The Danish number plate system 1

Transcription

1 Skatteministeriet, den 12. august 2013 The Danish number plate system 1 I. General principles for the registration of vehicles 1. In Denmark the registration of vehicles takes place in Køretøjsregisteret (the Vehicle Register). This is a single register for the whole country. However, there are special rules for vehicles belonging to the Royal Household, the armed forces and the Danish Emergency Management Agency. The rules governing the registration of vehicles in Køretøjsregisteret are laid down administratively on the basis of the Vehicle Registration Act (Lov om registrering af køretøjer). Køretøjsregisteret is managed by the customs and tax administration (SKAT). 2. When a vehicle is registered in Køretøjsregisteret the vehicle is assigned a registration number. If the vehicle is subsequently de-registered (e.g. after two years), the registration number is withdrawn. If the vehicle is re-registered (e.g. after three months), the vehicle is assigned a new registration number. A vehicle can thus have many registration numbers in the vehicle s lifetime. The ordinary registration number comprises two letters followed by three to five numbers. 3. When a vehicle is registered in Køretøjsregisteret number plates are issued showing the vehicle s registration number. The number plate for a vehicle is rectangular or square. The number plate measure 120 x 504 mm ore 240 x 165 mm. 2 3 Number plates for motorcycles and tractors measure 240 x 165 mm. Number plates for mopeds measure 145 x 125 mm. Number plates are provided on loan from SKAT. The number plates must therefore be returned to SKAT after use. The number plates are produced in aluminium coated with reflective foil. 1 With particular emphasis on the rules for prøveskilte (commercial number plates) and prøvemærker (temporary stickers). The system for diplomatic number plates is not described. 2 Historical number plates (cf. point 11 below) may have other dimensions. 3 Until mid-2012 the square number plate measured 309 x 210 mm.

2 4. When a vehicle is registered in Køretøjsregisteret a certificate of the registration (registration certificate) is issued. 4 The certificate is in two parts (PART I and PART II) A vehicles can only be registered in Køretøjsregisteret if a liability insurance has been taken out for driving with the vehicle. II. Ordinary number plates 6. Ordinary number plates for cars, motorcycles and 45 km/h mopeds 6 are white with a red border. On the white background there are black letters and numbers. Illustrative examples: Ordinary number plates for small mopeds, 7 vans, lorries and coaches are yellow with a black border. On the yellow background there are black letters and numbers. Illustrative examples: 7. From 1 January 2009 a two-colour number plate has been introduced for vans with a total permitted weight of no more than 4 tonnes which are registered for private or mixed private and commercial use. The number plate is like the ordinary number plate for cars (cf. above under point 6) but with a vertical yellow stripe on the extreme left. Illustrative example: Vans registered before 1 January 2009 are not issued the new number plate. They use the yellow number plate with a black border. 4 This is not so when a commercial number plate is issued (cf. point 12 below). 5 In some cases a temporary registration certificate is issued comprising only one part (PART I). 6 Moped with a maximum speed of 45 kilometres per hour. 7 Moped with a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour.

3 8. From 12 October 2009 the EU-number plate has been introduced. It is for the owner ore user of a vehicle to decide whether the vehicle shall have a number plate with ore without the EU-symbol. III. Border number plates 9. Border number plates are special number plates which are issued for a period of up to six month. SKAT can issue border number plates to a person domiciled in Denmark who in connection with emigration or an extended stay abroad intends to take and use the vehicle abroad. Permission for driving within the area covered by the Road Traffic Act may be granted for no longer than 21 days prior to exit from the country and thereafter for driving abroad for no longer than six month. If the person concerned has exited the country prior to the registration date, permission for driving in Denmark may be granted for no longer than 24 hours in connection with collection of the vehicle. IV. Personalised number plates 10. Upon application SKAT can issue a number plate with a registration number chosen by the vehicle owner. A personalised number plate may be used for up to eight years. The right may be renewed for a further eight years. The right to a personalised number plate is in principle non-transferable. A personalised number plate shall consist of at least two and at most seven letters or numbers. Like ordinary number plates, personalised number plates are white with a red border. On the white background there are black letters or numbers. V. Historically number plates 11. Upon application SKAT can issue historically number plates for vehicles first registered before 1 April VI. Commercial number plates (prøveskilte) 12. Commercial number plates are issued to businesses which have continual and not insubstantial need of such plates in their business for the purpose of temporary or occasional driving of unregistered vehicles in connection with import/export, repair, sale, registration or similar. Commercial number plates are issued by SKAT for a period of five years. Commercial number plates must be returned by the end of this period, unless SKAT allows the period to be extended. In order to be issued a commercial number plate, the recipient must have taken out liability insurance for driving with commercial number plates.

4 A commercial number plate shows the number with which the commercial number plate has been registered with the Vehicle Register. The number comprises of two letters followed by two numbers. A commercial number plate is white with a red border. On the white background there are red letters and black numbers. Commercial number plates are issued with ore without the EU-sumbol. Illustrative example: Commercial plates have the same measures as number plates for vehicles and motorcycles (cf. above under point 3). Commercial number plates are used on vehicles in the same way as ordinary number plates, including with regard to the number of number plates a vehicle must carry and how they are mounted. A certificate is issued when a commercial number plate is issued. Naturally, however, the certificate cannot identify the vehicles on which the commercial number plate is to be used. 8 Commercial number plates may with some exceptions only be used by the person to whom the commercial number plate is issued and his or her employees. Commercial number plates may only be used for the purpose of temporary or occasional driving of unregistered vehicles in connection with import/export, repair, technical approval, sale, registration ore similar. A vehicle with commercial number plates must not be used for the carriage of goods ore persons who are unauthorised for the purpose of the driving. The provisions governing the use of commercial number plates are, with a few exceptions, printed in Annex I. VII. Temporary stickers (prøvemærker) 13. SKAT issues temporary stickers for use by those who cannot obtain commercial number plates for the driving of unregistered vehicles. This is typically to non-businesses. A temporary sticker is only issued for driving of the type for which a commercial number plate can be issued. It is for temporary ore occasional driving of an unregistered vehicle in connection with import/export, repair, technical approval, sale, registration ore similar. In addition, temporary stickers are issued for: 1) Vehicles which are more than 35 years old for occasional driving for reasons of engineering history. 2) Vehicles participating in organised motor races on tracks or routes which have been approved by the police, but only for driving between the tracks or routes. 8 The certificate do not satisfies the requirements for a registration certificate under Article 35 of the Vienna Convention of 8 November 1968 on Road Traffic and on Road Signs and Signals.

5 A temporary sticker is a sticker which is stuck onto the vehicle and which replaces the number plate. The sticker is smaller than a number plate. 9 Temporary stickers are used on vehicles in the same way as ordinary number plates, including with regard to the number of number plates a vehicle must carry. A temporary sticker is issued for a period of no longer than 7 days. 10 A temporary sticker shows a serial number of seven digits and the sticker s period of validity. A temporary sticker is white. On the white background there are black numbers. SKAT has taken out collective liability insurance for driving with temporary stickers in EU/EØSstates. Together with the temporary sticker, a permit to use the temporary sticker is issued. The permit describes the driving for which the temporary sticker may be used. 11 The permit shall be carried during driving within the vehicle. A temporary sticker may only be used by the person to whom the commercial number plate is issued and his or her employees. The provisions governing the use of temporary sticker are, with a few exceptions, printed in Annex II. The references in these rules mostly refer to the rules printed in Annex I. 9 A temporary sticker measure 150 x 105 mm. 10 A temporary sticker may be issued for a longer period than 7 days if the sticker is to replace a number plate that has been damaged or lost until a replacement number plate has been made. 11 The permit satisfies normally the requirements for a registration certificate under Article 35 of the Vienna Convention of 8 November 1968 on Road Traffic and on Road Signs and Signals.

6 The provisions on commercial number plates are as follows: Annex I Section 76. SKAT may issue number plates in the form of commercial number plates to natural or legal persons operating a business who have continual and not insubstantial need of the plates in their business for the purpose of driving as mentioned in Sections 77 to 80. (2). A commercial number plate shall be issued only if the recipient has taken out liability insurance for driving with the commercial number plate under the rules contained in bekendtgørelse om ansvarsforsikring af motorkøretøjer mv (the Order on liability insurance for motor vehicles). (3). A commercial number plate shall be issued for a period of five years. (4). The issuance of a commercial number plate shall be registered in Køretøjsregisteret. SKAT shall issue a certificate of this. (5). The right to a commercial number plate is non-transferable. (6). SKAT may withdraw a commercial number plate (cf. Section 90) if the plate is used in contravention of the rules contained in Sections 77 to 80 or if the right holder otherwise ceases to satisfy the conditions contained in subsection (1). Section 77. Commercial number plates are used for driving with unregistered vehicles of a type which is to be registered in accordance with Part 2. (2). Commercial number plates may only be used for temporary or occasional driving for the following purposes: 1) Testing and adjustment of a new vehicle, but not for running-in of the new vehicle. 2) Driving in connection with import ore export of a vehicle to the place where the importer has his or her address, including business address. 3) Test-driving in connection with repair of a vehicle, but not for running-in of a repaired vehicle. 4) Collection or delivery of a vehicle in connection with repair or sale. 5) Driving which is necessary in connection with registration or approval of the vehicle. 6) Transfer of a vehicle to another dealer, other sales outlet or showroom or storage facility. A demonstration site which is not used for ordinary traffic and where the vehicle is presented to the public for sales purposes, e.g. a race track or a showground, shall be treated as equivalent to transfer to a showroom. 7) Demonstration of a vehicle for a dealer or the dealer s staff. 8) Demonstration or testing of a vehicle in connection with sale. The driving may only take place in each case at the request of a potential buyer of a vehicle of the type in question.

7 9) Recording of photographs or films of a vehicle. Such driving may only be carried out by a manufacturer or importer of vehicles and solely for the purposes of producing advertising material for the vehicle. 10) Temporary driving in parade in connection with the putting on sale of raffle tickets for charitable or non-profitable purposes or in connection with a local child welfare day, livestock show or similar event. Such driving may only be carried out with the permission of the police in each individual case. (3). Commercial number plates may not be used on vehicles used for the carriage of goods or persons who are unauthorised for the purpose of the driving (cf. subsection (2)). Section 78. Commercial number plates may not be used on vehicles which are a hazard to road safety. (2). Commercial number plates may be used on a motorised vehicle which is registered without a towing device if the vehicle is provided with a towing device and the vehicle is only used together with an attached vehicle for one of the purposes mentioned in Section 77(2). (3). Commercial number plates may be used for driving with an abnormal load or mobile crane for the purposes mentioned in Section 77(2), Nos 1, 5 and 6. Section 79. Subject to the exceptions resulting from subsections (2) and (3), a commercial number plate may only be used by the person to whom the commercial number plate is issued under Section 76 and his or her employees. (2). For demonstration driving as mentioned in Section 77(2), Nos 3 and 4, of a vehicle which cannot carry passengers, the vehicle with the commercial plate may be loaned to the dealer and his or her staff or to the potential buyer, his or her relatives and persons assisting the buyer in assessing the vehicle for testing for a limited period of time within the immediate vicinity. (3). For demonstration driving as mentioned in Section 77(2), Nos 3 and 4, of a vehicle which can carry passengers, the vehicle may be driven by the persons mentioned in subsection (2) if the commercial number plate holder or one of his or her employees is present in the vehicle during the driving. The vehicle may also be loaned for independent testing or demonstration driving if the length of the driving does not exceed three hours and during the driving documentation is carried showing that the loan does not exceed three hours. This documentation may only be provided on a form approved by SKAT. Completed forms must be kept by the commercial plate holder for at least three months after the driving has taken place. Section 80. A commercial number plate shall be issued for either a vehicle or motorcycle. (2). Commercial number plates for vehicles shall also be used for the driving of tractors, motorised equipment and trailers. If commercial number plates are used for a trailer, one plate shall be mounted on the back of the trailer. (3). Commercial number plates for motorcycles are also used for the riding of mopeds.

8 Annex II The provisions on temporary stickers are as follows: Section 81. SKAT may issue a temporary sticker to a natural or legal person who does not have continual and substantial need for a commercial number plate for the purpose of driving as mentioned in Sections 77, 78 and 79(1). (2). SKAT may, however, permit the use of temporary stickers for the driving of: 1) Vehicles first registered more than 35 years ago which shall exclusively be used for occasional driving for reasons of engineering history. The vehicle must have previously been approved by a testing or inspection business during the relevant owner s period of ownership without the vehicle s number plate subsequently being withdrawn on the grounds of defects with the vehicle. 2) Vehicles participating in organised motor races on tracks or routes which have been approved by the police for driving between these tracks or routes. Within the previous two years the vehicle must have been approved in accordance with bekendtgørelse om godkendelse og syn af køretøjer (the Order on approval and inspection of vehicles) with dispensation for cars ore motorcycles intended for motor racing. The temporary sticker shall be issued to the person who is to participate in the motor race and who presents the documentation referred to above. Section 82. SKAT shall issue a certificate concerning permission to use a temporary sticker containing information on the purpose and conditions of use. The certificate shall be carried during driving and shall be shown to the police or SKAT on demand. (2). A permit may be valid for no longer than 7 days except in the case mentioned in Section 72(2) in which permission may be granted for up to three months. A temporary sticker may not be used after expiry of the permit. (3). SKAT shall take out liability insurance for the use of temporary stickers in EU/EØS-states, but not Færøerne and Greenland. Section 83. A temporary sticker is made of self-adhesive plastic film. A serial number and the temporary sticker s period of validity are shown on the temporary plate. (2). A temporary sticker shall be issued no longer than 14 days before the start of the period of validity. (3). Sections 68 to 70 shall apply mutatis mutandis to temporary stickers. (4). A temporary sticker shall not be returned after use.