Letters missing off front numberplate - illegal?

Drachenfach · 11 March 2013 at 4:03PM

I've just been to pick up a courtesy car from 3nterprise after some toerag decided that rear-ending my Fiat would be a perfect way to spend Mothering Sunday.

As usual, once I'd signed all the paperwork I was taken outside to check the car (an Aygo) over, and while he was prating about road scuffs and paint dings, I noticed the last two letters were missing off the front number place.

I pointed it out and said I would need a different car. He assured me it was perfectly legal as long as the rear plate was legible.

To give 3nterprise their due, once they realised I was adamant they had a replacement Corsa ready in a couple of minutes, but it left me wondering whether this was actually legal or not.

AFAIK if I'm caught driving an illegal vehicle I am liable, regardless of who owns it. Would I have been driving illegally in the aygo with the illegible plate, or was the salesman telling the truth?

The internet seems unclear on the subject, but MSErs know all things!

happybiker · 11 March 2013 at 4:14PM

ALL salesmen lie. You would have been liable. The authorities take a dim view of faulty front number plates as they consider it a way to avoid getting caught by speed cameras and ANPR

Tilt · 11 March 2013 at 4:16PM

AFAIK illegal. Although now almost all number plates are perspex, how can any digits be missing? Do you mean the plate had been broken?

Rover_Driver · 11 March 2013 at 4:17PM

The requirement is in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Mark) Regulations 2001'

Drachenfach · 11 March 2013 at 4:22PM

Tilt wrote: »

AFAIK illegal. Although now almost all number plates are perspex, how can any digits be missing? Do you mean the plate had been broken?

I think it might have delaminated or something - the last two letters were missing entirely, just a lighter white patch where they had been, and the one before that was just the bottom portion of a D.

Very odd indeed. One of the girls in the 3nterprise office said it has happened on a lot of their Aygos, and got dagger-looks from their salesman

fivetide · 11 March 2013 at 4:28PM

Probably didn't have any screenwash either!

Seriously though, great they tried to con you into going out in an illegal car!

Drachenfach · 11 March 2013 at 7:00PM

fivetides - guess what I discovered on the way back from the Doctor's surgery?

One jet blocked, the other partially blocked, and the bottle filled with something that froze onto the screen immediately, even though the car said it was 2degrees outside.

Should have read that thread earlier, I guess!

in_the_Cotswolds · 11 March 2013 at 7:29PM

fivetide wrote: »

Probably didn't have any screenwash either!

We used to service lease cars and they wouldn't pay for screen wash. It was the drivers responsibly.

fivetide · 11 March 2013 at 9:13PM

Drachenfach wrote: »

fivetides - guess what I discovered on the way back from the Doctor's surgery?

One jet blocked, the other partially blocked, and the bottle filled with something that froze onto the screen immediately, even though the car said it was 2degrees outside.

Should have read that thread earlier, I guess!

Brilliant. You couldn't make it up!