Illegal number plate - who can fix this?

Kamran

Dear all, happy new year!

I bought a new car last week, which had a valid MOT. I was pulled over by the police last night who said that the licence plate had illegal spacing and that I should get it sorted to avoid being stopped again and fined.

Naturally, I said it was a new car with a valid MOT, but the police said that some MOT guys turn a blind eye to this.

It is a private number plate (not by my choosing, I'm not bothered) so I guess I'm happy to have a new, "legal" one made - can anyone suggest the cheapest way to get this done?

Halfords/Kwikfit? Or have it done online and ask my mechanic (who is doing a new car service on it next week) to "install" it?

Thanks very much!

Kam :T

Spicy_McHaggis

You can do it online but they are often not fully complient with the regs.

Some garages do them or motor factors, they are meant to see your V5.

Iceweasel

Quick, cheap and legal:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191059690823?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Tilt

I don't buy the "MOT may turn a blind eye to it" line. I had an advisory on my rear plate on my 14 year old Punto a couple of MOTs ago because the original plate was going 'misty'. So they do pick these things up. If your plate was that far wrong, i'm sure the MOT would of at the very least given an advisory.

Personally I would take it to a testing station and get their opinion. If it needs new plates you will need to take the V5 as SM said.

arcon5

I think it's highly plausible that a tester didn't pay much attention to the number plates letter spacing.

mrmot

Why do people assume that because a car has a valid MOT, it's legal and complies with all the requirements.

I've failed the same car for two consecutive years on the registration plate spacing. What happens is that the garage who present the car for test, have it back, get the legal ones out of the boot, stick them over the other ones, get it retested and once it has a new certificate, the plates come off to reveal the mis-spaced ones.

No blind eyes turned, proper test carried out and the car still has mis-spaced plates.

EssexExile

Tilt wrote: »

I don't buy the "MOT may turn a blind eye to it" line.

Most of the police turn a blind eye! There are thousands of cars out there with illegal plates, no one seems to bother most of the time.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Iceweasel wrote: »

Quick, cheap and legal:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191059690823?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They maybe legal to use on the vehicle, but is the person who is making them doing so legally? No V5 supply, no formal ID given, I am always dubious of these online plates, 1. could you or someone you recommended to them be assisting in supplying funds to a criminal? benefits cheat? who knows, but I would rather spend my money on a plate knowing they did it legally and the cash given is not going towards someone paying for illegal things such as drugs, money laundering, benefit cheats motor factors or a well known chain of car parts suppliers would be my choice.

Spicy_McHaggis

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

They maybe legal to use on the vehicle, but is the person who is making them doing so legally? No V5 supply, no formal ID given, I am always dubious of these online plates, 1. could you or someone you recommended to them be assisting in supplying funds to a criminal? benefits cheat? who knows, but I would rather spend my money on a plate knowing they did it legally and the cash given is not going towards someone paying for illegal things such as drugs, money laundering, benefit cheats motor factors or a well known chain of car parts suppliers would be my choice.

So you don't use eBay or Amazon?

Iceweasel

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

They maybe legal to use on the vehicle, but is the person who is making them doing so legally? No V5 supply, no formal ID given, I am always dubious of these online plates, 1. could you or someone you recommended to them be assisting in supplying funds to a criminal? benefits cheat? who knows, but I would rather spend my money on a plate knowing they did it legally and the cash given is not going towards someone paying for illegal things such as drugs, money laundering, benefit cheats motor factors or a well known chain of car parts suppliers would be my choice.

I think that you are being a bit harsh - almost insinuating that the ebay seller I gave a link to is involved in various illegal activities.

I have no connection with them at all other than as a satisfied customer.

Did you notice he has 100% positive feedback of nearly 20,000 transactions?

Did you notice he is a business seller with full address given in a business park / industrial estate?

He also quotes his VAT number.

I'm sure that ebay has a load of 'dodgy' sellers - but this example is unlikely to be one of them.

Ectophile

A lot of motor factors can make up number plates while you wait. They may ask for proof of ID, so go armed with the right paperwork.

If you're handy with a drill and screwdriver, you can usually fit it yourself. That assumes the old ones are screwed on, not glued.

If you are going to fir it yourself, make sure the screw holes are the correct distance apart - the same as on the old one. When drilling, use a slow speed so you drill through the plastic, rather than melting it from the heat.