41.—(1) If a Ministry plate, a plating certificate (whether issued under these Regulations or being treated as a plating certificate by virtue of section 48(5) of the 1972 Act), a goods vehicle test certificate or a Ministry test date disc has been lost or defaced, an application for the issue of a replacement for the plate, certificate or disc lost or defaced may be made in writing to the Goods Vehicle Centre, and every such application shall be accompanied by the payment of the fee of £7.50.
(2) On the receipt of an application and fee mentioned in paragraph (1) the Secretary of State shall determine whether the vehicle shall be re-examined, and if he determines—
(a)that no re-examination of the vehicle is required he shall issue to the applicant a replacement for the plate, certificate or disc to which the application relates and any such replacement shall have the same effect as the plate, certificate or disc which it replaces and shall be marked “replacement”;
(b)that a re-examination of the vehicle is required, he shall by notice to the sender require the vehicle to be submitted for re-examination at a vehicle testing station specified in the notice and appoint a date and time for the examination.
(3) A re-examination under paragraph (2)(b) shall be carried out as if it were a first examination under regulations 17 to 23, the appropriate fee shall be paid as if the examination were a first examination, and the appropriate documents shall be issued in accordance with regulations 21 and 23.