Want a Smaller Front Number Plate But Still Be Legal?
Discussion
Just wondering what size number plate I can 'legally' get away with fitted to the front of the car?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
after_shock said:
Just wondering what size number plate I can 'legally' get away with fitted to the front of the car?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
make that 2, mine is about to fall off, and when it does I'd like to replace it with one that fits
The numbers and letters have to conform to the regular size and spacings. The height of the plate has to be standard (or larger), but there is no specification on length, providing the other criteria are met. If you have a personalized plate with one or two digits, especially the thin ones, you can get away with a shorter plate. If you have one of the new style numbers, then I think you stand no chance of legally getting a plate to fit the space. The info is on the DVLA website. Hope this helps.
J. J. said:
The numbers and letters have to conform to the regular size and spacings. The height of the plate has to be standard (or larger), but there is no specification on length, providing the other criteria are met. If you have a personalized plate with one or two digits, especially the thin ones, you can get away with a shorter plate. If you have one of the new style numbers, then I think you stand no chance of legally getting a plate to fit the space. The info is on the DVLA website. Hope this helps.
Actually...fairly sure only a border of 11mm around all lettering is required. Its something like that....plate does not have to have the huge border that the typical standard plate has.This topic has been covered before, so a search might help
It depends upon which car you have.
My car (56 plate VXR) carries a small plate (I believe legally) following the instructions on the DVLC web site for cars which do not have European type approval and have a smaller than standard space for a plate.
It’s worth a search on this forum to find out where this info is on the DVLC site.
The letters still need to follow rules and guidelines set, just smaller.
It depends upon which car you have.
My car (56 plate VXR) carries a small plate (I believe legally) following the instructions on the DVLC web site for cars which do not have European type approval and have a smaller than standard space for a plate.
It’s worth a search on this forum to find out where this info is on the DVLC site.
The letters still need to follow rules and guidelines set, just smaller.
Black VXR said:
This topic has been covered before, so a search might help
It depends upon which car you have.
My car (56 plate VXR) carries a small plate (I believe legally) following the instructions on the DVLC web site for cars which do not have European type approval and have a smaller than standard space for a plate.
It’s worth a search on this forum to find out where this info is on the DVLC site.
The letters still need to follow rules and guidelines set, just smaller.
It depends upon which car you have.
My car (56 plate VXR) carries a small plate (I believe legally) following the instructions on the DVLC web site for cars which do not have European type approval and have a smaller than standard space for a plate.
It’s worth a search on this forum to find out where this info is on the DVLC site.
The letters still need to follow rules and guidelines set, just smaller.
WHS^^^^. Its an import so you can use "import" size plates as per the website quoted above. No policeman will ever believe it does not have european type approval, but hey!
Doesn't really work on a monaro though. The GTS yes as the number plate is recessed.
As quoted from DVLA site. Important to note the 'AND'.
Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:
The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval
AND
l The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number plates
The Monaro comes fitted from Vauxhall with a standard size plate so not sure how you could argue this one.
I can't exactly talk though.....
As quoted from DVLA site. Important to note the 'AND'.
Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:
The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval
AND
l The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number plates
The Monaro comes fitted from Vauxhall with a standard size plate so not sure how you could argue this one.
I can't exactly talk though.....
Based on experience the key points from me are:
- Don't assume that because you (might have...I did) bought it from a Vauxhall dealership that the small plate is legal
- Don't assume that if it kinda looks like it measures okay per DVLA that it does. Make sure it's exactly within the size spec
- Print out the DVLA spec on imports and leave it in your car because it's a lot easier to explain to the coppers who don't know the law on this - they'll first do you for it and leave you to prove they were wrong.
It took me half an hour watching the BiB measuring the size of my lettering and trying to explain to them that there was this DVLA exception on imports. They conceded and said they were going back to the office to find out.
- Don't assume that because you (might have...I did) bought it from a Vauxhall dealership that the small plate is legal
- Don't assume that if it kinda looks like it measures okay per DVLA that it does. Make sure it's exactly within the size spec
- Print out the DVLA spec on imports and leave it in your car because it's a lot easier to explain to the coppers who don't know the law on this - they'll first do you for it and leave you to prove they were wrong.
It took me half an hour watching the BiB measuring the size of my lettering and trying to explain to them that there was this DVLA exception on imports. They conceded and said they were going back to the office to find out.
Fancyplates do a 3/4 sized plate that matches the requirements for imported vehicles i.a.w. DVLA guidance. From memory I think the characters need to be 2.5" high (63mm) and 10 mm apart. Got this on the front of mine AND the DVLA guidance in the glovebox, never had a problem, even had a petrolhead traffic cop look around the car once asking some questions as he'd never seen a Monaro in the flesh before, he never mentioned the plate..... hope that helps! 
Over the last 2 years I've been pulled for 'excessive' speed, 'gunned' from the front & not a jot was said about my number plate being illegible/illegal. It fits into the recess in the front bumper just fine & is 388mm x 94mm with 64mm text! I have (somewhere) a letter from the BIB stating that it's quite legal!
after_shock said:
Just wondering what size number plate I can 'legally' get away with fitted to the front of the car?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
All of the legal requirements are listed here..........Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm#6
GasMonkey said:
after_shock said:
Just wondering what size number plate I can 'legally' get away with fitted to the front of the car?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
Think the standard size looks a bit too big and wouldnt mind decreasing it, leaving the back as is however its important its still legal on the front, dont want to give the police any excuses!
I can remember reading about the plate has to go so many cm's from the edge of all of the writing but can not find any info on the net.
Anyone know much about it or where to point me in the right direction?
All of the legal requirements are listed here..........
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm#6
I don't know the date of that document, but the requirement to have the BSAU number displayed was removed in October 2007. The prohibitive cost of every local authority to pay for new number plates was cited as the reason.
This is what you want... print off and keep in car.
www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayofnumberplates.pdf
And I draw your attention to the top of page 3.
www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayofnumberplates.pdf
And I draw your attention to the top of page 3.
Gas_Man said:
This is what you want... print off and keep in car.
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayo...
And I draw your attention to the top of page 3.
Again, this will only work on a GTS or the like with the recessed number plate area. It clearly states the exception is only allowed if there is no room for a standard full size plate. http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayo...
And I draw your attention to the top of page 3.
The Monaro (VZ) does not have this issue.
Unless you can argue the protruding flat area sized to fit an Oz plate is preventing a larger plate being fitted.
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