I've been given a postcodeless number plate. Is this OK?
Discussion
I had my car repaired the other week, which involved, amongst other things, replacing the front number plate of my car. (It's a 51 plate.)
The old number plate had the postcode of the number plate supplier on it; the new number plate doesn't. Otherwise, it looks to tick all the boxes. I was assured by the repairer that it's ok to have no postcode, and that the little "BSAU145d" marker in the corner would suffice.
It looks like my car won't fail the MOT because of this, but there appears to be some general confusion though over whether this number plate would actually be legal. No definite non-MOT-related answers from any old threads that I could find.
Does anybody know where I can get the official guidelines for this kind of thing? I'd obviously be trying to get the repairer to give me a valid number plate if he's given me an illegal one...
(The DVLA website suggests that it's fine to have no postcode - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedR... - but the V796 leaflet - http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/forms/~/media/pdf/leafl... - says the BSAU145d standard mandates one. See, e.g., http://www.bnma.org/bsaua45d.htm. So I'm not sure how the registration plate can actually bear the mark if it doesn't actually follow the right rules.)
The old number plate had the postcode of the number plate supplier on it; the new number plate doesn't. Otherwise, it looks to tick all the boxes. I was assured by the repairer that it's ok to have no postcode, and that the little "BSAU145d" marker in the corner would suffice.
It looks like my car won't fail the MOT because of this, but there appears to be some general confusion though over whether this number plate would actually be legal. No definite non-MOT-related answers from any old threads that I could find.
Does anybody know where I can get the official guidelines for this kind of thing? I'd obviously be trying to get the repairer to give me a valid number plate if he's given me an illegal one...
(The DVLA website suggests that it's fine to have no postcode - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedR... - but the V796 leaflet - http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/forms/~/media/pdf/leafl... - says the BSAU145d standard mandates one. See, e.g., http://www.bnma.org/bsaua45d.htm. So I'm not sure how the registration plate can actually bear the mark if it doesn't actually follow the right rules.)
The BSAU code means it satisfies the guidelines for the manufacture in regards to reflectivity, colour etc.
The Postcode is still required and should be on there, so I would request some new plates with all the required information just as a matter of course.
I got pulled for a mis-spaced plate (came with the car, passed mot so I didn't bother replacing) and the officer commented on that it was missing a post code as well. It also had the BS markings.
{edit for spelling}
The Postcode is still required and should be on there, so I would request some new plates with all the required information just as a matter of course.
I got pulled for a mis-spaced plate (came with the car, passed mot so I didn't bother replacing) and the officer commented on that it was missing a post code as well. It also had the BS markings.
{edit for spelling}
to3m said:
Thanks. In the absence of any suggestions of anything more formal or official, I will try to use leaflet V796 as leverage on Tuesday and see what happens.
Use the BNMA one as well. There might be more mileage in a publication from the trade's own representative body. This assumes the supplier is legit and not some backstreet cowboy knocking out dodgy plates.The repairer is talking out of his
and should know better than to use a supplier who is not complying with the legislation. It would also make me wonder what other corners he is cutting and sub-standard parts he might be using. Insist that he replaces it with a compliant plate free of charge to you because I bet he won't be paying the £60 FPN if you get one.Thanks for the suggestion - your logic is sound 
Lack of joined-up thinking on my part there...
Hopefully I'll have no problems, as this is a reputable place, or so you'd hope: it's the official approved car doctor (and only for cars, their name implies) for a well-known nautically-themed car insurer. (Are we allowed to name names? I keep seeing people avoiding it, so I'm assuming not.)
No idea where they get the plates from of course, or whether they make them themselves... not least because there's no postcode on 'em...
Lack of joined-up thinking on my part there...Hopefully I'll have no problems, as this is a reputable place, or so you'd hope: it's the official approved car doctor (and only for cars, their name implies) for a well-known nautically-themed car insurer. (Are we allowed to name names? I keep seeing people avoiding it, so I'm assuming not.)
No idea where they get the plates from of course, or whether they make them themselves... not least because there's no postcode on 'em...
to3m said:
Hopefully I'll have no problems...........No idea where they get the plates from of course, or whether they make them themselves... not least because there's no postcode on 'em...
I think this may prove to be your ace of trumps.BNMA site said:
The definition of 'supply' means if you make number plates yourself or buy them in ready-made and supply them on to an end user, then you must register. So, if you are a motor factor and you supply trade customers with plates and they fit them to their customer's vehicles, then you, the motor factor and all of your customers who purchase plates from you with their own details on must register. If you are a crash repairer, MOT station, accessory shop, etc, you must register.
I doubt they will want to risk you reporting the illegal supply to the DVLA. Their nautically-themed paymasters may not be too impressed either. http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail...
Since 1 November 2008, it is an offence to supply number plates that do not comply with the UK law. The offence carries a fine of up to £2,500 and/or suspension from the register.
This, surely, is an issue for the supplier and not the person who owns the car. They need to have a compliant registration plate, and the supplier needs to mark it with their details.
I dont believe though, that a vehicles owner commits any offence by having an otherwise legal compliance-marked plate, which does not carry the suppliers name and postcode.
I dont believe though, that a vehicles owner commits any offence by having an otherwise legal compliance-marked plate, which does not carry the suppliers name and postcode.
It also depends on the age of the vehicle : a car which predates the legislation is not required to be retrofitted with postcoded numberplates , although replacement plates fitted after the legislation came in are required to have this information - however , who is to say when a plate displayed on an earlier car was fitted , and how could they prove it ?
Nigel Worc's said:
If it's a legal font and spacing ..... who cares ?
Not me - but I don't think not caring will prevent a fine, if the registration plate turns out to be invalid and somebody decides to fine me because of it.I've downloaded a few more leaflets and I'm still none the wiser about whether a postcode is actually definitively required or not, or (if it is) whose problem it actually is in the first place. Think I might visit the DVLA tomorrow and ask them in person... I will post again for posterity, once I have got to the bottom of this surprisingly mysterious issue...
Nigel Worc's said:
If it's a legal font and spacing ..... who cares ?
+1 Isn't it a sad reflection that a discussion can be raised over whether a car numberplate needs a postcode on it or not.Not a reflection on those discussing, but on the state we are in when laws govern such mindless non-entities.............
to3m said:
Nigel Worc's said:
If it's a legal font and spacing ..... who cares ?
Not me - but I don't think not caring will prevent a fine, if the registration plate turns out to be invalid and somebody decides to fine me because of it.I've downloaded a few more leaflets and I'm still none the wiser about whether a postcode is actually definitively required or not, or (if it is) whose problem it actually is in the first place. Think I might visit the DVLA tomorrow and ask them in person... I will post again for posterity, once I have got to the bottom of this surprisingly mysterious issue...
the law is contained in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. schedule 2 sets out the requirements for registration plates. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/conten...
if the vehicle is registered and new registration plates fitted on or after 1.9.2001 then "the plate must comply with ... BS AU 145d". a like provision exists for vehicles registered on or after 1.1.73 and before 1.9.2001.
BS AU 145d:1998 is available from the BSI at a cost of £92! so, I don't have it but i found this:
The British Standard requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: -
- The British Standard Number (currently BS AU 145d)
- The name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier. (The company who actually make the number plate.)
- The name and postcode of the supplying outlet. (The 'supplying outlet' is taken to mean a company whose business consists wholly or partly of selling number plates.)
- A non-reflective border and the Euro-symbol with the national identification letters are optional additions.
- There shall be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.
http://www.bnma.org/bsaua45d.htm
if the vehicle is registered and new registration plates fitted on or after 1.9.2001 then "the plate must comply with ... BS AU 145d". a like provision exists for vehicles registered on or after 1.1.73 and before 1.9.2001.
BS AU 145d:1998 is available from the BSI at a cost of £92! so, I don't have it but i found this:
The British Standard requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: -
- The British Standard Number (currently BS AU 145d)
- The name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier. (The company who actually make the number plate.)
- The name and postcode of the supplying outlet. (The 'supplying outlet' is taken to mean a company whose business consists wholly or partly of selling number plates.)
- A non-reflective border and the Euro-symbol with the national identification letters are optional additions.
- There shall be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.
http://www.bnma.org/bsaua45d.htm
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