Number Plate, Smaller but legal?
Discussion
Hey folks
I'm looking for a plate that fulfills the bare minimum legal requirement for border and digit spacing.
The industry standard plate size 520mm x 111mm. However with minimum margin and spacing (11mm). However it is my understanding that with minimal margins it is possible to get a 7 digit plate down to ~320-464mm depending on the digits on the plate (1 and i can take up less room). I want a plate this size (for me it'd be 464mm as I have 7 wide letters). I'm just curious what plate manufacturers out there do plates of the non-standard size, I am skeptical of just cutting down my current plates as I am afraid a botch job might not be up to legal spec, and would also attract traffpol and MOT men like flies to s
t, I am also wary that by cutting the margins down on a standard plate I may remove a portion of the BS kite on the bottom right corner, making them non compliant.
The reason I am wanting to do this isn't necessarily to look like a chav, I am moving my 7pin towing socket into my bumper of my 4x4 in an area where it is more protected offroad, however it obscures the top left corner of my existing standard number plate, which to my understanding is legally dubious.
The only company I have found that seems to offer this at a glance on google is four dot plates, which is also where I got my length numbers from. But they want £75 for a slightly cut down version of a £12 plate which to me is pretty extortionate. (https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/cars/products/zero-plates). Does anyone know of anybody who does them more reasonably?
Cheers
CAE
I'm looking for a plate that fulfills the bare minimum legal requirement for border and digit spacing.
The industry standard plate size 520mm x 111mm. However with minimum margin and spacing (11mm). However it is my understanding that with minimal margins it is possible to get a 7 digit plate down to ~320-464mm depending on the digits on the plate (1 and i can take up less room). I want a plate this size (for me it'd be 464mm as I have 7 wide letters). I'm just curious what plate manufacturers out there do plates of the non-standard size, I am skeptical of just cutting down my current plates as I am afraid a botch job might not be up to legal spec, and would also attract traffpol and MOT men like flies to s
t, I am also wary that by cutting the margins down on a standard plate I may remove a portion of the BS kite on the bottom right corner, making them non compliant. The reason I am wanting to do this isn't necessarily to look like a chav, I am moving my 7pin towing socket into my bumper of my 4x4 in an area where it is more protected offroad, however it obscures the top left corner of my existing standard number plate, which to my understanding is legally dubious.
The only company I have found that seems to offer this at a glance on google is four dot plates, which is also where I got my length numbers from. But they want £75 for a slightly cut down version of a £12 plate which to me is pretty extortionate. (https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/cars/products/zero-plates). Does anyone know of anybody who does them more reasonably?
Cheers
CAE
I’ve had small plates on various cars due to not wanting to block the intercooler. I’ve never had s single problem with them even just plain plates with no suppliers ID.
As long as it’s still the standard font and spacing it’s very unlikely to get any attention, mine never got a single comment or advisory
As long as it’s still the standard font and spacing it’s very unlikely to get any attention, mine never got a single comment or advisory
I had a very very small front plate on my MG ZTT SE260
Mot time they just said you have a normal plate at home don't you !!
The only issue I ever had in 5 years of ownership was once going to France on holiday I got stopped at customs UK side and told the plate was illegal and the smallest they had ever seen they made a right fuss about it eventually let me on Euro tunnel
Mot time they just said you have a normal plate at home don't you !!
The only issue I ever had in 5 years of ownership was once going to France on holiday I got stopped at customs UK side and told the plate was illegal and the smallest they had ever seen they made a right fuss about it eventually let me on Euro tunnel
Will check out fancy plates once I'm in from wiring this in. For reference this is how my plate actually looks at the moment:
It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
Edited by caelite on Thursday 21st June 22:23
caelite said:
Will check out fancy plates once I'm in from wiring this in. For reference this is how my plate actually looks at the moment:
It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
I can’t see that there’s a massive problem there, certainly it’s not something that will make you a target for law enforcement. You might be being overly cautious. It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
Edited by caelite on Thursday 21st June 22:23
caelite said:
Will check out fancy plates once I'm in from wiring this in. For reference this is how my plate actually looks at the moment:
It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
You are proposing removing an area of reflective backing that is overlapped by the socket; Making the plate smaller so that the overlapped piece is not there so not overlapped.It's actually obscuring much less than I thought it would, certainly doesn't encroach within 11mm of lettering. Does anybody know what the law actually is regarding plate blank space being obstructed. I mean in reality it is obvious that I am not deliberately obstructing the plate for nefarious purposes isn't it?
Edited by caelite on Thursday 21st June 22:23
How is that going to make any difference?
Looks like there isn’t a problem anyway.
When there was a kerfuffle in the press about displaying the St George's flag, I'm sure there was something mentioned (yeah sorry, my memory is vague) about the actual number plate being just the legally prescribed area. This area may itself be within a larger "frame" or surrounding area - actually the same physical plate. In this instance, the frame contains a green line and the name of a garage. If they were going to get arsey about a socket covering the physical plate, then surely the line and garage name would also be classed as "hiding" the plate.
another good supplier (especially if you are in Glasgow) http://www.thenumberplatecentre.co.uk
Not the cheapest but very flexible within what is legally allowable.
Their details are laser etched on the plate complying with the legal requirement to mark but at normal distances effectively invisible.
Not the cheapest but very flexible within what is legally allowable.
Their details are laser etched on the plate complying with the legal requirement to mark but at normal distances effectively invisible.
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