Road Traffic Act 1988

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Point in time view as at 01/11/1999. This version of this provision has been superseded.

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Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 144 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 November 2024. 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.

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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 [F3the Broads Authority], the Common Council of the City of London, the council of a London borough [F4 a National Park authority], the Inner London Education Authority, or a joint authority (other than a police authority) established by Part IV of the M1Local Government Act 1985,

(ii)by a [F5council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994)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

[F6(ba)to a vehicle owned by the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service or the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad, 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 the purposes of the body maintained by such an Authority by or under the direction of a constable, or by a person employed by such an Authority;]

(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 [F7Merchant Shipping Act 1995],

(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 M2Army Act 1955 or under the corresponding provision of the M3Air Force Act 1955,

[F8(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 [F9or by the Commission for Health Improvement], 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 M4National 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 M5National 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

F1Words 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.

F2S. 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.

F3Words 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)

F4Words in s. 144(2)(a)(i) inserted (23.11.1995) by 1995 c. 25, S. 78, Sch. 10, para. 29 (with ss. 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7); S.I. 1995/2950, art. 2(1)