Number plate law

caprikid1

Not sure 4D plates were ever really illegal on the grounds that they were OE supplied on many cars as an alternative to pressed aluminium plates and then plastic.

I have had 4D plates on my car for about 15 years as they are period correct (1971), removed the nasty black and silver acrylic plates at the first opportunity.

Dogbyte009

EssexExile said:

Pressed metal plates in black and white or silver which, if my memory serves me well, were only ever legal on cars registered when black and white or silver plates were the norm.

The rules have recently changed on that. Black and silver/white plates are now legal in line with the 40-year rule for free road tax. This means you now see some cars from the late '70s and early '80s appearing on plates they couldn't legally have worn when new.

molerat

Dogbyte009 said:

EssexExile said:

Pressed metal plates in black and white or silver which, if my memory serves me well, were only ever legal on cars registered when black and white or silver plates were the norm.

The rules have recently changed on that. Black and silver/white plates are now legal in line with the 40-year rule for free road tax. This means you now see some cars from the late '70s and early '80s appearing on plates they couldn't legally have worn when new.

Only cars constructed before Jan 1 1980 and registered in the historic class can carry those plates.  The 2021 amendment to the rules broke the erroneous 2015 automatic historic vehicles class link.