13.—(1) Where a registration document has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, or it contains any particulars that have become illegible, the registered keeper shall apply to the Secretary of State for the issue of a replacement document.
(2) In a case where the registration document has been damaged or contains any particulars which have become illegible, an application under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by the document and, in any other case, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, accept an application made orally by telephone.
(3) If the Secretary of State—
(a)receives an application made in accordance with this regulation; and
(b)he is satisfied that a registration document has been, or may have been, lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, or that it contains any particulars that have become illegible,
he shall, subject to regulation 15, issue a replacement registration document to the registered keeper.
(4) If a replacement registration document has been issued on the ground that the original has been, or may have been, lost, stolen or destroyed, and the original 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.