(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“axle”, in relation to a vehicle, includes—
two or more stub axles which are fitted on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to form a pair in the case of two stub axles or pairs in the case of more than two stub axles,
a single stub axle which is not one of a pair, and
a retractable axle,
(“stub axle” meaning an axle on which only one wheel is mounted),
F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F2“armed forces independence payment” means armed forces independence payment under a scheme established under section 1 of the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004,]
“business” includes the performance by a local or public authority of its functions,
[F3“disability assistance for children and young people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for children and young people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,
“disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,]
“disabled person” means a person suffering from a physical or mental defect or disability,
“exempt vehicle” means a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is not chargeable,
[F4“first vehicle licence”, in relation to a vehicle, means (subject to subsections (1B) and (1C)) the vehicle licence for the vehicle on the issue of which the vehicle is first registered under this Act (so that, if the vehicle is first registered on the issue of a nil licence, there is no first vehicle licence in relation to it),]
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“goods vehicle” means a vehicle constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of goods or burden of any description, whether in the course of trade or not,
“motor dealer” means a person carrying on the business of selling or supplying vehicles,
“motor trader” means—
a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles, or
any other description of person who carries on a business of such description as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,
and a person is treated as a dealer in vehicles if he carries on a business consisting wholly or mainly of collecting and delivering vehicles, and not including any other activities except activities as a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles,
[F5“nil licence” means a [F6licence] issued by the Secretary of State in pursuance of regulations under this Act in respect of a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle,]
[F2“personal independence payment” means personal independence payment under—
the Welfare Reform Act 2012, or
the corresponding provision having effect in Northern Ireland,]
“public road”—
in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, means a road which is repairable at the public expense, and
in Scotland, has the same meaning as in the M1Roads (Scotland) Act 1984,
“registration mark” is to be construed in accordance with section 23(1),
“relevant right” is to be construed in accordance with section 27(3)(a) and (b),
“right of retention” is to be construed in accordance with section 26(1) and [F7(1A)],
“rigid goods vehicle” means a goods vehicle which is not a tractive unit,
F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“showman’s goods vehicle” means a showman’s vehicle which—
is a goods vehicle, and
is permanently fitted with a living van or some other special type of body or superstructure forming part of the equipment of the show of the person in whose name the vehicle is registered under this Act,
“showman’s vehicle” means a vehicle—
registered under this Act in the name of a person following the business of a travelling showman, and
used solely by him for the purposes of his business and for no other purpose,
“temporary licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 9(1),
“tractive unit” means a goods vehicle to which a semi-trailer may be so attached that—
part of the semi-trailer is superimposed on part of the goods vehicle, and
when the semi-trailer is uniformly loaded, not less than twenty per cent. of the weight of its load is borne by the goods vehicle,
“trade licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 11,
[F8“vehicle” shall be construed in accordance with section 1(1B),]
“vehicle excise duty” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(1),
“vehicle licence” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(2), and
“vehicle tester” means a person, other than a motor trader, who regularly in the course of his business engages in the testing on roads of vehicles belonging to other persons.
[F9(1A)For the purposes of this Act, a vehicle is not an electrically propelled vehicle unless the electrical motive power is derived from—
(a)a source external to the vehicle, or
(b)an electrical storage battery which is not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is in motion.]
[F10(1B)Where a vehicle is first registered under this Act on the issue of a temporary licence, the “first vehicle licence” in relation to the vehicle is the first vehicle licence subsequently issued for it.
(1C)Where a vehicle—
(a)has been registered under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom,
(b)is first registered under this Act more than 6 months after the time when it was first registered as mentioned in paragraph (a), and
(c)has travelled more than 6,000 kilometres under its own power before it is first registered under this Act,
there is no first vehicle licence in relation to the vehicle.]
(2)For the purposes of this Act and any other enactment relating to the keeping of vehicles on public roads, a person keeps a vehicle on a public road if he causes it to be on such a road for any period, however short, when it is not in use there.
Textual Amendments
F1Definitions in s. 62(1) repealed (1.5.1995 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 29 Pt. V(2) Note of the amending Act) by 1995 c. 4, s. 19, Sch. 29 Pt. V(2) Note
F2Words in s. 62(1) inserted (retrospective to 8.4.2013) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 37 paras. 4, 7
F3Words in s. 62(1) inserted (21.3.2022) by The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance and Information-Sharing) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/332), arts. 1(2), 6(2)
F4Words in s. 62(1) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 7(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2009 (c. 10), Sch. 4 para. 4(2)
F5Definition in s. 62(1) inserted (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 16, s. 18, Sch. 3 para. 7(3); S.I. 1998/560, art. 2
F6Word in s. 62 substituted (1.10.2014) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 19 paras. 20, 22
F7Words in s. 62(1) substituted (19.7.2007) by Vehicle Registration Marks Act 2007 (c. 14), s. 1(3)
F8S. 62(1): definition of "vehicle" substituted (30.11.2003) by Finance Act 2002 (c. 23), s. 19, Sch. 5 para. 17; S.I. 2003/3086, art. 2(b)
F9S. 62(1A) inserted (29.4.1996 with effect as mentioned in s. 15(4) of the amending Act) by 1996 c. 8, s. 15(3)(4)
F10S. 62(1B)(1C) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 7(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2009 (c. 10), Sch. 4 para. 4(3)
Marginal Citations