The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002

PART IILICENCES

Application for a vehicle licence on the basis that the reduced pollution requirements are satisfied

5.—(1) Where an application is made for a vehicle licence on the basis that the rate of vehicle excise duty applicable is a rate specified in one of the provisions of Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary of State may require the applicant to furnish a reduced pollution certificate before he determines the rate at which vehicle excise duty is payable on the licence.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act(1) referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)paragraph 3(1A) (buses);

(b)paragraph 6(2A)(b) (vehicles used to carry exceptional loads);

(c)paragraph 7(3A)(b) (haulage vehicles);

(d)paragraph 9A (rigid goods vehicles); and

(e)paragraph 11A (tractive units).

(3) Schedule 2 shall have effect with respect to reduced pollution certificates and the reduced pollution requirements.

Exhibition of vehicle and nil licences

6.—(1) When a vehicle licence or nil licence has been delivered to the Secretary of State with an application for a replacement licence, no licence need be fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle to which the licence relates until the replacement licence is obtained.

(2) Except where paragraph (1) applies, the manner in which any vehicle licence or nil licence in force for a vehicle is to be fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of section 33(1) or (1A) of the 1994 Act, when it is used or kept on a public road, is that specified in the following provisions of this regulation.

(3) Each such licence shall be fixed to the vehicle in a holder sufficient to protect the licence from the weather to which it would otherwise be exposed.

(4) The licence shall be exhibited on the vehicle—

(a)in the case of an invalid vehicle, tricycle or bicycle, other than in a case specified in sub-paragraph (b) or (c) of this paragraph, on the near side of the vehicle;

(b)in the case of a bicycle drawing a side-car or to which a side-car is attached, on the near side of the handlebars of the bicycle or on the near side of the side-car;

(c)in the case of any vehicle fitted with a glass windscreen in front of the driver extending across the vehicle to its near side, on or adjacent to the near side of the windscreen;

(d)in the case of any other vehicle—

(i)if the vehicle is fitted with a driver’s cab containing a near side window, on that window; or

(ii)on the near side of the vehicle in front of the driver’s seat and not less than 760 mm and not more than 1.8 metres above the surface of the road.

(5) In each case referred to in paragraph (4), the licence shall be so exhibited that all the particulars on the licence are clearly visible in daylight from the near side of the road.

Prohibition against exhibiting anything resembling a vehicle, trade or nil licence

7.  No person shall exhibit on a vehicle which is kept or used on a public road anything—

(a)which is intended to be, or

(b)which could reasonably be,

mistaken for a vehicle licence, a nil licence or a trade licence which is for the time being in force for, or in respect of, the vehicle.

Issue of duplicate vehicle, trade and nil licences

8.—(1) Where a vehicle licence, trade licence or nil licence—

(a)has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged; or

(b)contains any particulars which have become illegible,

the holder of the licence shall apply to the Secretary of State for the issue of a duplicate.

(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by—

(a)the registration document issued in respect of the vehicle or, if the applicant is unable to comply with this requirement, by an application to the Secretary of State for the issue of a replacement registration document in accordance with regulation 13;

(b)a fee of £7, if the licence to be replaced is a vehicle or trade licence; and

(c)the licence to be replaced, if the reason for replacement is that it has been damaged or contains any particulars which have become illegible.

(3) No fee is payable under paragraph (2)(b) if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the loss of the licence occurred in the course of the transmission of the licence by the office issuing it to the keeper of the vehicle.

(4) On receiving an application under paragraph (1) made in accordance with this regulation, the Secretary of State shall issue a replacement licence if he is satisfied that the licence has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged.

(5) If a replacement licence has been issued on the ground that the original has been, or may have been, lost, stolen or destroyed, and the original licence is subsequently found or recovered, the keeper of the vehicle—

(a)if the original is in his possession, shall forthwith return it to the Secretary of State, or

(b)if it is not in his possession but he becomes aware that it is found or recovered, shall take all reasonable steps to obtain possession of it and return it to the Secretary of State.

Surrender of vehicle and trade licences

9.—(1) The holder of a vehicle licence or trade licence who wishes to surrender his licence and to claim a rebate in respect of the unexpired term, in accordance with section 19(1) of the 1994 Act, shall make an application, signed by him, to the Secretary of State.

(2) The application shall be accompanied by the licence and, in the case of a trade licence, any trade plates held by the holder in connection with the licence.