Displaying trade plates.
Displaying trade plates.
Author
Discussion

Trevor555

Original Poster:

5,479 posts

114 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
So, recently friends of mine have been pulled over and told their front trade plate has to cover the plate on the car, some have even been reported for it.

Got my renewal through today from DVLA and it states on the back that the front plate must not be covered.

Can someone on here advise?

Current traffic officer?

Got the renewal in my bag in case I'm stopped.

MuscleSaloon

1,614 posts

205 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
Not a definitive answer to the question but I've always put them in the front / rear windows and never had a problem.

MuscleSaloon

1,614 posts

205 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
Quick Google threw this up ...

'' In the instance where trade plates are fitted to a registered vehicle, both registration and trade plates must both be visible in unison. ''

andym1603

1,885 posts

202 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
All the garages here always have the trade plates covering the front plate. I am told this is because when a car is on a test drive it can be picked up on the ANPR cameras. A few of the garages were getting fines for using untaxed vehicles on the road. Don't know how true this is but it seems plausible as all the cars I see using trade plates cover the front plate with them.

Trevor555

Original Poster:

5,479 posts

114 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
MuscleSaloon said:
Quick Google threw this up ...

'' In the instance where trade plates are fitted to a registered vehicle, both registration and trade plates must both be visible in unison. ''
Thank you, this is what I've always thought.

Many people have bought plate holders that cover the original, because they've been stopped and cautioned/fined.

Seems to be North London my friends have been pulled in.

TallPaul

1,524 posts

288 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
I’m sure the regulations have recently changed but cant find any reference. Used to be trade plates must cover the original registration, throwing them on the dash/parcel shelf was not allowed although almost everybody did this. Now the cars registration must not be covered.

TallPaul

1,524 posts

288 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Paragraph 4 “Display of Trade Plates”

MuscleSaloon

1,614 posts

205 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
Literally just posted our TP licence renewals earlier today so not got a form to look at.

This was from Feb 2017 ....

'' The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and FTA have agreed new guidance on the display of trade plates. The issue has caused members concern for some time, especially since the removal of the vehicle excise disc. The new guidance will say that:
trade plates can be displayed anywhere on a vehicle providing they are both visible and vertical on both the front and rear; they cannot be displayed inside the vehicle as reflections from the glass will restrict visibility
trade plates should not cover the vehicle’s existing number plates as this could have a negative impact on road safety and enforcement
New guidance will be published to coincide with renewal dates and will be updated on relevant trade licence forms and on the gov.uk website. DVLA has agreed that motorbikes will be exempt from the new guidance until such a time as a tested prototype trade plate is agreed ''


Trevor555

Original Poster:

5,479 posts

114 months

Monday 18th December 2017
quotequote all
TallPaul said:
I’m sure the regulations have recently changed but cant find any reference. Used to be trade plates must cover the original registration, throwing them on the dash/parcel shelf was not allowed although almost everybody did this. Now the cars registration must not be covered.
Thank you, that could make sense if it's recently been changed, DVLA really need to tell the people who've invested in plates that cover up the originals.

It was in small print on the back of my renewal, hope they've told the Police..

Mr Tidy

31,536 posts

157 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
It was in small print on the back of my renewal, hope they've told the Police..
So it's probably safe to say they haven't! laugh

john2443

6,544 posts

241 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
TallPaul said:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Paragraph 4 “Display of Trade Plates”
Motorcycles - has anyone ever seen a bike with a trade plate? I don't recall ever seeing one! Maybe that's because most times I see one on a car it's being delivered by a trade plater and no-one rides bikes to deliver them as it's easier to put them in a van.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
Biggest problem is someone throwing 1 trade plate on the front dash inside the car. None in the rear also. They need to be outside front and rear and vertical.

They always get a pull.

shakotan

10,862 posts

226 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
Trade Plates only 'replace' the requirement for VED on a vehicle, so the VRM still needs to be visable so that Insurance and MOT details can be verified by ANPR.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
shakotan said:
Trade Plates only 'replace' the requirement for VED on a vehicle, so the VRM still needs to be visable so that Insurance and MOT details can be verified by ANPR.
Exactly. I stop so many without MOT's who somehow think a trade plate stopped the need for an MOT.

john2443

6,544 posts

241 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
Biggest problem is someone throwing 1 trade plate on the front dash inside the car. None in the rear also. They need to be outside front and rear and vertical.
Although these days it's more difficult to do that - when cars had proper bumpers you could put them on with the rubber straps but there's not much to hook them onto now.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
Biggest problem is someone throwing 1 trade plate on the front dash inside the car. None in the rear also. They need to be outside front and rear and vertical.
If it's good enough for normal plates...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
If it's good enough for normal plates...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
They always get a £100 FPN when I see them.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
john2443 said:
Although these days it's more difficult to do that - when cars had proper bumpers you could put them on with the rubber straps but there's not much to hook them onto now.
Here to help...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/322723013074?chn=ps&a...

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
TooMany2cvs said:
If it's good enough for normal plates...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
They always get a £100 FPN when I see them.
Butbutbut intercooler not pwettiness!

S11Steve

6,389 posts

214 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
quotequote all
I'm still getting mixed responses on this from the DVLA and TrafPol.

DVLA have suggested that the trade plate should cover the reg plate, because that prevents their ANPR system issuing SJP notices for driving whilst SORN'd - of which I get 3 or 4 a month, even though the evidential photograph show the trade plate on the dashboard or strapped to the grill.
TrafPol have pulled a number of my vehicles for covering the trade plate, but they have said the original plate needs to be on display as well as the trade plate.

I ldo enjoy setting TrafPol onto the DVLA and let them discuss it, but it's quite a lot of arsing around with paperwork to deal; with SJP notices.

So the right answer depends on who you ask....