Isle of Man Drivers and Vehicles
Introduction
The Department of Transport has developed a new Vehicle Registration and Licensing System and is transferring over 60,000 records from the old system onto the new database.
The reason for the replacement of the system is that the database is 25 years old and it cannot accommodate proposed changes such as recording the CO2 emissions of vehicles. In addition it will not support the Department’s development strategy for the delivery of improved customer services and user expectations of modern technology such as on line licensing.
The new system will print registration certificates and therefore the Department is taking the opportunity to replace all the hand written yellow log books with a new ‘Vehicle Registration Certificate’. The new registration certificate has been designed in a common format which should be recognized by other European Community countries.
Motorists will automatically receive the new Vehicle Registration Certificate when:
- They register a vehicle for the first time;
- They become the Registered Keeper of a vehicle they have bought second-hand;
- They notify any changes to the vehicle record such as change of address;
- Or in circumstances where the yellow log book has to be replaced because it has been lost or destroyed.
In addition to issuing the new certificate in the normal course of business, an accelerated rollout programme will commence in October 2008. Over a period of 12 months the recall of the yellow log books will be combined with the monthly vehicle duty reminder letters. The owner of the vehicle will be asked to return the yellow log book, and confirm that the vehicle and keeper details entered onto the new database are correct.
A new Vehicle Registration Certificate will be sent out in the post within 28 days.
The introduction of the new Vehicle Registration Certificate will make it easier for the registered keepers to comply with their legal obligation to declare acquisition or disposal of vehicles. They just complete the appropriate section on the certificate and return it to the Licensing Office.
When a vehicle has been issued with a new-style registration document, and that vehicle is then sold, both the seller and the purchaser must jointly notify the Licensing Office, that the vehicle has changed hands. This can be done by completing the relevant tear-off section on the reverse of the new registration certificate and submitting it to any Post Office or posting it to the Licensing Office. If the seller fails to do this, he or she will remain liable for taxing the car.
The new owner is given the remainder of the certificate which must be submitted to the Licensing Office with a Change of Ownership form and appropriate fee (£6.00) after which a new Registration Certificate will be issued by post.
Registered keepers need to check the information on the new certificate and notify the Licensing Office if there are any errors. The Vehicle Registration Certificate will be issued with a plastic wallet to keep it in.
If the Vehicle Registration Certificate is lost there is a charge of £13 to replace it.
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