Regulation 12 Conditions for the assignment of a registration mark
A registration mark may not be assigned to a vehicle in pursuance of a right of retention unless the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are satisfied.
The conditions are—
where the registered number in a registration mark contains a single letter of the alphabet, that the assignment of that mark to a vehicle would not give an indication that the vehicle was first registered more recently than is the case;
that a vehicle licence issued under the 1971 Act is in force for the vehicle;
that the vehicle is—
one to which section 47 of the 1988 Act applies, or would apply if the vehicle had been registered under the 1971 Act more than three years earlier; or
of a class to which regulations under section 49 of the 1988 Act applies;
that the Secretary of State is satisfied as to the origins of the vehicle and the date on which it was first used; and
that the vehicle is recorded as being a registered vehicle in the G.B. records.
For the purpose of determining whether a vehicle falls within sub-paragraph (2)(c)(i), the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981f1 shall have effect as if sub- paragraph (xvi) of regulation 6(1) of those Regulations (which relates amongst other things to test certificates issued in respect of a vehicle under the law of Northern Ireland) were omitted.
In this regulation, “registered number” has the same meaning as in regulation 9 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971f2.