Red and white plates usage

kittiej

Hello All

I have a question re red and white plates.

The boy next door has a shed of a car with a red and white plate in the back window. It doesn't have any tax and hasn't since October last year.

The car is his car and it's parked in the street every day. Can anyone tell me what the rules are about the red and white plates please?

TIA

Kilty_2

This might help: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1081975206&type=RESOURCES

Are the trade plates he has valid? They have an expiry date within the orange triangle at the top.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a trade plate, possibly.

Kilty_2

According to the DVLA guidance notes linked to at that website it is not legal to keep a vehicle on the road bearing trade plates when it's not being used except in an emergency.

kittiej

I haven't noticed a triangle - but then again I haven't been close enough to it.

Since the car is parked in the street during the day time every day and overnight I guess they aren't being used for the reasons intended.

Kilty_2

TBH I hadn't noticed the triangle before either, I had a set in my hands at a dealer yesterday though :rotfl:

mrbadexample

The red and white plates are (unless it's a Belgian vehicle ) trade plates:

Trade licences

Purpose:

To allow businesses who generally have mechanically propelled vehicles in their possession for short periods of time, to use them on public roads without the need to register (in the case of a new vehicle) or tax them provided they adhere to certain conditions and restrictions of use. More than 1 licence may be held at any one time. Recovery vehicles are no longer covered by this exemption and need to be licensed separately.

Issue:

Trade Licences more commonly referred to as Trade Plates (the licence is actually contained on top of the front plate) are issued to:-

1. • Vehicle Testers - a person, other than a motor trader, who regularly in the course of his business engages in the testing on roads of vehicles belonging to other persons,
   • Motor Traders - a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles including the business of modifying vehicles, whether by the fitting of accessories or otherwise and the business of valeting vehicles and a dealer includes a business consisting wholly or mainly of collecting and delivering vehicles, and not including any other activities except activities as a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, vehicles,

who use the licence for vehicles temporarily in their possession in the course of their business as a motor trader or in the case of a motor manufacturer who may also use vehicles for research and development.


Display:


It is an offence for a person to fail to exhibit Trade plates in the same position and manner as normal number plates (Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001) and the Trade Licence - a paper triangle shall be exhibited on the front of the vehicle so as to be clearly visible at all times in daylight and fixed by means of the trade plate issued to the licence holder which contains a means for fixing the licence to it.

Misuse Of A Trade Licence:


The holder of a trade licence is guilty of an offence if he :-

1. • uses more vehicles on a public road at any one time than he is authorised to use by virtue of the trade licences he holds (unless the vehicles have a current vehicle licence in force),
   • uses a vehicle (under a trade licence) on a public road for a purpose other than a prescribed purpose, or,
   • keeps any vehicle (under a trade licence) on a public road unless authorised, if it is not being used thereon, (A vehicle must not be parked on a public road except for emergencies)

I think that's about all you need to know, although there is more. Pound to a penny he's misusing the licence.

mrbadexample

Actually, you might as well have the rest, as the prescribed purposes are quite relevant:

Trade Licence Conditions:



The holder of a trade licence :-

1. • shall notify any change of name or address to the Secretary of State forthwith,
   • shall not, and shall not permit any person to, alter, deface, mutilate or add anything to a trade plate,
   • shall not, and shall not permit any person to, exhibit on any vehicle any trade licence or trade plate :-

• - which has been altered, defaced mutilated or added to,
  - upon which the figures or particulars have become illegible, or
  - the colour of which has altered whether by fading or otherwise,

1. • shall not, and shall not permit any person to, exhibit on any vehicle anything which could be mistaken for a trade plate,
   • shall not permit any person to display the trade licence or any trade plates on a vehicle except a vehicle which that person is using for the purposes of the holder under the licence,
   • shall not, and shall not permit any person, to display the trade licence or any trade plates on any vehicle unless :-

• - that vehicle is of a specified class (section 11 VERA 1994 ) ie: manufacturer - vehicles in temporary possession and other vehicles for research and development and testing, vehicle tester for testing purposes, other motor trader - vehicles in temporary possession, and
  - the vehicle is being used for one or more of the prescribed purposes,

1. • shall not display any trade plate on a vehicle used under the licence unless that trade plate shows the general registration mark assigned to the holder in respect of that licence.

Trade Licence Prescribed Purposes:

A Motor Trader shall NOT use any vehicle on a public road by virtue of a trade licence UNLESS it is a business purpose, no goods or burden of any description are carried except specified loads, no person is carried on the vehicle or any trailer drawn by it except in connection with such purposes listed above and below and it is a purpose listed below :-

1. • for test or trial of vehicle or accessories or equipment during or after construction, modification or repair,
   • return journeys to public weighbridge to ascertain its weight or for registration or inspection by Secretary of State,
   • test or trial by prospective purchaser or proceeding to or returning from a place for trial by prospective purchaser,
   • for test or trial for benefit of person interested in promoting publicity, or proceeding to or returning from such a place at the instance of such interested person,
   • delivery to place where purchaser intends to keep it,
   • for demonstrating its operation or the operation of its accessories or equipment when being handed over to the purchaser,
   • delivering it from one part of his premises to another part of his premises or to premises of or part of premises of another manufacturer or repairer or dealer, or removing the said vehicle to his own premises from such a manufacturer etc.,
   • proceeding to or returning from a workshop in which a body or a special type of equipment or accessory is to be or has been fitted to it or in which it is to be or has been painted, valeted or repaired,
   • proceeding from manufacturers to dealers or repairers premises to a place from which it is to be transported by train, ship or aircraft to or proceeding to that persons premises having been transported,
   • proceeding to or returning from any garage, auction room or other place to which vehicles are usually stored or usually or periodically offered for sale and where the vehicle is to be stored or offered for sale or has been so stored or offered,
   • going to or returning from a place where it is to be or has been tested or likewise to be broken up or otherwise disposed of.

Kilty_2

Is it true that a vehicle running on trade plates must have the original registration number covered by the plate / removed ?

mrbadexample

Kilty wrote: »

Is it true that a vehicle running on trade plates must have the original registration number covered by the plate / removed ?

Only inasmuch as they should be displayed in the same "position and manner" as normal number plates (see "Display", above).

Kilty_2

mrbadexample wrote: »

Only inasmuch as they should be displayed in the same "position and manner" as normal number plates (see "Display", above).

Ah, missed that bit :T

So then, when a salesman puts the trade plate in the front window for a test drive - is he breaking the law or am I as the driver?