"UK" rear windscreen sticker - on a saloon?
"UK" rear windscreen sticker - on a saloon?
Author
Discussion

sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

720 posts

112 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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Hello all,

I wanted to get opinions on this (or even better, if someone knows if there is a rule about it)... There are "UK" stickers for driving abroad that clings to the inside of the rear windscreen, but it doesn't state anywhere on the packaging that its only for estates/SUVs/vehicles with a vertical rear windscreen.

Would putting this on a saloon car with a slanted rear windscreen in the bottom left hand corner still be considered acceptible as long as its visible from outside? Or does the sticker need to be on the rear-most surface of the car?

Nuttbelle

537 posts

32 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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Depends on the degree of the sloping windscreen.
Whats the angle ?

sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

720 posts

112 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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Nuttbelle said:
Depends on the degree of the sloping windscreen.
Whats the angle ?
I'm not sure what the angle is, its a Mercedes CLS

toddygti

96 posts

160 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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As a regular in Europe, I can't recall the last time I bothered with one of these at all.

Put it up and use it, they'll not bother you for it.

Riley Blue

22,854 posts

248 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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captain.scarlet

1,891 posts

56 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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I've seen a fair number of estate and hatchback cars with GB stickers on the rear window.

I think for convenience and legibility on a near vertical window they are placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the glass

With a saloon I would be minded to place it higher up (i.e. top left when viewed from behind) for better legibility given the angle of the rear window.

I would never stick one of those giant ugly stickers onto vehicle paintwork.

sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

720 posts

112 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
captain.scarlet said:
I would never stick one of those giant ugly stickers onto vehicle paintwork.
This is exactly what i'm trying to avoid.

On my previous car, I had stuck an adhesive UK sticker on to the paintwork and it was an awful job trying to remove it. I suspect it would be the same if I were to stick it to the outside of the rear windscreen.

Dracoro

8,966 posts

267 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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Maybe a rear number plate with the Uk symbol etc., a little more pricey but looks better and can leave it on permanently….

littleredrooster

6,122 posts

218 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
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I bought some of these for the cars. Simple solution.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253381655371?mkcid=16&a...

M11rph

1,030 posts

43 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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Dracoro said:
Maybe a rear number plate with the Uk symbol etc., a little more pricey but looks better and can leave it on permanently….
Spain for one require a separate UK oval , the stipulated size is iirc 18cm.

I've tended to use the smaller oval UK stickers on the rear glass where needed, and rear plate with the UK designator strip, not yet had any issues.

OP. I think you'll be OK with one on the rear window. Removing even the sticky ones from exterior glass isn't too bad.


Edited by M11rph on Sunday 27th August 14:38

captain.scarlet

1,891 posts

56 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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As others have said, something on the numberplate may be more permanent and tidy. Otherwise if I were to use a sticker I would affix it to the inside of the glass.

It'll still be visible and legible. Given how many UK registered vehicles drive abroad and just generally, chances are the police aren't going to be interested unless someone is driving like a maniac, contravenes the highway in front of them etc.

I've not had to use the sticker method as the last time I drove to the Continent I had GB + stars numberplates, but I think I'd simply blue tack the sticker to the inside of the glass or use some standard sticky tape, but whilst being mindful of the rear demister element! At the top of the glass there's more clearance up there and it's easier to reach. Plus more visible from behind.

The paintwork damage, remnants and residue from stickers on cars are visible and just not worth it IMO, a bit like when people return to the UK and have tried to remove those headlight deflectors but the residue and mess from the adhesive won't go away.

Spleen

5,453 posts

143 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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Must admit that in all the years I've been driving overseas I've never been stopped for not having an oval sticker, I've just never bothered. Our plates have the UK designator but that's it.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,882 posts

202 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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You'll be fine with the sticker on a saloon rear window. You're supposed to show a national identifier and they can be useful so avoidance seems daft, but it doesn't matter where it is.

MrBen986

616 posts

140 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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I have a magnetic UK oval which goes on the back of the car when going abroad, and goes on something magnetic in the garage the rest of the time. Seems simplest to me, only time it's come off is when I was a little enthusiastic with a jet wash in Southern Spain!

Preferable to stickers on the paintwork and I dislike putting things in the windows.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,882 posts

202 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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Spleen said:
Must admit that in all the years I've been driving overseas I've never been stopped for not having an oval sticker, I've just never bothered. Our plates have the UK designator but that's it.
You'll never be stopped. With a UK designator on your plate you're fully compliant.

TriumphStag3.0V8

5,045 posts

103 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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I just have a small magnetic one that I stick on when on the continent. No paintwork damage and has not come off on high speed* runs to the South of France






*130kph maximum, obviously officer.

Glosphil

4,775 posts

256 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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MrBen986 said:
I have a magnetic UK oval which goes on the back of the car when going abroad, and goes on something magnetic in the garage the rest of the time. Seems simplest to me, only time it's come off is when I was a little enthusiastic with a jet wash in Southern Spain!

Preferable to stickers on the paintwork and I dislike putting things in the windows.
My GB oval was magnetic & was used for many years. When not in use left on the side of my PC's case (still there!). Not yet needed the UK version.

Teppic

7,899 posts

279 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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CharlesdeGaulle said:
Spleen said:
Must admit that in all the years I've been driving overseas I've never been stopped for not having an oval sticker, I've just never bothered. Our plates have the UK designator but that's it.
You'll never be stopped. With a UK designator on your plate you're fully compliant.
Except in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, where you will need a UK oval no matter what’s on your number plate.

davek_964

10,608 posts

197 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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I put a sticker on my number plate and then just removed it when I got back. The sticker was a rectangle, I cut it down slightly to fit the number plate and it looked fine

GSA_fattie

2,378 posts

243 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
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didn't bother - no hassle/no issue just completed 2000 miles in france

hardly saw any police of any descrption

hateful things that you can spot half a mile away - just look so crap