The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc: recognised category

36.—(1) The following are recognised categories of special vehicles—

(a) any motor vehicle or trailer which is constructed for use outside the United Kingdom;

(b) any type of motor vehicle or trailer which is constructed for use outside the United Kingdom;

(c) any new or improved type of motor vehicle or trailer which is constructed for tests or trials;

(d) any motor vehicle or trailer which is equipped with new or improved equipment;

(e) any motor vehicle or trailer which is equipped with new or improved types of equipment.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not include—

(a) any motor vehicle or trailer which is not a wheeled vehicle; or

(b) any motor vehicle or trailer which is, or forms part of, a recognised category of special vehicles specified in sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of article 10(1).

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc: authorisation requirements

37.  The authorisation requirements applicable to vehicles falling within any of the recognised categories of special vehicles mentioned in article 36(1) are—

(a) the requirements specified in articles 38 to 40; and

(b) the requirements specified in Schedule 11.

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc: requirements as to length

38.—(1) This article applies to—

(a) a vehicle falling within any of the recognised categories of special vehicles mentioned in article 36(1), where the overall length of the vehicle exceeds the overall length permitted for that description of vehicle under regulation 7 of the Construction and Use Regulations; and

(b) a vehicle-combination, being a combination that includes one or more motor vehicles or trailers that fall within any of those recognised categories of special vehicles, where the overall length of the vehicle-combination exceeds the overall length for that combination permitted under regulation 7 of the Construction and Use Regulations.

(2) The user of the vehicle or vehicle-combination must—

(a) before the start of any journey, notify in accordance with Schedule 5 the chief officer of police for each area in which the vehicle or vehicle-combination is to be used; and

(b) ensure that the vehicle or vehicle-combination is used in accordance with the requirements of that Schedule.

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc: requirements as to width

39.—(1) “ Width”, in relation to a vehicle falling within any of the recognised categories of special vehicles mentioned in article 36(1), means whichever is the greater of—

(a) the overall width of the vehicle; and

(b) the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of a load carried on it.

(2) Where the width of a vehicle falling within any of the recognised categories of special vehicles mentioned in article 36(1) exceeds 3 metres, the user of the vehicle must—

(a) before the start of any journey, notify in accordance with Schedule 5 the chief officer of police for each area in which the vehicle is to be used; and

(b) ensure that the vehicle is used in accordance with the requirements of that Schedule.

Vehicles for tests, trials or non-UK use etc: requirements as to weight

40.—(1) This article applies to a vehicle which is, or a vehicle-combination which includes, a vehicle falling within any of the recognised categories of special vehicles mentioned in article 36(1) and which—

(a) does not comply with the requirements of the Authorised Weight Regulations; or

(b) if those Regulations do not apply to it, does not comply with the requirements of regulations 75 to 79 of the Construction and Use Regulations.

(2) Before the start of any journey, the user of the vehicle or vehicle-combination must—

(a) notify in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 9 the authority (within the meaning of that Schedule) for each road or bridge on which vehicle or vehicle-combination is to be used; and

(b) give to each authority an indemnity in the form specified in Part 2 of that Schedule.