48Decision about application

48 Decision about application

(1) The Secretary must refuse an application for registration of a vehicle if—

(a) the vehicle is not eligible to be registered under regulation 24; or

(b) a provision of the Act or these Regulations prevents approval of the application; or

(c) it appears to the Secretary that a vehicle identifier of the vehicle is a copy or has been altered, defaced, removed, substituted or tampered with without lawful authorisation.

(2) The Secretary may refuse an application for registration of a vehicle if—

(a) the applicant is not adequately identified in the application; or

(b) the applicant has not complied with a provision of the Act, these Regulations, the Transport Accident Act 1986, the Duties Act 2000 or the Zero and Low Emission Vehicle Distance-based Charge Act 2021 in relation to the registration of the vehicle, including the payment of any fees or charges required to be paid under the Act, these Regulations or the Zero and Low Emission Vehicle Distance-based Charge Act 2021 in relation to the registration or inspection of the vehicle; or

(c) the vehicle is not—

(i) fitted with an identification plate; or

(ii) entered on the RAV; or

(d) the Secretary reasonably believes that—

(i) the vehicle or a part of the vehicle is or may be stolen; or

(ii) information given in the application is false or misleading; or

(iii) there are unpaid fines or pecuniary penalties arising out of the use of the vehicle in Australia; or

(iv) the vehicle or a part of the vehicle has or may have been illegally imported.

(3) If the Secretary approves an application for registration of a vehicle, the Secretary must register the vehicle in the name of the proposed registered operator specified in the application.

(4) If the Secretary refuses an application for registration of a vehicle, the Secretary must give the applicant written notice of—