Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Licensing of Motor Vehicles
8. Motor vehicles to be licensed
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
No person shall use on a road a motor vehicle or trailer for which a motor vehicle licence is not in force, or use a motor vehicle for a purpose not authorised by the motor vehicle licence in force for the use thereof:
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to —
use of a motor vehicle or trailer by a dealer under and in accordance with a licence under section 11; or
use by a registered owner solely on private roads.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $4,000 and imprisonment for 3 months.
Where a licence has been granted in respect of a motor vehicle to be used for a certain purpose or purposes, and such motor vehicle is at any time during the period for which the licence is in force used for another purpose, the person so using the motor vehicle or causing or permitting the use thereof shall, if the fee chargeable in respect of a licence for a motor vehicle used for such other purpose is higher than the fee chargeable in respect of the licence held by such person, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000.
motor vehicle
“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
Road Traffic
road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
Terms defined in s 2
dealer
Defined · s 2“dealer” means a person to whom a dealer’s general licence has been issued under Part 3;
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
owner
Defined · s 2“owner” means the person in whose name a motor vehicle is registered by a licensing officer: Provided that in the case of a vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, the term means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
trailer
Defined · s 2“trailer” means any vehicle, which has no independent motive power of its own, and which is attached to or driven by a motor vehicle or is designed or intended to be so attached or drawn, but does not include a side-car in the case of a motorcycle;
Part
Driving Licence
Part
Driving and Other Offences and General Conditions Relating to Use of Motor Vehicles on Road
Part
Suspension, Cancellation and Endorsement of Driving Licences
Part
Public Service Vehicles and Franchises
Part
Certificates of Fitness
Part
Traffic on Roads
Part
Powers of Police
Part