Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicle Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on 12^th October 2020.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations

2.  In regulation 6 of the Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(4)(exemptions)-

(a)in paragraph (1) for sub-paragraph (xxii) substitute-

"(xxii)a vehicle of historical interest;";

(b)in paragraph (2) omit sub-paragraph (i); and

(c)after paragraph (3) insert-

"(4) In this regulation "vehicle of historical interest" means a vehicle which the Department considers to be of historical interest to Northern Ireland and which-

(a)was manufactured or registered for the first time at least 40 years previously;

(b)is of a type no longer in production; and

(c)is historically preserved or maintained in its original state and has not undergone substantial changes in the technical characteristics of its main components,

where "type" in relation to the vehicle has the same meaning as "type of vehicle" in Article 3(32) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles(5).".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Infrastructure on 15^th September 2020

Chris Hughes

A senior officer of the

Department for Infrastructure

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 ("the 2003 Regulations") to exempt vehicles of historical interest to Northern Ireland from periodic roadworthiness testing.

They facilitate the implementation of Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3^rd April 2014 (OJ L 127, 29. 4. 2014, p51 – 128) on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers which permits Member States to exempt vehicles that meet certain conditions from the testing requirements.

The Regulations amend regulation 6 of the 2003 Regulations to provide an exemption for vehicles of historical interest, being vehicles manufactured or first registered at least 40 years previously, which are no longer in production and have been historically preserved or maintained in their original state with no substantial changes in the technical characteristics of their main components.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment and Explanatory Memorandum have been produced and are available from Safe and Accessible Travel Division, Department for Infrastructure, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast BT2 8GB or online alongside this Statutory Rule at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr