Do cars need front number plates?

[GKP]

Mr E said:

TommyBuoy said:

I've never understood why people use the stick-on number plates? From what I have been led to believe they are not legal either (more than happy to be corrected!)

The situation is "undefined" I'm afraid.

Not at all. The construction of number plates has to reach a certain standard for a number of variables. So far, no stick on number plates meet this criteria.

[camshafted]

The rule is:

All cars need front and rear plates
Stick on ones aren't good enough

Run the risk of a maximum fine of £1,000 - realistically the copper will say:

1) Get a plate mate
2) Here's a £60 fine
3) How fast is this little beauty then

[TommyBuoy]

camshafted said:

The rule is:

All cars need front and rear plates
Stick on ones aren't good enough

Run the risk of a maximum fine of £1,000 - realistically the copper will say:

1) Get a plate mate
2) Here's a £60 fine
3) How fast is this little beauty then

Whoa, what's this £1000 max fine? £60 is something that is give and take, but £1000? Surely people wouldn't be risking it?

[Snoop Bagg]

Yes but to owners of things like Enzo's a £60 fine and no endorsements isn't a problem I'm sure. I think that unless you were driving like an idiot most Police except the jobsowrths would probably cut you some slack, there aren't that many Enzo's around!

[John D.]

Gwagon111 said:

I have been led to believe there is a supercar exemption, cars like enzos and the like don't have a suitable mounting point, so don't require a front plate. I'm not sure if it's true or not though.

Applies to s1 Elise too IME

[camshafted]

It's only £1,000 if it goes all the way to magistrates.

[Stedman]

IIRC, you only need to display it. So if it's in the windscreen but clearly visible then it counts.

But yes, cars do need them.

[hombrepaulo]

Needs to be in front of the front wheels

[John D.]

GKP said:

Mr E said:

TommyBuoy said:

I've never understood why people use the stick-on number plates? From what I have been led to believe they are not legal either (more than happy to be corrected!)

The situation is "undefined" I'm afraid.

Not at all. The construction of number plates has to reach a certain standard for a number of variables. So far, no stick on number plates meet this criteria.

Self-adhesive plates are sold as 'show' plates as they are not legal.

You'd be unlucky or be doing something else illegal to get a tug for one though (mounted on the front at least).

[GKP]

hombrepaulo said:

Needs to be in front of the front wheels

Nope.

[T.K]

You can have a slightly smaller plate if your car doesn't have European type approval and doesn't have a sensible spot for a front plate (subjective..).

Edit: Haven't explored the link but sure it point this out.

Edited by T.K on Thursday 11th November 11:13

[Alfa numeric]

My ex took the front plate off our MX5 when she lost it on a muddy roundabout and we ran for a month without it. We got stopped whilst driving through London but the PC was happy with our explanation (we were waiting for the new plinth to arrive) and took it no further. We were probably helped by the obvious damage at the front mind!

[Adz The Rat]

I used to regularly run my MK3 Golf without a front plate and never had any trouble.

[Viper]

ive have friend who intentially brought an Irish number plate, so that it still looks like a plate when rotated 180 degrees, like 808 IXO - OXI 808 he occassional turns it upside down for a laugh

he reckons after checking there's no mention anywhere that a numberplate has to be positioned the correct way up

Edited by Viper on Thursday 11th November 11:32

[TommyBuoy]

Viper said:

ive have friend whose number plate also looks like a UK plate when rotated 180 degrees, like 808 IXO - OXI 808 he occassional turns it upside down for a laugh

he reckons after checking there's no mention anywhere that a numberplate has to be positioned the correct way up

Wouldn't want to get pulled with it like that though...

We did the same to a mate - his made no sense upside down, but he had it like it for days - I think it got pointed out by a passer by in the end.

[W7NNS]

Viper said:

ive have friend who intentially brought an Irish number plate, so that it still looks like a plate when rotated 180 degrees, like 808 IXO - OXI 808 he occassional turns it upside down for a laugh

he reckons after checking there's no mention anywhere that a numberplate has to be positioned the correct way up

Edited by Viper on Thursday 11th November 11:32

808 IXO isn't a UK plate so he'd get pulled & fined if the BIB were on the ball.

[Alfa numeric]

W7NNS said:

808 IXO isn't a UK plate so he'd get pulled & fined if the BIB were on the ball.

Could it not be an NI plate?

[W7NNS]

IMO it's ridiculous that cars need front plates (and that the display laws are so strict) & bikes don't need them at all - really pisses me off when heading towards a Truvelo at the speed limit & you see a biker gunning towards it knowing he can't get caught by the camera.

[W7NNS]

Alfa numeric said:

W7NNS said:

808 IXO isn't a UK plate so he'd get pulled & fined if the BIB were on the ball.

Could it not be an NI plate?

No - IXO was never issued either before or after numbers in NI.

[Viper]

Alfa numeric said:

W7NNS said:

808 IXO isn't a UK plate so he'd get pulled & fined if the BIB were on the ball.

Could it not be an NI plate?

yea its an irish plate, i edited my post earlier,
its also not my friends plate i wouldnt post his plate up, but it works the same way to give an idea

think youll find Irish plates dont show up on the DVLA register, the UK police have to resort to running the VIN

Edited by Viper on Thursday 11th November 11:59