The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002

Nil licences

33.—(1) In this regulation “nil licensable vehicle” means a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle otherwise by virtue of paragraph 2, 2A, 3, 22 or 23 of Schedule 2 to the 1994 Act.

(2) A nil licence is required to be in force in respect of a nil licensable vehicle which is used or kept on a public road.

(3) A nil licence shall—

(a) be granted for a period of 12 months beginning with the first day of the month in which the application for the licence is received by the Secretary of State; and

(b) be in the same form as a vehicle licence with the word “NIL” marked in the space provided for indicating the amount of vehicle excise duty payable.

(4) The keeper of a nil licensable vehicle may apply to the Secretary of State for a nil licence by making to him such a declaration and furnishing him with such particulars and such documentary or other evidence as might be specified under section 7 of the 1994 Act if the keeper desired to take out a vehicle licence for the vehicle.

(5) The Secretary of State may accept a declaration given, and particulars furnished, orally by telephone.

(6) In the case of a vehicle which is an exempt vehicle by virtue of—

(a) paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the 1994 Act, or

(b) paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to that Act,

the Secretary of State shall require the keeper to furnish him with a certificate that paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 or, as the case may be, paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 applies, unless the Secretary of State satisfies himself by other means that one of those paragraphs applies.

(7) The certificate shall be obtained by the keeper of the vehicle from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Secretary of State for Defence or the Department for Social Development for Northern Ireland, whichever is appropriate.

(8) Paragraphs (4) to (7) do not apply where the person applying for a nil licence agrees to comply with such conditions as may be specified in relation to him by the Secretary of State.

(9) If, following an application made in accordance with this regulation, the Secretary of State is satisfied that a vehicle is a nil licensable vehicle, he shall issue a nil licence to the keeper of the vehicle.

(10) If at any time vehicle excise duty becomes chargeable under the 1994 Act in respect of a vehicle which immediately before that time was a nil licensable vehicle, the keeper of the vehicle shall forthwith return to the Secretary of State—

(a) any nil licence issued in respect of the vehicle; and

(b) any certificate obtained by him for the purposes of paragraph (6) in relation to the vehicle.