# The Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1975, Note: Explanatory note

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

1. The Order gives effect to certain provisions of the following international agreements, namely:—
(a)the Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 (Cmd 7997);
(b)the Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles for Private Use in International Traffic of 1956 (Cmnd 220);
(c)the Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International Passenger Traffic of 1956 (Cmnd 320);
(d)the Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International Goods Transport of 1956 (Cmnd 4206);
(e)the Convention on Motor Traffic of 1926 (Cmd 3510);
(f)Article IV of the Agreement regarding the Status of Forces of Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (Cmd 8279);
(g)a Decision of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation adopted on 28 June 1957, relating to identification marks for hired chauffeur-driven vehicles going abroad from the United Kingdom.
2. The Order re-enacts with amendment and consolidates the Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1957 (S.I. 1957/1074) and the subsequent Orders amending it; and following the transfer to the Secretary of State of functions exercisable in Northern Ireland with respect to vehicle excise duty and the registration of vehicles by the Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973 (S.I. 1973/2163), it revokes and re-enacts with amendment corresponding provisions to those having effect in Great Britain with respect to those matters in Northern Ireland in place of the Northern Ireland Orders revoked thereby.
3. The Order relates to:—
(a)the issue of international driving permits to persons going abroad and documents for use outside the United Kingdom with vehicles;
(b)driver licensing, vehicle operators' licences and vehicle lighting requirements in relation to vehicles brought temporarily into Great Britain; and
(c)registration and exemption from vehicle excise duty of vehicles brought temporarily into the United Kingdom.
4. The principal changes introduced by the Order are that—
(a)the fees for international driving permits and certificates for motor vehicles are increased from £1.00 to £1.50 (Schedule 2);
(b)vehicles temporarily imported into Northern Ireland by members of visiting forces or the civilian components of such forces are brought within the scope of exemption from vehicle excise duty (Article 5A(2));
(c)vehicles registered in the Isle of Man and temporarily imported into Northern Ireland are exempted from vehicle excise duty (Article 5A(3)) in the manner similarly prescribed for such vehicles temporarily imported into Great Britain (Article 5(3)).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1975/1208/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/motor-vehicles-international-circulation-order-1975/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.