26Renewal of registration

26 Renewal of registration

(1) A registered operator may apply for renewal of the registration of a heavy vehicle by submitting to the registration authority: (a) an application for renewal of registration in the form approved by the authority; and (b) payment of the registration charge and administrative fee (if any) for renewal of registration for the relevant period; and (c) payment or evidence of payment of any applicable third party insurance premium required by third party insurance legislation in respect of the vehicle. (2) An applicant for renewal of registration of a heavy vehicle must: (a) nominate a period specified in subregulation 19(1); or (b) if seeking to register the vehicle for a specific period of the year only, and this is approved by the registration authority, nominate the period for which registration is sought. (3) The registration of a heavy vehicle may be renewed: (a) not more than 3 months after the expiry of registration of the vehicle; or (b) in the case of a vehicle nominated under paragraph 26(2)(b)—not more than 12 months after the expiry of registration of the vehicle. (4) The expiry date of a renewed period of registration must be calculated as if the renewal had commenced: (a) on the day after the day recorded in the register as the expiry date of the period of registration; or (b) in the case of a heavy vehicle nominated under paragraph 26(2)(b)—on the first day of the nominated period. (5) Subregulations (3) and (4) do not have the effect of retrospectively registering a heavy vehicle. (6) Subject to subregulation (7), the registration authority must renew the registration of a heavy vehicle. (7) The registration authority may refuse to renew the registration of a heavy vehicle if the circumstances are such that if an initial application for registration of the vehicle were being made the authority would refuse the application under subregulation 16(1). (8) If: (a) the period during which the registration of a heavy vehicle may be renewed has expired; and (b) the registration of the vehicle has not been renewed; and (c) the registration authority requests by written notice the registered operator of the vehicle to return the number plates of the vehicle; the operator must return the number plates to the authority within 14 days of the date specified in the notice.