Private plate number spacing

oscart1111

Hi everyone,

Recently got a new plate, it was purchased as: T** NGX. I want to get it put onto my vehicle sometime soon but I was wondering if I could space it as T**NG X with just a space after the G instead.

Have seen many other vehicles with similarly spaced plates but I would just like to make sure before I go ahead.

Warm regards,

Oscar

missile

I had a private plate H12 RGW.

I spaced it as H1 2 RGW as in Hi to my initials

Had it on the car less than a week before I was stopped by the police :beer:

oscart1111

oooh, unlucky that!

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533255/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf

Also the letters and numbers (characters) on number plates bought since 1 September 2001 will need to meet the following standards

Characters must be 79mm tall
Characters (except the number 1 or letter I) must be 50mm wide
The character stroke (the thickness of the black print) must be 14mm
The space between characters must be 11mm
The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm
The margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be 11mm
Vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 19mm

I know someone who has ?F10 NA? and had it spaced ? F10NA ?. Lasted about 3 months before getting pulled.

Plod don't always know what is right though *.
I used to make plates and we had a spacing template so very difficult to get wrong. A customer had come back because he had been pulled as the spacing between the 2 blocks was too big. His plate was something like ??L 7??. When I measured the gap it was actually bang on, it looks big but it is due to the shape of the letters. Had to write a letter on headed paper stating chapter and verse to take to the station with his producer.

*Much the same as when people were getting pulled for all weather headlight bulbs which were actually E marked - ironic as police cars were using non E marked high performance bulbs !

Deastons

oscart1111 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Recently got a new plate, it was purchased as: T** NGX. I want to get it put onto my vehicle sometime soon but I was wondering if I could space it as T**NG X with just a space after the G instead.

Have seen many other vehicles with similarly spaced plates but I would just like to make sure before I go ahead.

Warm regards,

Oscar

I see illegally spaced plates all the time. Personally, I think it's a bit sad that people try and get their plates to say things, but each to their own!

My understanding is, worst case, you get a fixed penalty and DVLA can take the plate away from you.

But I was once watching one of those police shows where the guy had a plate that somehow said "BIG BALLS". The officer pulled him over and he proceeded to say he'd been pulled over before and had no intention of changing it. Much childish arguing later he was sent on his way with the empty threat of the officer reporting it to the DVLA.

So if that's anything to go by, I'd say go for it because it appears the police can't really do anything anymore.

Head_The_Ball

oscart1111 wrote: »

..Recently got a new plate, it was purchased as: T** NGX. I want to get it put onto my vehicle sometime soon but I was wondering if I could space it as T**NG X with just a space after the G instead...Oscar

That would not be legal. You could take a chance and hope that you don't get stopped as it is probably low priority for police enforcement.

oscart1111 wrote: »

..Have seen many other vehicles with similarly spaced plates but I would just like to make sure before I go ahead....

That doesn't make it legal. I bet you have also seen many other vehicles breaking speed limits and other traffic laws. Some will get caught, some will get away with it.

Ditto with illegal spacing on number plates.

You could try it and see how long before you get stopped, if at all, but be aware that you may get stopped for the number plate offence and the Police then find something else more serious with your vehicle or your driving. For example you may have had a drink, be marginally over the limit but driving perfectly ok and get pulled for the number plate and not erratic driving.

It may cost you in the long term or you may get away with it.

Your choice.

AdrianC

Can you do it? Yes, of course. There are vendors of plates on eBay who will make them for you.

Can you do it legally? No. Just... no.
Will you get tugged if you do? Perhaps, sooner or later.
Will lots of people point at you and laugh? Absolutely.
Will lots of people think "Oooh, how utterly wonderful that chap must be"? Nope.


So - your call. You've already spent hundreds on buying it, and now need to spend £20 on a set of plates. Do you then want to wave goodbye to £60 on an FPN? How many FPNs would it take before you take the hint? If TPTB get bored of FPNs before you do, then the court fine is up to £1k, together with DVLA being able to withdraw the plate. And if you get bored and want to take it off again, it'll cost you £80 to take it off...



And all so your plate can sort-of-vaguely-if-you-squint read "THING X"...

oscart1111

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. Was not sure if this was legal until today. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

d123

Deastons wrote: »

I see illegally spaced plates all the time. Personally, I think it's a bit sad that people try and get their plates to say things, but each to their own!

My understanding is, worst case, you get a fixed penalty and DVLA can take the plate away from you.

But I was once watching one of those police shows where the guy had a plate that somehow said "BIG BALLS". The officer pulled him over and he proceeded to say he'd been pulled over before and had no intention of changing it. Much childish arguing later he was sent on his way with the empty threat of the officer reporting it to the DVLA.

So if that's anything to go by, I'd say go for it because it appears the police can't really do anything anymore.

That seems odd, because you can get a £100 FPN for it.

What action will be taken if I am caught with an illegal number plate?

You could be given a £100 non-endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice for "Registration Mark not conforming to Regulations" or for minor infringements the issue of a Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (14 days to have the issue resolved or face a Summons to Court).

In the extreme, a report can be submitted on top of the above to DVLA, who can then revoke the registration number in question. In the case of personalised plates, this is likely to cost the owner many £100 if not £1000's in lost plate.

https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/article/1172/Number-plates

Robisere

I do not understand this compulsion to announce to the world, via a personal Reg plate, "I think I am SOMEONE."

The funniest vehicle signage I ever saw was on a double-decker bus in Munich, where I was on holiday. In the Bahnhof Hotel car park, the bus drew up and several kilted young Scots disembarked. The bus was expertly and beautifully decorated, with a word painted in lovely, fancy scrollwork. When my friend and I exited the hotel later, I looked up. The scrollwork read "B*****Ks". Bavarians in the square were astonished at two Brits laughing their heads off for no reason apparent to them.

Car_54

oscart1111 wrote: »

oooh, unlucky that!

No, self-inflicted.