Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 section 23

Registration marks

Section 23 sets out the rules for assigning, withdrawing, and re-assigning registration marks (number plates) to vehicles, as well as the Secretary of State's powers to make regulations about how those marks must be displayed.

• Every vehicle registered under the Act must be assigned a unique registration mark indicating its registered number.
• The Secretary of State has broad discretion to assign new marks, transfer marks between vehicles, withdraw marks, and re-assign previously withdrawn marks.
• Regulations may prescribe how registration marks must be fixed on vehicles, including their size, shape, character, and visibility by day and night.
• Separate provision is made for trade licence holders, including the assignment of general trade registration marks and the issue and replacement of trade plates.