Number plate incorporating "GB" in a *plain* blue strip - i.e. without Union, EU or any other flag

The_Groat_Counter

This is the current guidance on GOV.UK regarding number plates and Travelling in Europe...

"You do not need a GB sticker if your number plate includes the GB identifier on its own or with the Union flag. But you will need to display a GB sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:

• a Euro symbol
• a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
• numbers and letters only - no flag or identifier

If you’re in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a GB sticker no matter what is on your number plate."

The bit I'm interested in is this - "if your number plate includes the GB identifier on its own or with the Union flag"...

Basically it now seems possible to have a legitimate number plate with a blue strip on the right hand side with just a plain GB in it, without any flag at all, and for this to be enough for a vehicle to travel abroad without an oval GB sticker - at least in countries that have ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention (hence the exclusion of Spain, Cyprus and Malta).

Indeed on Wikipedia, on the Vehicle Registration Plates of Europe entry, someone has already mocked up what a plain GB strip would look like here (contrast with a strip featuring the Union flag here). It's worth noting that number plates from Kosovo (RKS), Monenegro (MNE), North Macedonia (NMK), Serbia (SRB) and Turkey (TR) also exist with the country code in a plain blue strip on the left, i.e. without any national flag.

The Wikipedia article on the Vienna Convention suggests that a blue strip isn't necessary, just that a country code integrated on the number plate needs to be clearly seperated from the registration number itself. However the blue strip has become commonplace for this purpose with other non-EU countries since it's adoption across the EU.

This plain design would be good for those who'd like to avoid a big oval GB sticker, and would also prefer not to have a Union flag on their number plate either for whatever reason. However looking around at replacement plate companies on the web, none seem to offer this plain design yet - nor indeed could I find any plain GB vinyl strip stickers that you can stick on the side of a number plate (there are plenty around with Union flags, or EU flags, or other symbols...).

Seems like there's a distinct gap in the market here!

born_again

Halfords do.... Either plain or Union Jack....

ossie

GB sticker  legally required size

[Deleted User]

I'm sure if you messaged some sellers on sites like ebay who will knock them up they will be able to design something for you, there are clearly people out there knowingly making illegal plates (too small, wrong spacing etc) so I'm sure firms will make a legal one for you

cajef

Plenty vinyl stickers to convert existing euro number plates to GB on ebay.

The_Groat_Counter

ossie said:

GB sticker  legally required size

[17.8 x 13.3 cm]

Thanks, though the point of my post was all about avoiding having to use one of those big and arguably somewhat unsightly GB stickers!

The_Groat_Counter

cajef said:

Plenty vinyl stickers to convert existing euro number plates to GB on ebay.

Yes, but I can't find any that are just a plain GB design without a Union flag, like this...

There are indeed plenty of vinyl stickers available with the Union flags, or indeed with the EU flag, but none that are flag-less.

williamgriffin

The_Groat_Counter said:

cajef said:

Plenty vinyl stickers to convert existing euro number plates to GB on ebay.

Yes, but I can't find any that are just a plain GB design without a Union flag, like this...

There are indeed plenty of vinyl stickers available with the Union flags, or indeed with the EU flag, but none that are flag-less.

What's the rush? It's not like you'll be on a touring holiday any time soon. 

The_Groat_Counter

born_again said:

Halfords do.... Either plain or Union Jack....

That's interesting... though the 'Number plates builder' on their website doesn't show this as an option.

Deleted_User said:

I'm sure if you messaged some sellers on sites like ebay who will knock them up they will be able to design something for you, there are clearly people out there knowingly making illegal plates (too small, wrong spacing etc) so I'm sure firms will make a legal one for you

Fair point, I'm just a bit surprised that sellers - of both replacement plates, and of vinyl stickers - haven't yet jumped on this opportunity.

blackdog2220

The_Groat_Counter said:

ossie said:

GB sticker  legally required size

[17.8 x 13.3 cm]

Thanks, though the point of my post was all about avoiding having to use one of those big and arguably somewhat unsightly GB stickers!

unsightly , my fathers jaguar mk2 had lovely chrome GB letters on the boot lid , the good old days ,

AdrianC

The_Groat_Counter said:

ossie said:

GB sticker  legally required size

[17.8 x 13.3 cm]

Thanks, though the point of my post was all about avoiding having to use one of those big and arguably somewhat unsightly GB stickers!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232145608388


Anything else is overthinking.