Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 section 33A

Not exhibiting licence: period of grace

Section 33A provides a short period of grace after a vehicle licence expires before the offence of not displaying a valid licence applies.

• When a vehicle licence expires, the keeper is not immediately guilty of an offence for failing to display a new licence.
• A period of grace applies, giving the keeper a limited number of days after expiry before enforcement action can be taken.
• This grace period recognises the practical reality that there may be a short gap between one licence expiring and the next being obtained and displayed.
• The provision was introduced by the Finance Act 2013 and subsequently amended by the Finance Act 2014 as part of broader changes to the vehicle excise duty regime.

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