Motor Vehicle Testing (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Article 63 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the 1995 Order”) requires, subject to certain exceptions, that motor vehicles registered or manufactured more than 5 years ago, are not to be used on a road unless a valid vehicle test certificate has been issued by the Department of the Environment.

In order to comply with the requirements of Annex I of Council Directive 77/143/EEC (O.J. No. L47, 18.2.1977, p. 47), as amended by 88/449/EEC (O.J. No. L222, 12.8.1988, p. 10) and 91/328/EEC (O.J. No. L178, 6.7.1991, p. 29), Article 3 of this Order varies the application of Article 63 of the 1995 Order so that motor vehicles registered or manufactured more than 4 years ago are required to be tested, and makes a consequential amendment to Article 78(3).

The following categories of motor vehicles will continue to require an annual test—

(i) those used for the carriage of passengers with more than 8 seats excluding the driver’s seat,

(ii) taxis, and

(iii) ambulances.

The Order comes into operation at different times, so that—

(a) a vehicle, first registered before 1st April 1991 may not be used on a road on or after 1st April 1996 unless a test certificate has been issued for the vehicle within the preceding twelve months;

(b) a vehicle, first registered on or after 1st April 1991 and before 1st April 1992 may not be used on a road on or after the 5th anniversary of its first registration unless a test certificate has been issued for the vehicle within the preceding twelve months;

(c) a vehicle which was first registered on or after 1st April 1992 may not be used on a road on or after 1st April 1996 or the 4th anniversary of its first registration, whichever is the later, unless a test certificate has been issued for the vehicle;

(d) a vehicle having been used on a road (in Northern Ireland or elsewhere) before being registered in Northern Ireland and having reached the 4th anniversary of its date of manufacture as determined by Article 63(8) of the 1995 Order may not be used on a road on or after 1st January 1997 unless a test certificate has been issued within the preceding twelve months.

Copies of the EC Directives referred to in this note can be obtained from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast.