MOT fail due to no BS mark on Plates

[John Laverick]

Apologies but the search function is busted ...

I’ve just had a call from the MOT station to say my car has failed due to the lack of BS markings on my number plates.

Bearing in mind the car is registered 1989 and the number plates look like they’ve been on donkeys, and it passed it’s last MOT with them fitted.

Is the garage correct? Do I need to stump up for new number plates or can I just marker pen the relevant numbers onto them


n.b. They're legal in every other way as far as I know.

[John Laverick]

They have the GB Euro blue bits on them:



Does this prove they were made after 1999 if that makes any difference?

Edited by John Laverick on Tuesday 9th June 10:27

[John Laverick]

Stickers said:

Are you sure it's because of the BS marking & not that they do not meet BS requirements?

I'll have to double check but that's not what she said on the phone.

I’m not a tight wad but replacing number plates for the sake of it goes somewhat against the Bargenomics grain!

My understanding is that only cars/number plates manufactured after September 2001 have to display the BS mark / post code etc. But existing old number plates must still comply with the relevant fonts / spacing / sizing etc.

[John Laverick]

Deluded said:

It shouldnt make any difference wth regards to whether its stamped or not.

Surely, as long as it meets all of the regulations of a UK numberplate, then it is legal? If it doesm't then fair play to the MOT tester, but I don't see why they should fail it based on it not being BS stamped alone.

Edited by Deluded on Tuesday 9th June 10:44

The BS stamp IS a legal requirement on cars registered after 01 September 2001 [mine was registered in 1988] and number plates manufactured from this date.

It isn’t my understanding that any car registered before 01 September 2001 must retrospectively comply with the new regulations and change number plates?

Anyway I’ll clarify with the testing station and see what they say.

[John Laverick]

Really sorry for the confusion ….

Just picked the car up and the plates do have a BS stamp but use 3d style lettering which is apparently illegal [is this correct?]

Interestingly, they don’t have the Post Code [but they didn't mention that].

Maybe it would be easier to just get some new plates!!

Edited by John Laverick on Tuesday 9th June 11:34

[John Laverick]

Stickers said:

John - your plate is perfectly legal....your tester is applying laws that relate to vehicles first registered after 1st Sept' 2001.

Any info I can print off and show him?

He said he's working to regulations issued in April this year?

[John Laverick]

Ponk said:

On a completely unrelated note did you wave at a Blue S2 Rallye that was following you down the M1 on the bank holiday weekend?

Nope not me … although I did used to own a Blue S2 106 Rallye!

[John Laverick]

Hyperion said:

John Laverick said:

He said he's working to regulations issued in April this year?

They only made a slight change to the test which was checking the background of the plate...

e. background overprinted or shadowed with text e.g. vehicle manufacturer name.
and.. c. any feature that has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters, so that the
true identity of the vehicle is less
easily established

They should have given you a reason for the failure - what was it?

Front Registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters [6.3.4c]

Rear Registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters [6.3.4c]

Which he specifically stated was due to the 3d lettering, a little over zealous by the sounds of things!! I’ll have a chat with him and see what he says!

[John Laverick]

Stickers said:

John Laverick]Front Registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters [6.3.4c said:

Rear Registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters [6.3.4c]

Which he specifically stated was due to the 3d lettering, a little over zealous by the sounds of things!! I’ll have a chat with him and see what he says!

From the book: 6.3.4c = "any feature that has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters, so that the true identity of the vehicle is less easily established"

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_630.htm

Yep ... which I don't think it's fair to see my 3d lettering does!