Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971

20 For section 23 there shall be substituted the following—

“23 (1) Regulations under this Act may—

(a) make provision with respect to the registration of mechanically propelled vehicles ;

(b) require the Secretary of State to make the prescribed returns with respect to mechanically propelled vehicles registered with him, and provide for making any particulars contained in the register available for use by the prescribed persons on payment, in the prescribed cases, of the prescribed fee ;

(c) require any person to whom any mechanically propelled vehicle is sold or disposed of to furnish the prescribed particulars in the prescribed manner ;

(d) provide for the issue of registration books in respect of the registration of any mechanically propelled vehicle, and for the surrender and production, and the inspection by the prescribed persons, of any books so issued ;

(e) provide for the issue of new registration books in the place of any such books which may be lost or destroyed, and for the fee to be paid on the issue of a new registration book ; and

(f) prescribe the size, shape and character of the registration marks or the signs to be fixed on any vehicle and the manner in which those marks or signs are to be displayed and rendered easily distinguishable, whether by night or by day.

(2) Regulations under this Act may—

(a) prescribe the form of, and the particulars to be included in, the register of trade licences ;

(b) make provision for assigning general registration marks to persons holding trade licences and, without prejudice to the foregoing, prescribe the registration marks to be carried by vehicles the use of which is authorised by virtue of such licences ; and

(c) make provision for the issue of trade plates to holders of trade licences and for the charging of a fee for the replacement of such plates by reason of damage to them or of their loss or destruction.

(3) Regulations under this Act may—

(a) extend any of the provisions as to registration, and provisions incidental to any such provisions, to any mechanically propelled vehicles in respect of which duty is not chargeable under this Act (including vehicles belonging to the Crown); and

(b) provide for the identification of any such vehicles.

(4) Regulations under subsection (3) above which require a person to furnish information relating to vehicles exempted from duty by virtue of section 7(2) of this Act may require him to furnish in addition such evidence of the facts giving rise to the exemption as is prescribed by the regulations.”