4Meaning of “owner” of motor vehicle

#### 4 Meaning of “owner” of motor vehicle 4 Meaning of “owner” of motor vehicle (cf s 3 (3)–(5) MAA) > > (1) For the purposes of this Act— > > > > > (a) in the case of a motor vehicle that is registered, the owner is— > > > > > > > (i) each registered operator of the vehicle within the meaning of the [Road Transport Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2013-018), unless the operator has sold or ceased to have possession of the vehicle, and > > > > > > > (ii) each person who, although not a registered operator of the vehicle, is a sole or joint owner of the vehicle, unless that person has sold or ceased to have possession of the vehicle, and > > > > > > > (iii) if any such registered operator or owner has sold or ceased to have possession of the vehicle—any person who solely or jointly or in common with any other person is entitled to the immediate possession of the vehicle, or > > > > > (b) in the case of a motor vehicle that is unregistered, the owner is any person who solely or jointly or in common with any other person is entitled to the immediate possession of the vehicle, or > > > > > (c) in the case of a motor vehicle to which a trader’s plate is fixed, the owner is the trader to whom the trader’s plate is issued. > > > (2) For the purposes of this section, a person is taken not to have ceased to have possession or, as the case may be, not to have acquired possession of a motor vehicle where a change of possession occurs by way of— > > > > > (a) any hiring (not being a hiring under a hire-purchase agreement) or lending of the vehicle for a period not exceeding 3 months, or > > > > > (b) the passing of the possession of the vehicle to a bailee for the purpose of sale or disposal or for the purpose of alteration, repair, renovation, garaging, storing or other like purpose not involving the use or operation of the motor vehicle for the benefit of the bailee. > > > (3) In the application of any provision of this Act to and in respect of a motor vehicle to which a trader’s plate is fixed (whether or not with the authority of the trader), a reference in any such provision to the owner is to be read as a reference to the trader, and a reference to the third-party policy in relation to that motor vehicle is to be read as a reference to the third-party policy in relation to motor vehicles to which the trader’s plate is fixed (whether or not with the authority of the trader). > > **s 4:** Am 2013 No 19, Sch 4.45 \[4\].