Number plates

[AmoCS]

The front plate was already on the car, it has the BS mark but no postcode.

[JumboBeef]

Pre 2001 cars do not need post code or kite mark.

[Adrian E]

Some will put the postcode and makers details in such small font you'd need a magnifying glass to read them! We had a small and totally legal front plate on our old '05 Leon Cupra R that was just wide enough to cover the plate mount with 5 characters and a GB logo - it's lurking at home somewhere but as has been said so long as clearance around the edge and spacing between characters and groups has been maintained they're barking up the wrong tree.

[Boydie88]

AmoCS said:

I've since been told I didn't have a GB logo badge, and the postcode of where they made is not present on the front plate (although the BS standard no is there).

So they don't have an issue with the plate you got from ebay after realising they were wrong when you confronted them and have instead tried to do you for the front?

As a side question, what actually is the point of the maker's postcode?!

[shakotan]

Boydie88 said:

AmoCS said:

I've since been told I didn't have a GB logo badge, and the postcode of where they made is not present on the front plate (although the BS standard no is there).

So they don't have an issue with the plate you got from ebay after realising they were wrong when you confronted them and have instead tried to do you for the front?

As a side question, what actually is the point of the maker's postcode?!

Its supposed to be to validate the plate is legal for road use, since if it isn't they can approach the manufacturer and prosecute them.

Threfore, PC on plate should mean it is legal, whereas a non-legal one, the manufacture isn't going to want to 'endorse' it with their mark for fear it is used on the road.

[Boydie88]

shakotan said:

Its supposed to be to validate the plate is legal for road use, since if it isn't they can approach the manufacturer and prosecute them.

Threfore, PC on plate should mean it is legal, whereas a non-legal one, the manufacture isn't going to want to 'endorse' it with their mark for fear it is used on the road.

Ah ok. So you could argue only when the plate is found to be illegal can you then have a go at the driver for it not being displayed.

...I say that with a 3/4 size front plate without the manufacturers postcode... just hope I never run into the same picky copper this OP did unless there is something else he hasn't said.

[btcc123]

When I changed my number plate for a personal plate for my 2003 car 5 years ago I had the new plates made up from a company on the internet and does not have their name or postcode but in small letters in the middle bottom of the plate it has a www address of a motoring forum (911.com) Never had a problem with the police or MOT time.

My wifes car 2007 has the dealers name but not a postcode which I assume is ok.

[anonymous-user]

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

[CallorFold]

NinjaPower said:

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

Technically I don't think they are legal for whatever reason, but I'm sure at the same time, plenty get through MOT's and DONT get stopped and hassled by PLOD? The GF had pressed plates on her first car for about a year, never caused any issues and as far as I know, they're still on the car (she sold it to a friend at her work, and it must have been through at least 2 MOT's since then).

[shakotan]

CallorFold said:

NinjaPower said:

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

Technically I don't think they are legal for whatever reason, ...

Utter nonsense. Pressed plates are 100% legal, as long as the font/spacing/borders are correct and the yellow/white sections are made from retro-reflective material, which is usually a vinyl sticker.

[Retroman]

JumboBeef said:

Pre 2001 cars do not need post code or kite mark.

What's a kite mark?
It's not the year of the car that doesn't need them, it's the year the number plate was manufactured.
I.e any number plate manufactured before 2001 doesn't need to conform to the latest regulations.
Number plates manufactured after 2001 do need to conform to the new regulations regardless of the car they're going on.

NinjaPower said:

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

This is both acceptable and legal.

[CallorFold]

shakotan said:

CallorFold said:

NinjaPower said:

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

Technically I don't think they are legal for whatever reason, ...

Utter nonsense. Pressed plates are 100% legal, as long as the font/spacing/borders are correct and the yellow/white sections are made from retro-reflective material, which is usually a vinyl sticker.

Fair enough, I don't think I've ever read a definitive yes or no on the subject so assumed there was some technicality somewhere.

[shakotan]

CallorFold said:

shakotan said:

CallorFold said:

NinjaPower said:

How about pressed metal plates?

I've just bought a pair of pressed metal plates for my car but haven't been arsed to fit them yet.
The site I bought them off claimed them to be 100% legal.

The have a laser etched postcode of manufacturer and BS number.
They are correct font and spacing.
They are reflective.
They are correct colours.
They are completely plain and feature no logos, no GB/Euro or other markings.

The only difference is that they are the pressed metal type.

Is this acceptable?

Technically I don't think they are legal for whatever reason, ...

Utter nonsense. Pressed plates are 100% legal, as long as the font/spacing/borders are correct and the yellow/white sections are made from retro-reflective material, which is usually a vinyl sticker.

Fair enough, I don't think I've ever read a definitive yes or no on the subject so assumed there was some technicality somewhere.

Just read the Legislation above and apply it to a pressed plate. You'll not find anything that prohibits it.

[Durzel]

Spill the beans then, what were you doing to attract this kind of fastidiousness? Too many laps around the town centre?

[anonymous-user]

Durzel said:

Spill the beans then, what were you doing to attract this kind of fastidiousness? Too many laps around the town centre?

That was actually a genuine reason for me getting pulled and shouted at, and I mean really shouted at by a police officer once.

I remember it like it was yesterday...

"Explain to me what EXACTLY your purpose is in town this evening!!??"

He was furious and 'ordered' me to go home.

Edited by NinjaPower on Thursday 5th March 15:30

[Cooperman]

AmoCS said:

I've since been told I didn't have a GB logo badge, and the postcode of where they made is not present on the front plate (although the BS standard no is there).

Which Magistrates Court imposed the fine? Were the Magistrates shown photos of the plate before they decided you were guilty, or did you simply plead guilty by post?

[jbsportstech]

NinjaPower said:

That was actually a genuine reason for me getting pulled and shouted at, and I mean really shouted at by a police officer once.

I remember it like it was yesterday...

"Explain to me what EXACTLY your purpose is in town this evening!!??"

He was furious and 'ordered' me to go home.

Edited by NinjaPower on Thursday 5th March 15:30

Sounds like he is upset by you for some reason either his dislikes your car or you driving caused him reason to get upset.

Unless he is fed up with telling people they me be special needs but that doesn't mean you get to have special letters/badges/fonts/spacing on your number plate. I would be as i see so many these days if i was roads policing I would be busy.

I mean just cause your name might be mark doesn't mean you buy marks&spencer cloths and cover up the &spencer so you go everwhere with MARK showing so folk know your name and your proud of it. Seems for some people this is very important on their cars.

The other issue is if you have a modified car like the skyline above were i live most drivers seem to spend a lot of time driving around and around and around aimlessly and making nuisance at the local retail park and think a section 59 notice is a badge of honour.

You weren't cruising around and he had seen you come down that street for a 5th time or something?

[anonymous-user]

NinjaPower said:

That was actually a genuine reason for me getting pulled and shouted at, and I mean really shouted at by a police officer once.

I remember it like it was yesterday...

"Explain to me what EXACTLY your purpose is in town this evening!!??"

He was furious and 'ordered' me to go home.

jbsportstech said:

Sounds like he is upset by you for some reason either his dislikes your car or you driving caused him reason to get upset.

The other issue is if you have a modified car like the skyline above were i live most drivers seem to spend a lot of time driving around and around and around aimlessly and making nuisance at the local retail park and think a section 59 notice is a badge of honour.

You weren't cruising around and he had seen you come down that street for a 5th time or something?

It was the late 1990's, I was about 18 and driving a lightly modified Golf GTi 16v which was a thing of beauty...

I think it was a warm saturday evening in the summer and I was doing a few laps of town with some friends in the car, quite simply, to pose and gawp at Girls wearing almost nothing as they tottered between bars and nightclubs... as you do when you are 18

We went past two officers sat in a Fiesta panda car, who promptly set off after us after about the 4th or 5th time we went past them. My friends started laughing at the fact I was going to get pulled.

I stopped as soon as the blue lights switched on, and the officer then unleashed a loud tirade against me and told me to go home.

My car didn't have a loud exhaust (in fact it was standard) and I was cruising about at less than the 30mph limit, and certainly not 'booting it'. I had no dodgy numberplates or anything out of order.

I was fairly pissed off actually as I wasn't being a nuisance more than any other vehicle that happened to be making it's way around the town, but being a naive 18 year old, I just sheepishly accepted his angry demand to 'go home'.

If i happened to me now aged 34 and I was lapping town in my modified 911, I would just tell him to either charge me with something or 'Go fk himself'.

Edited by NinjaPower on Thursday 5th March 19:28

[LoonR1]

Put a photo of your car up and the producer, or whatever paperwork you've got.

[Red Devil]

liner33 said:

http://www.melkshammotorspares.co.uk/pdf/DVLA_Numb...

I had a copy of this pdf in my car as I got pulled for this plate I had highlighted the import section , I think this PDF makes it pretty clear

As DVLA guidance, while correct in this case, doesn't have statutory authority I carry this - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2687/body/...

Mine is 5 character VRM on shortened backing plates. It is 100% compliant with the legislation. I have had to fish out my copy of the S.I. twice in order to convince an officer he was on shaky ground in threatening to issue me with a FPN. One was simply not clued up and it was all sorted without any fuss. The other was a 'Cartman' type who thought he was a cut above a mere MoP. There was no need whatsoever for his officious and impolite attitude.

I told him I would be quite happy to see him in court. I doubt his hard pressed duty sergeant would have been chuffed for him to have spent an entire morning or afternoon wasting everyone's time including that of the bench. The penny eventually dropped that he was going to look very silly if he pressed on with it. He wasn't a happy bunny at all. Red in the face and desperately looking for a parting shot he couldn't think of anything so just turned round and stomped back to his vehicle.

There's always one who is not representative of the majority. Normally such things don't bother me but he was so OTT that I dropped by the local station to appraise them of his woeful lack of communication skills.

AmoCS said:

The front plate was already on the car, it has the BS mark but no postcode.

This could be your problem depending on the date the plate was manufactured. See below.
It is 99% likely that you will be caught by this given that the regs have been in place for nearly 14 years.

Retroman said:

It's not the year of the car that doesn't need them, it's the year the number plate was manufactured.
I.e any number plate manufactured before 2001 doesn't need to conform to the latest regulations.
Number plates manufactured after 2001 do need to conform to the new regulations regardless of the car they're going on.

More here - http://www.bnma.org/legislation.html - the example given is for 2001 onwards VRMs but, as stated above, it applies equally to replacement plates for the earlier series.