Section 5: Registration of vehicles

5. Registration of vehicles (1) (a) Subject to this Act, no person shall use, on a road or otherwise, a motor vehicle or trailer unless the vehicle or trailer is registered in accordance with this Act. (b) A person shall not commit an offence under this section if he proves that the motor vehicle or trailer has been in his ownership only for the period that might reasonably be required for registration. (2) An application for the registration of a motor vehicle or trailer shall be made by the owner in the prescribed form. (3) (a) The Commissioner shall— (i) cause to be entered in a register to be kept for that purpose particulars of the motor vehicle or trailer and, in the case of a leased vehicle, the name of the lessor and of the lessee and the fact that the motor vehicle or trailer is leased; and [Issue 3] R27 – 14 Revised Laws of Mauritius (ii) assign to the motor vehicle or trailer a registration mark. (b) No motor vehicle or trailer shall be registered unless it— (i) complies with this Act with regard to the maximum limits permitted for axle weights, gross weight, height, length and width of motor vehicles or trailers; or (ii) has been exempted by the Commissioner from compliance with the limits under subparagraph (i). (4) (a) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii), the Commissioner shall, on payment of the prescribed fee supply, to any person applying for it, a copy of such entries from the register as that person shows he has reasonable cause to require. (ii) No fee shall be payable where a copy is supplied to a public officer or an officer of a local authority for official purposes. (b) The Commissioner shall allow a police officer authorised by the Commissioner of Police to inspect his register at any time and permit the officer to take a copy of an entry in the register relating to a specified motor vehicle or trailer. (5) The owner of a motor vehicle or trailer registered under this section shall— (a) pay the fee prescribed for registration; and (b) obtain from the Commissioner a registration book containing such particulars as may be prescribed. (6) The loss, theft or destruction of a registration book shall be immediately reported to the Commissioner by the registered owner of the motor vehicle or trailer in respect of which it has been issued. (7) (a) Where it appears to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that— (i) the registration book issued to a person has been lost or destroyed or is in a state of dilapidation; (ii) essential particulars have been accidentally defaced; or (iii) space is lacking for essential particulars, the Commissioner may, on payment of the prescribed fee, issue a duplicate of the book with the word “Duplicate” written on it. (b) Where there is no space available in a registration book for additional essential particulars, no fee shall be charged for the issue of a duplicate. (8) Before a duplicate registration book is issued on account of defacement, dilapidation or lack of space for essential particulars, the old registration book shall be delivered to the Commissioner. R27 – 15 [Issue 5] Road Traffic Act (9) Where a new licence is issued in respect of a motor vehicle or trailer under section 25, the Commissioner shall amend the register and issue a new registration book. (10) Where a motor vehicle or trailer does not bear on it a registration mark as provided under this section, this fact shall be regarded as prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle or trailer has not been registered, and the Pol old registration book shall be delivered to the Commissioner. R27 – 15 [Issue 5] Road Traffic Act (9) Where a new licence is issued in respect of a motor vehicle or trailer under section 25, the Commissioner shall amend the register and issue a new registration book. (10) Where a motor vehicle or trailer does not bear on it a registration mark as provided under this section, this fact shall be regarded as prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle or trailer has not been registered, and the Police may detain the vehicle or trailer until inquiries have been made. [S. 5 amended by s. 4 of Act 23 of 1991 w.e.f. 6 July 1991; s. 23 (b) of Act 27 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012.]