Issue of duplicate vehicle, trade and nil licences
8.—(1) Where a vehicle licence, trade licence or nil licence—
(a)has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged; or
(b)contains any particulars which have become illegible,
the holder of the licence shall apply to the Secretary of State for the issue of a duplicate.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by—
(a)the registration document issued in respect of the vehicle or, if the applicant is unable to comply with this requirement, by an application to the Secretary of State for the issue of a replacement registration document in accordance with regulation 13;
(b)a fee of £7, if the licence to be replaced is a vehicle or trade licence; and
(c)the licence to be replaced, if the reason for replacement is that it has been damaged or contains any particulars which have become illegible.
(3) No fee is payable under paragraph (2)(b) if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the loss of the licence occurred in the course of the transmission of the licence by the office issuing it to the keeper of the vehicle.
(4) On receiving an application under paragraph (1) made in accordance with this regulation, the Secretary of State shall issue a replacement licence if he is satisfied that the licence has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged.
(5) If a replacement licence has been issued on the ground that the original has been, or may have been, lost, stolen or destroyed, and the original licence is subsequently found or recovered, the keeper of the vehicle—
(a)if the original is in his possession, shall forthwith return it to the Secretary of State, or
(b)if it is not in his possession but he becomes aware that it is found or recovered, shall take all reasonable steps to obtain possession of it and return it to the Secretary of State.