The Road Traffic Act 1988 generally prohibits the use of a motor vehicle, or a trailer that is a goods vehicle, on a road in Great Britain unless a test certificate has been issued for that vehicle within the past year. That Act also confers powers on the Secretary of State to make regulations governing the issue of certificates of temporary exemption for public service vehicles adapted to carry more than eight passengers and goods vehicles, which allow such vehicles to be used on roads without test certificates.