Quick help - numberplates and MOT failure

Quick help - numberplates and MOT failure

Author
Discussion

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Evening all,

Am after a quick bit of help from PH!

My car failed it's MOT at a BMW main dealer today as they said the 3D lettering on my plates was illegal - which I was led to believe is not the case. What do you think on the following plate? note it is correctly spaced and includes maker stamp etc, it's purely the 3D font I was failed on (I kid you not).

Any help appreciated!!!




ging84

8,824 posts

145 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_630.htm

Three-dimensional characters are permitted to use grey edging in order to achieve the 3D effect on any age of vehicle.

can't make it out from the image, but it looks to me like it has marking in the bottom right, assuming they show the correct approval mark and the font size and spacing is all correct as it looks to be , there is no grounds to fail it

take it to vosa, they're trying to sell you a numberplate you don't need

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
ging84 said:
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_630.htm

Three-dimensional characters are permitted to use grey edging in order to achieve the 3D effect on any age of vehicle.

can't make it out from the image, but it looks to me like it has marking in the bottom right, assuming they show the correct approval mark and the font size and spacing is all correct as it looks to be , there is no grounds to fail it

take it to vosa, they're trying to sell you a numberplate you don't need
Thanks very much for the quick response! Yep you're correct - the marking in the bottom right states the name of the maker and (I think) postcode, they were bought online but purchased as legal plates.

Does reassure me I'm ok then - they were trying it on failing me on tyres that are not illegal too...might have a chat to vosa!!

imagineifyeswill

1,223 posts

165 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
There are diagrams in the MOT Teters manual with precise measurements of what height width thickness the letters should be and looking at the 3d shading where some of the characters narrow that plate good technically be a failure but its really splitting hairs and I doubt even a VOSA examiner would fail it, but maybe advise.

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
The characters aren't black, they're predominantly grey which can't strictly be viewed as grey edging. So by the book it's a fail.

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
mcford said:
The characters aren't black, they're predominantly grey which can't strictly be viewed as grey edging. So by the book it's a fail.
Take your point there to be honest. Think I'll just put the originals back on!!

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
That looks the same as the examples of a legal 3D font I can find.

Shaoxter

4,048 posts

123 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Never been failed on a numberplate before, and mine have slightly questionable spacing (but not bad enough to get on the bad numberplates thread!) and no small lettering at the bottom. Don't get the MOT done at a main stealer!

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Never been failed on a numberplate before, and mine have slightly questionable spacing (but not bad enough to get on the bad numberplates thread!) and no small lettering at the bottom. Don't get the MOT done at a main stealer!
Yep lesson learned there! ;-)

rscott

14,689 posts

190 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
mcford said:
The characters aren't black, they're predominantly grey which can't strictly be viewed as grey edging. So by the book it's a fail.
Don't agree - take a look at the 3d font here http://www.newreg.co.uk/services/dvla_number_plate... .
That looks identical to this plate and is definitely legal.

pingu393

7,709 posts

204 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Don't get the MOT done at a main stealer!
This ^^^

I was failed by Sytner Nottingham because the indicators weren't orange enough! They went into a panic when I said, "That's OK, I've got a guaranteed MOT pass in the deal". Them - "Lights aren't included." Me - "Change it under the AUC warranty then, as they must have been faulty when you sold me the car."

sherbertdip

1,097 posts

118 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
I'm a pedant when it comes to number plates, I can't stand to see people mutilating them and just totally ignoring the law, but these I think look just fine.

What interests me more is what they failed the car on with the tyres and you say are ok, are you changing the tyres?

Edited by sherbertdip on Saturday 13th September 07:51

contractor

919 posts

184 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
Also a fail due to lack of place of plate manufacturer. I think there should be a postcode in v. Small font at the bottom in the centre

mcford

819 posts

173 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
rscott said:
Don't agree - take a look at the 3d font here http://www.newreg.co.uk/services/dvla_number_plate... .
That looks identical to this plate and is definitely legal.
Yet the Hi Line style listed next to it is definately not legal, they don't state the background or character colour requirements for post 1973 registration plates and it's hardly an official government site.

The MOT testers manual states that the characters must be predominantly black, in that 3D font they are mostly grey so it's logical that a fail could be applied to it such as:

a front registration plate does not have black characters on a white background

Technically the tester was correct in failing it, considering the practicality of it I may not have failed it.

There's no requirement to check for makers markings or post codes on the MOT.

Reference discoloured indicators - after time the colouring on the bulb cracks & flakes off, which means that the indicator will flash white instead of amber. You'll know how distracting it can be if you've been behind someone at night who's using a white indicator, 21 watts of flashing white light in your face isn't good for your night vision.


Edited by mcford on Saturday 13th September 08:52

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
sherbertdip said:
I'm a pedant when it comes to number plates, I can't stand to see people mutilating them and just totally ignoring the law, but these I think look just fine.

What interests me more is what they failed the car on with the tyres and you say are ok, are you changing the tyres?

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 13th September 07:51
You can't stand to see people ignoring the law on number plates? Have you seen anyone about that, you seem to need help......

manic47

734 posts

164 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
contractor said:
Also a fail due to lack of place of plate manufacturer. I think there should be a postcode in v. Small font at the bottom in the centre
It's under the R by the look of it.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
sherbertdip said:
I'm a pedant when it comes to number plates, I can't stand to see people mutilating them and just totally ignoring the law, but these I think look just fine.

What interests me more is what they failed the car on with the tyres and you say are ok, are you changing the tyres?

Edited by sherbertdip on Saturday 13th September 07:51
You'd have exploded at the last Sunday Service then; 90% of the plates were 'wrong' in some way!

motco

15,917 posts

245 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
I have a stick-on front plate on the nose of my Westfield. It passed its MoT last April with no advisories. Technically they are not allowed and it is not anywhere near vertical either.

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
manic47 said:
It's under the R by the look of it.
Correct! Name and postcode (albeit hard to read in the photo I'll admit!!) ;-)

Andy3004

Original Poster:

27 posts

154 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
sherbertdip said:
I'm a pedant when it comes to number plates, I can't stand to see people mutilating them and just totally ignoring the law, but these I think look just fine.

What interests me more is what they failed the car on with the tyres and you say are ok, are you changing the tyres?

Edited by sherbertdip on Saturday 13th September 07:51
Front tyres they failed on wear... they are runflats so have the typical shoulder wear, which is not excessive, centre 3/4 all have 3.5 mm on. Have been to another garage this morning who told me they are, at worst, an advisory and NOT a fail...

IT's booked in there for a new test so once that is done I shall have words with BMW... smile