EReg Topic Group IV Harmonisation of commercial and temporary plates Progress Report 06/04/20111 LAMESCH Jean

Introduction -Initiative to solve the problems on cross border trade of vehicles started by the Commission in 2004 by Mr Willy MAES and Mr Hans INGELS. -The results of their work was mostly integrated in the «Interpretative Communication» of the EU Commision on procedures for the registration of motor vehicles originating in another Member State, dated Cross Border vehicle trade encouraged under the optic of free circulation of goods in the E.U.. - Problems are generated by the transfer of vehicles from one EU Member state to another EU Member Stata and the possible crossborder presentation of vehicles by dealers in other countries. 06/04/20112LAMESCH Jean

Introduction For the purpose of cross border trade there exist mainly two types of registrations and plates: - Temporary registrations and plates, destined to private persons and allowing them to transfer a vehicle purchased in another country to their country of residence for the final registration. -Professional registrations and plates, destined to vehicle retailers, distributors, repair or similar enterprises of the automotive sector These types of registrations exist in nearly all European countries. 06/04/20113LAMESCH Jean

Analysis The topic group started by analysing the actual situation. The following problems were identified: - Mutual recognition of the ‘special’ registrations and the relating ‘special’ plates. - Identification of the validity of the registration by the enforcers. - Risk to be controlled very high due to unusual format of the plates. - Professional registrations and plates generally not accepted, due to lack of vehicle identification required according to the Vienna Convention and Directive 1999/37. - Tax problems. - Reluctance of insurance companies to insure vehicles under these registrations and difficulties to check validity of insurance coverage. 06/04/20114LAMESCH Jean

Analysis - Technical condition of the vehicle difficult to check. - Date of first registration of vehicles used for a longer period with professional registrations difficult to determine. - No possibility of checks via national databases, nor by systems like EUCARIS, as vehicles with professional registrations are not identified. - Documents’ validity as difficult to identify for enforcers as the validity of the plates, and this mainly due to the numerous variants in the different countries. 06/04/20115LAMESCH Jean

Questionnaires - A first questionnaire was sent out to all EReg members. - Replies have been received from 23 countries, whereof a summary has been sent to all TG members. - A second questionnaire was sent out end September 2010 in order to get more details about the systems in place. - As to this second questionnaire, replies have been received from 17 countries. 06/04/20116LAMESCH Jean

Present situation for temporary registrations - Of the 23 countries,2 have no temporary registration system. - 6 countries have more than one system. - 4 countries have no restrictions as to whom such registrations are made available. - In most countries availability of temporary registrations is restricted to non residents and for export only. - The maximum validity of the registrations varies between 1 day and unlimited countries issue the same or similar registration documents to those issued for ‘normal’ registrations. - 1 country has two systems of temporary registrations but issues similar documents to their ‘normal’ registration documents for one type of plates only. 06/04/20117LAMESCH Jean

Present situation for temporary registrations - To obtain a temporary registration all countries check the holder identification and insurance coverage. - In 10 countries a valid technical inspection certificate is required for used cars or temporary registrations are only issued for new vehicles different designs of plates are issued either for professional or temporary plates. - Not only the validity of the temporary plates but also the prices differ sensibly countries are not in favour of stickers 06/04/20118LAMESCH Jean

Present situation for temporary registrations -6 countries use the same registration Certificate than the one for ‘normal’ registration: ▪ most countries estimate that they could introduce this document with reasonable efforts ▪ 1 country estimates this is totally impossible. - With the introduction of the normal Registration Certificate, EU Codification as in Directive 1999/37 seems to be possible in most countries. 06/04/20119LAMESCH Jean

Present situation for professionnal registrations -The situation is similar to that of the temporary registrations with 27 different systems identified. -Details will be available on the website of Ereg -Main problem is that, except in one country, a complete identification of the vehicle is not required. -Some countries issue plates only but no documents. - Two multilateral agreements exist for the mutual recognition of commercial plates: ▪ Benelux agreement : Belgium - Netherlands - Luxembourg. ▪ Nordic agreement : Sweden - Norway - Finland - Denmark. 06/04/201110LAMESCH Jean

General recommendations and aims The Topic Group has elaborated recommendations and aims common to both systems of registrations, as well as some that are particular to one or the other system. General recommendations are: ▪ Both systems should be recognisable and valid through the whole of Europe, by aligning them to existing or future legislation; this will remove the need of bilateral agreements. ▪ Documents should only be issued by the official registration authorities or mandated organisations, without information being added by the holder. 06/04/201111LAMESCH Jean

Recommendations for temporary registrations -Insurance proof mandatory -Validity should not exceed 45 days -Holder of the registration must be identified via an official ID -Valid PTI document required -Registration in ‘normal’ system and visible via systems like EUCARIS 06/04/201112LAMESCH Jean

Recommendations for commercial registrations -Insurance proof mandatory -Holder of the registration can only be a registered commercial party -As valid PTI might be difficult to obtain, legislation must be adapted that vehicle can only be used if it is road safe -Main problem is that in most of the systems vehicle is not identified, therefore a logbook should be mandatory, minimum on paper, better electronic allowing the identification of the vehicle if used in international traffic -Registration of the vehicle details in ‘normal’ system and visible via systems like EUCARIS 06/04/201113LAMESCH Jean

Proposal -Meeting of EReg members on the 10 th of February 2012 with Mr Hans INGELS from the EU Commision in Brussels confirmed that work was underway on a new Regulation. -Due to the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council simplifying the transfer of motor vehicles registered in another Member State within the single Market, TG II and TG IV shall be merged in one only TG in order to analyse and discuss this proposal 06/04/201114LAMESCH Jean

Questions? 06/04/201115LAMESCH Jean