rules on licene plate format?

londonTiger

There seems to be so many rules and regulations with license plate regulations.

As if the font size and format wasn't enough. You can't have custum flag graphics, on a byline under the reg information. It has to also have the tiny line of text on the bottom right stating the registation number printing company details and a few other bits.

this is all great, but there are companies who supposedly sell legitimate license plates who also let you mess around and produce your custom plates which are illegal. http://www.platesforcars.co.uk/designer.php#numberplates

E.g. you can choose a "UK legal" font, which would make you think it's legal. But then add a custom badge or custom footer and it becomes illegal.

How confusing.

Anyway, why do companies do that? why do you confuse buyers like this? Also why on earth would someone buy a license plate that's not legal for use on UK roads? (bearing in mind this is a UK company which measn they serve 99% brits prolly)

Tilt

Under new regs, arn't you suppose to produce your V5C to get plates made up now to prevent cloning? Unfortunately I don't think it is illegal to sell dodgy plates... just illegal to have them on your car when being driven on a public road. ANPR and all that.

londonTiger

I understand that.. I know they're not doing anything illegal. But consumers will get duped into buy these road-illegal plates without realising and wasting their money. I almost ordered and then read their small print. The flags cannot have any graphics other than the GB (euro) flags and the various flags of the countries in the UK

Tilt

Personally I think the old bill will only be interested if the spacing/font is wrong and the numbers made to look like letters and vice versa. Like I said, its all down the whether ANPR can read them. And of course whether they will comply with an MOT.

Johnmcl7

Tilt wrote: »

Under new regs, arn't you suppose to produce your V5C to get plates made up now to prevent cloning? Unfortunately I don't think it is illegal to sell dodgy plates... just illegal to have them on your car when being driven on a public road. ANPR and all that.

I believe the get out some of the sellers use is that they're only selling the number plates for show use not for on road use. I do agree that these sites that offer illegal options are very misleading and don't usually make it clear that what they're selling isn't legal.

John

forgotmyname

I have the plate making software and adding a non standard flag or other picture or font size or spacing etc. automatically removes the BS mark and makers details.

Of course there are ways around that.

Do it properly and register with the DVLA and you cant sell them on Ebay. But dont register and only sell show plates your OK.

Herzlos

The rules aren't particularly complicated:

The plates need to use a standard font/spacing/layout, they can only have a graphic denoting the country, and there must be an identification mark for the plate manufacturer. Everything else is illegal.

However, a lot of people still by illegal plates because they think it looks cool and the odds of being stopped over it an negligable. I believe it'll become part of the MOT process soon so more people are going to be caught out.

bazster

I've been running an illegal plate on one of my motorcycles since I purchased it in 2003. Never been stopped by the boys in blue, never failed an MOT.

fivetide

bazster wrote: »

I've been running an illegal plate on one of my motorcycles since I purchased it in 2003. Never been stopped by the boys in blue, never failed an MOT.

How illegal though?

I've had an SCO plate with Saltire on mine and no issues with Plod but the size is legal and the font is legal.

It's when people start taking the mick that they have an issue, italic fonts etc and stupid spacing to try and make it read like something it isn't.

Generally though OP I don't think there are 'loads of rules' there is quite clearly one way of doing it and any deviation from that is technically illegal.

You can get some 'legal plates' online but I believe that just means them saying they've seen your V5 etc when they haven't.

Most decent sites will make a distinction between legal or illegal. For example www.fancyplates.com

5t.

Rover_Driver

'Registration (number) plates' are required to comply with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.

'Show plates' can be anything, and they may comply with the above regulations - which is how the on-line suppliers sell them as legal plates.

'Registration plate' suppliers are required to be registered, and comply with the regulations - Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001.

'Show plate' suppliers are not.

bazster

fivetide wrote: »

How illegal though?

It's much smaller than a legal one (both the plate and the lettering). Lots of bikers do it. No silly spacing, slogans or graphics though.