CI It is sometimes economical for a haulier to take
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a goods vehicle off the road for a period of time during which the test certificate lapses. When the haulier again requires the vehicle on the road, he must first, of course, submit the vehicle for test only to find that when the test certificate has been issued the commencement date has been back-dated to follow the expiry date of the previous certificate.
A The period of validity of goods vehicle test certificates issued after periodical tests is governed by Regulation 39 of the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1971.
This Regulation states : (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Regulation, where a goods vehicle test certificate is issued for a goods vehicle, as a result of a periodical test of a vehicle, a Part III retest of that vehicle or an appeal under Regulation 40, the certificate shall be valid from the date of its issue until the last day (inclusive of that day) by which that vehicle is required by virtue of Regulation 28 or Regulation 29 or Regulation 30 to be submitted for a periodical test.
(2) In a case where a goods vehicle test certificate is issued for a goods vehicle (being a vehicle for which no other such certificate is in force immediately prior to such issue) after the last date (hereinafter referred to as "the due date ") by which that vehicle was required by virtue of Regulation 28 or Regulation 29 or Regulation 30 to have been submitted for a periodical test but not more than 10 months after that date, the certificate shall be valid from the date of its issue until the expiration of one year from the due date.
(3) In a case where a goods vehicle test certificate is used for a goods vehicle (being a vehicle for which no other such certificate is in force immediately prior to such issue) more than 10 months, but less than 12 months, after the due date the certificate shall be valid from the date of its issue until the expiration of two years from the due date.
From sub-paragraph (2) and (3) which are relevant in the case you quote you will see that (unless more than 10 months have passed between the date when the vehicle should have been retested and that when it was actually retested) the certificate will last only until the date when it would have normally been due for its next annual retest.
In that case, the certificate you mention has been correctly issued.