Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 143 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act—
(a)a person must not use a motor vehicle on a road [F2or other public place] unless there is in force in relation to the use of the vehicle by that person such a policy of insurance F3... as complies with the requirements of this Part of this Act, and
(b)a person must not cause or permit any other person to use a motor vehicle on a road [F4or other public place] unless there is in force in relation to the use of the vehicle by that other person such a policy of insurance F5... as complies with the requirements of this Part of this Act.
(2)If a person acts in contravention of subsection (1) above he is guilty of an offence.
(3)A person charged with using a motor vehicle in contravention of this section shall not be convicted if he proves—
(a)that the vehicle did not belong to him and was not in his possession under a contract of hiring or of loan,
(b)that he was using the vehicle in the course of his employment, and
(c)that he neither knew nor had reason to believe that there was not in force in relation to the vehicle such a policy of insurance F6... as is mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(4)This Part of this Act does not apply to invalid carriages.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 143 heading omitted (1.11.2019) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1047), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 6(2) (with reg. 5)
F2Words in s. 143(1)(a) inserted (3.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/726, art. 2(a)
F3Words in s. 143(1)(a) omitted (1.11.2019) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1047), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 6(3) (with reg. 5)
F4Words in s. 143(1)(b) inserted (3.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/726, art. 2(b)
F5Words in s. 143(1)(b) omitted (1.11.2019) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1047), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 6(3) (with reg. 5)
F6Words in s. 143(3)(c) omitted (1.11.2019) by virtue of The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1047), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 6(4) (with reg. 5)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 143 modified by Energy Act 1976 (c. 76, SIF 44:3), s. 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(1) (as amended by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 17(b))
C2S. 143 excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(1)(b)(2)(b)
C3S. 143(1)(2) excluded (17.4.2019) by The Motor Sport on Public Roads (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/138), regs. 1, 6, sch. 2
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