The Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1975

Documents for drivers and vehicles going abroad

1.—(1) The Secretary of State may issue for use outside the United Kingdom a driving permit in each or either of the forms A and B in Schedule 1 to this Order to a person who has attained the age of eighteen years and satisfies the Secretary of State—

(a) that he is competent to drive motor vehicles of the classes for which the permit is to be issued, and

(b) that he is resident in the United Kingdom:

Provided that a permit in form A which is restricted to motor cycles or invalid carriages may be issued to a person who is under eighteen years of age.

(2) The Secretary of State may issue for use outside the United Kingdom a document in the form D in Schedule 1 to this Order for any motor vehicle registered under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971, or in Northern Ireland under the Vehicles (Excise) Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.

(3) The Secretary of State may issue for use outside the United Kingdom with any such motor vehicle or any trailer a document certifying—

(a) the weight of the maximum load which it is to be permitted to carry, and

(b) the permissible maximum weight, that is to say, the weight of the vehicle when ready for the road and carrying the maximum load so specified.

(4) The Secretary of State may assign to any trailer an identification mark to be carried on the trailer outside the United Kingdom.

(5) The Secretary of State may assign to a motor vehicle to which the Decision of 1957 of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Co-Operation applies, an identification mark in the form of such a trade plate as may be required to be carried on such a vehicle under the provisions of section 1 of the Regulation attached to that Decision.

In this paragraph, “the Decision of 1957 of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Co-Operation” means the decision of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Co-Operation concerning the International Circulation of Hired Private Road Motor Vehicles adopted by that Council at its 369th Meeting, in June, 1957.

(6) The Secretary of State may charge a fee for any document issued under this Article or for the assignment of any identification mark under this Article, and the fee shall be of the amount specified in relation thereto in Schedule 2 to this Order.

(7) The Secretary of State may for the purpose of his functions under this Article carry out tests of the competency of applicants for driving permits and examinations of vehicles.

(8) The Secretary of State may delegate any of his functions under this Article (including any power of charging fees and the carrying out of tests or examinations) to any body concerned with motor vehicles or to any Northern Ireland department.