Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971

12 Issue and exhibition of licences

(1) Every person applying for a vehicle licence shall make such a declaration and furnish such particulars with respect to the vehicle for which the licence is to be taken out or otherwise as may be prescribed.

(2) Every vehicle licence shall be issued for the vehicle specified in the application for the licence and shall not entitle the person to whom it is issued to use or keep any other vehicle.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not be required to issue any vehicle licence for which application is made unless he is satisfied—

(i) that the licence applied for is the appropriate licence for the vehicle specified in the application; and

(ii) in the case of an application for a licence for a vehicle purporting to be the first application for a licence for the vehicle, that a licence has not previously been issued for that vehicle.

(4) Subject to the provisions of regulations under this Act, and without prejudice to section 8 thereof, any person who uses or keeps on a public road any mechanically propelled vehicle on which duty under this Act is chargeable without there being fixed to and exhibited on that vehicle in the prescribed manner a licence for, or in respect of the use of, that vehicle issued under this Act and for the time being in force shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20.

(5) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (4) above it shall be a defence to prove that—

(a) while an expired vehicle licence for the vehicle was in force an application was duly made for a further vehicle licence for the vehicle to take effect from or before the expiration of the expired licence and for a period including the time in question; and

(b) the expired licence was at that time fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in the manner prescribed in pursuance of subsection (4) above ; and

(c) the period between the expiration of the expired licence and that time did not exceed fourteen days.

For the purposes of paragraph (a) above an application for a further licence is made when the application is received by the Secretary of State.

(6) Regulations under this Act may provide for the issue of new licences in the place of licences which may be lost or destroyed, and for the fee to be paid on the issue of a new licence.

(7) Any vehicle licence may be transferred in the prescribed manner.