Finance Act 2013

188 Not exhibiting licence: period of grace

(1) In section 33 of VERA 1994 (not exhibiting licence), omit subsections (1B) to (1D).

(2) After that section insert—

“33A Not exhibiting licence: period of grace

(1) A person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (1A) of section 33 by using or keeping a vehicle on a public road during any of the following periods.

• First registration

  The period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the vehicle is first registered under this Act.

• Change of keeper

  The period of 14 days beginning with the day on which a new licence or nil licence is issued for the vehicle because of a change in the person by whom the vehicle is being kept.

• Renewal etc.

  The period of 14 days following the time when a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle, or a relevant declaration applying to the vehicle, ceases to be in force, but only if an application for a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle to run from that time has been received before that time.

• Replacement

  The period beginning with the time when a licence or nil licence that is in force for or in respect of the vehicle is delivered to the Secretary of State with an application for a replacement licence, and ending with the time when the replacement licence is obtained.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) there is a relevant declaration applying to a vehicle if the particulars and declaration required to be furnished and made by regulations under section 22(1D) have been furnished and made in relation to the vehicle in accordance with the regulations, and

(b) the relevant declaration ceases to be in force if, after the particulars and declaration have been furnished and made the vehicle is used or kept on a public road (otherwise than under a trade licence).”

(3) In consequence of the provision made by subsections (1) and (2) omit—

(a) section 147 of FA 2008, and

(b) in regulation 6 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2742), paragraph (1) and, in paragraph (2), the words “Except where paragraph (1) applies,”.