(3)Regulations under this section may provide that such documents purporting to be plating certificates (within the meaning of Part II of the M5Road Traffic Act 1988) as satisfy requirements prescribed by the regulations are to have effect, for some or all of the purposes of this Act, as if they were certificates issued under such regulations.

(4)Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provisions of this section, regulations under this section may, in relation to—

(a)the examination of a vehicle on an application under the regulations, or

(b)any appeals against determinations made for the purposes of the issue of a certificate in accordance with the regulations,

make provision corresponding to, or applying (with or without modifications), any of the provisions having effect by virtue of so much of sections 49 to 51 of the M6Road Traffic Act 1988 as relates to examinations authorised by virtue of, or appeals under, any of those sections.

(5)In this section “design weight” has the same meaning as in section 60A.]

F1261B Certificates as to reduced pollution.U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62 Other definitions.U.K.

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “axle”, in relation to a vehicle, includes—

  (a)

  two or more stub axles which are fitted on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to form a pair in the case of two stub axles or pairs in the case of more than two stub axles,

  (b)

  a single stub axle which is not one of a pair, and

  (c)

  a retractable axle,

  (“stub axle” meaning an axle on which only one wheel is mounted),

• F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F14“armed forces independence payment” means armed forces independence payment under a scheme established under section 1 of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004,]

• “business” includes the performance by a local or public authority of its functions,

• [F15“disability assistance for children and young people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for children and young people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,

• “disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,]

• “disabled person” means a person suffering from a physical or mental defect or disability,

• “exempt vehicle” means a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is not chargeable,

• [F16“first vehicle licence”, in relation to a vehicle, means (subject to subsections (1B) and (1C)) the vehicle licence for the vehicle on the issue of which the vehicle is first registered under this Act (so that, if the vehicle is first registered on the issue of a nil licence, there is no first vehicle licence in relation to it),]

• F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “goods vehicle” means a vehicle constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of goods or burden of any description, whether in the course of trade or not,

• “motor dealer” means a person carrying on the business of selling or supplying vehicles,

• “motor trader” means—

  (a)

  a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles, or

  (b)

  any other description of person who carries on a business of such description as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

  and a person is treated as a dealer in vehicles if he carries on a business consisting wholly or mainly of collecting and delivering vehicles, and not including any other activities except activities as a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles,

• [F17“nil licence” means a [F18licence] issued by the Secretary of State in pursuance of regulations under this Act in respect of a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle,]

• [F14“personal independence payment” means personal independence payment under—

  (a)

  the Welfare Reform Act 2012, or

  (b)

  the corresponding provision having effect in Northern Ireland,]

• “public road”—

  (a)

  in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, means a road which is repairable at the public expense, and

  (b)

  in Scotland, has the same meaning as in the M7Roads (Scotland) Act 1984,

• “registration mark” is to be construed in accordance with section 23(1),

• “relevant right” is to be construed in accordance with section 27(3)(a) and (b),

• “right of retention” is to be construed in accordance with section 26(1) and [F19(1A)],

• “rigid goods vehicle” means a goods vehicle which is not a tractive unit,

• F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “showman’s goods vehicle” means a showman’s vehicle which—

  (a)

  is a goods vehicle, and

  (b)

  is permanently fitted with a living van or some other special type of body or superstructure forming part of the equipment of the show of the person in whose name the vehicle is registered under this Act,

• “showman’s vehicle” means a vehicle—

  (a)

  registered under this Act in the name of a person following the business of a travelling showman, and

  (b)

  used solely by him for the purposes of his business and for no other purpose,

• “temporary licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 9(1),

• “tractive unit” means a goods vehicle to which a semi-trailer may be so attached that—

  (a)

  part of the semi-trailer is superimposed on part of the goods vehicle, and

  (b)

  when the semi-trailer is uniformly loaded, not less than twenty per cent. of the weight of its load is borne by the goods vehicle,

• “trade licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 11,

• [F20“vehicle” shall be construed in accordance with section 1(1B),]

• “vehicle excise duty” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(1),

• “vehicle licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(2), and

• “vehicle tester” means a person, other than a motor trader, who regularly in the course of his business engages in the testing on roads of vehicles belonging to other persons.

[F21(1A)For the purposes of this Act, a vehicle is not an electrically propelled vehicle unless the electrical motive power is derived from—

(a)a source external to the vehicle, or

(b)an electrical storage battery which is not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is in motion.]

[F22(1B)Where a vehicle is first registered under this Act on the issue of a temporary licence, the “first vehicle licence” in relation to the vehicle is the first vehicle licence subsequently issued for it.

(1C)Where a vehicle—

(a)has been registered under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom,

(b)is first registered under this Act more than 6 months after the time when it was first registered as mentioned in paragraph (a), and

(c)has travelled more than 6,000 kilometres under its own power before it is first registered under this Act,

there is no first vehicle licence in relation to the vehicle.]

(2)For the purposes of this Act and any other enactment relating to the keeping of vehicles on public roads, a person keeps a vehicle on a public road if he causes it to be on such a road for any period, however short, when it is not in use there.