Road Traffic Act 1988

144 Exceptions from requirement of third-party insurance or security. E+W+S

(1) Section 143 of this Act does not apply to a vehicle owned by a person who has deposited and keeps deposited with the Accountant General of the Supreme Court the sum of [F1 £500,000], at a time when the vehicle is being driven under the owner’s control.

[F2 (1A) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument substitute a greater sum for the sum for the time being specified in subsection (1) above.

(1B) No order shall be made under subsection (1A) above unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.]

(2) Section 143 does not apply—

(a) to a vehicle owned—

(i) by the council of a county or county district in England and Wales [F3 the Broads Authority], the Common Council of the City of London, the council of a London borough, the Inner London Education Authority, or a joint authority (other than a police authority) established by Part IV of the M1 Local Government Act 1985,

(ii) by a regional, islands or district council in Scotland, or

(iii) by a joint board or committee in England or Wales, or joint committee in Scotland, which is so constituted as to include among its members representatives of any such council,

at a time when the vehicle is being driven under the owner’s control,

(b) to a vehicle owned by a police authority or the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police district, at a time when it is being driven under the owner’s control, or to a vehicle at a time when it is being driven for police purposes by or under the direction of a constable, or by a person employed by a police authority, or employed by the Receiver, or

(c) to a vehicle at a time when it is being driven on a journey to or from any place undertaken for salvage purposes pursuant to Part IX of the M2 Merchant Shipping Act 1894,

(d) to the use of a vehicle for the purpose of its being provided in pursuance of a direction under section 166(2)(b) of the M3 Army Act 1955 or under the corresponding provision of the M4 Air Force Act 1955,

[F4 (da) to a vehicle owned by a health service body, as defined in section 60(7) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, at a time when the vehicle is being driven under the owner’s control.

(db) to an ambulance owned by a National Health Service trust established under Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, at a time when a vehicle is being driven under the owner’s control]

(e) to a vehicle which is made available by the Secretary of State to any person, body or local authority in pursuance of section 23 or 26 of the M5 National Health Service Act 1977 at a time when it is being used in accordance with the terms on which it is so made available,

(f) to a vehicle which is made available by the Secretary of State to any local authority, education authority or voluntary organisation in Scotland in pursuance of section 15 or 16 of the M6 National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 at a time when it is being used in accordance with the terms on which it is so made available.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 144(1) substituted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 20(2); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.

F2 S. 144(1A)(1B) inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 20(3); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.

F3 Words inserted (E.W) by Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4, SIF 81:1), ss. 21, 23(2), Sch. 6 para. 9 (as amended by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 36)

F4 S. 144(2)(da)(db) inserted (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 60, Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 144(2)(a) extended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1) s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 20 (as amended by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 30)

S. 144(2)(a) extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39, 66(2)(b), Sch. 13 para. 25(d) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))

S. 144(2)(a) extended (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/401, art. 18, Sch. para. 6

Marginal Citations

M1 1985 c. 51.

M2 1894 c. 60.

M3 1955 c. 18.

M4 1955 c. 19.

M5 1977 c. 49.

M6 1978 c. 29.