Manx National Heritage Library

Vehicle registration and licensing of drivers were introduced by an Act of Tynwald into the Isle of Man.

Under the ‘Highways Act Amendment Act, 1905’ every motor car had to be registered with the Highway Board and a separate number given to each vehicle. A fee of 20 shillings [£1] and five shillings [25p] was charged for the registration of motor cars and motor cycles respectively. Driving licences were free to private vehicle owners; other vehicle users paid a fee of 5 shillings.

The registers start in January 1906 and the system continues to this day at the Vehicle Licensing Section of Treasury, Government Offices, Bucks Road, Douglas.

The Manx National Heritage Library holds the registers from 1906 - 1965 at accession reference number MS 09765.

The deposit also includes the earliest register for driving licence holders (1906 - 1921).

As a brief guide to the numbering system, the following index mark sequences for vehicles were used for the years 1906 - 1965:

However, since numbers were reused frequently after cancellation of a vehicle registration, tracing a vehicle can be complicated. The covering dates which follow are for the first date of use of each number. The dates of re-registration may be many years later. Library staff will be happy to assist with any queries.

For a more in depth account of the numbering sequences see Appendix 1 in the Fleet History of Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure and its Predecessors (Library ref: B192/2/53)

The following are the reference numbers for the individual volumes with a brief description. They can be consulted by filling in a document request form available on the Library counter. The numbers in brackets are the numbers appearing on the cover of the relevant registers.

MS 09765/1

Register of driving licence holders under ‘The Motor Cars (Registration and Licensing Order), 1905.’ The register records the number, name and address of the licensee, if the licence is for a motor car or limited to motor cycles, the date of grant and expiry and particulars of renewals and endorsements. It contains an alphabetical name index at the front.

January 1906 - January 1921 (1 volume)

MS 09765/2/1-2

Registers of motor cars with heavy motor vehicle entries recorded at the rear using same number sequence. Information is arranged by plate number, name and address of owner, vehicle description, weight, wheel diameter and width and material of tyres.

MS 09765/3/1-2

Registers for heavy motor vehicles over three tonnes arranged by index mark and number. Each entry gives the description or type of car, name and address of owner, type and colour of car body, weight, axle, wheel and tyre details, maximum speed permissible, intended use, date of registration and cancellation as applicable.

MS 09765/4/1-9

Registers of motor vehicles, including details of vehicles reusing the index mark and number. Note that not every entry was transferred from the earlier registers at MS 09765/2/1-2. When in doubt consult the earlier volumes.

Note on inside cover reads ‘This register was transferred from the original (1-2000) in January 1930 and completed (2000 to 3000) in January 1931.’

Note on inside cover reads ‘This register was transferred from the original (completed 20 February 1932)’. Copy of 09765/4/2 with additional information about later registrations reusing these numbers.

MS 09765/5

MS 09765/6/1-21

MS 09765/7/1-10

MS 09765/8

MS 09765/9

MS 09765/10

Application forms completed by those applying for a motor car registration.

The Manx National Heritage Library holds a wealth of various and extensive source material. Staff at the library and throughout Manx National Heritage, are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in Manx history.

WT: 12.03

Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm Closed Sunday and for one week in January

Downloadable Documents
Vehicle Registration Records (350 kb) Format: Acrobat PDF File

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