Illegal number plate - who can fix this?

EdGasket

Iceweasel wrote: »

Quick, cheap and legal:

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

It is not legal if he is not checking the ID of purchaser and the V5 to ensure the purchaser has a legal right to use that number plate. Looks like he will clone any number plate for you if thats what you want!

Mistral001

Most independent car parts shops will make them while you wait for about £5-10 per plate. Just bring ID and registration documents with you.

Kamran

Thank you all for your replies and for the interesting discussion!

To add a little context, I've had my licence for 10+ years and have never had any penalties, but within a few days of purchasing a new car I got caught going slightly over the limit by a hidden police bike.

The officer recognised the overtaking manoeuvre was justified but that I had crept over the limit and that's why he pulled me over. It was more of a ticking off than a serious offence, so instead of a speeding ticket + points, he gave me a fine for the plate and sent me on my way.

So I would perhaps agree with some posts that had I not drawn unnecessary attention to myself, nobody probably would have taken much interest.

Also, I was looking over some old MOT papers and it so happens that the car had failed an MOT test a few years ago due to the plate, but subsequent MOTs have been given the green light.

So I guess my question is this - do I take with me the valid papers and if anyone stops me then I can show them (the old MOT + latest MOT papers), or should I just get it changed and cough up the £15 it'd probably cost.

Iceweasel- thanks for the ebay link - that seems like a quick and simple solution i'd be happy to go for.

lazer

Tilt wrote: »

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.

My husband bought his car back in about 2007 and has had the same plates on it since he bought it, and the spacing or sizing on them is illegal, but this was never picked up my an MOT until last year - so yes MOT centres do turn a blind eye.

oldagetraveller

"but subsequent MOTs have been given the green light."
Which could indicate that legal plates were fitted for the test, then swapped back immediately afterwards.

Kamran

oldagetraveller wrote: »

"but subsequent MOTs have been given the green light."
Which could indicate that legal plates were fitted for the test, then swapped back immediately afterwards.

interesting. and sneaky...

Spicy_McHaggis

Kamran wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies and for the interesting discussion!

To add a little context, I've had my licence for 10+ years and have never had any penalties, but within a few days of purchasing a new car I got caught going slightly over the limit by a hidden police bike.

The officer recognised the overtaking manoeuvre was justified but that I had crept over the limit and that's why he pulled me over. It was more of a ticking off than a serious offence, so instead of a speeding ticket + points, he gave me a fine for the plate and sent me on my way.

So I would perhaps agree with some posts that had I not drawn unnecessary attention to myself, nobody probably would have taken much interest.

Also, I was looking over some old MOT papers and it so happens that the car had failed an MOT test a few years ago due to the plate, but subsequent MOTs have been given the green light.

So I guess my question is this - do I take with me the valid papers and if anyone stops me then I can show them (the old MOT + latest MOT papers), or should I just get it changed and cough up the £15 it'd probably cost.

Iceweasel- thanks for the ebay link - that seems like a quick and simple solution i'd be happy to go for.

Get them changed.

What you're suggesting is like driving round with a bald tyre and producing a mot certificate and saying you can't do me as it passed the mot 11 months ago.

force_ten

the MOT means nothing

as said the ileagl plates were probably swapped when the car was presented for MOT, this is common practice with people who run badly spaced or misrepresented plates

as for the MOT once the car was taken from the mot place with a shiny new MOT certificate and the owner takes it home and fits four near bald tyres acts which the mot centre have no control over

Yellabowley

The question you're really asking is "Do I get new plates or risk it?"

It's a choice between a definite £15 charge or a possible £100 fine.

Also two other things to consider. Firstly, if they're private plates then the DVLA can withdraw them if they find you're misrepresenting them which will leave you with the cost of having to get a new registration for your vehicle. Secondly if the traffic cop that gave you the ticket sees that you haven't changed them, you're pretty much guaranteed another ticket.

Tilt

lazer wrote: »

My husband bought his car back in about 2007 and has had the same plates on it since he bought it, and the spacing or sizing on them is illegal, but this was never picked up my an MOT until last year - so yes MOT centres do turn a blind eye.

Or maybe they hadn't inspected it as closely as they should? At the end of the day a car should fail an MOT when presented with incorrect or non-compliant plates on it.