Legality of this number plate (pic)

[Bingo Brian]

Have sourced some legal plates for a new car that I now need to fit. I am finding it impossible to find regs on mounting a plate though - its all about the font and layout design via DVLA/Direct gov.

As its an import, and not type approved, you can be allowed to fit a slightly smaller plate to it if it makes reasonable sense to do so. [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2002/20022687.htm] As the whacking great big one currently obscures the intercooler, is un-aerodynamic, kills flow to brakes and looks damn ugly to boot, I quite fancy fitting the new 5 digit reg one driver side on the bumper. Here is current mega one with proposed new plate loosley dangled to left of it.


Any ideas on legality guys - esp on these legally stamped and made plates as I have no wish to cause anyone any grief (least of all me!) but the aesthetic matters!

Cheers

[Peter Ward]

I am not an expert, but I do remember reading experts' opinions. As long as you allow the required space between the letters and the edge of the plate, it's legal even if the plate ends up smaller than a normal one. Of course it would have to have all the new legal gubbins of maker's postcode etc.

As for positioning, is there any chance you could put it in the same place as the current large one? Would it still interfere with cooling air given it's so small? Just a thought. Certainly the Alfas have offset plates so there's no issue in principle with not having it central.

[Munter]

Compare it to the Alphas. They are offset to one side of the car like that. Now you might even be able to use one of their plate holders to make it face a bit more forward which I think might be the problem if there is one.

[wasted years]

Peter Ward said:

I am not an expert, but I do remember reading experts' opinions. As long as you allow the required space between the letters and the edge of the plate, it's legal even if the plate ends up smaller than a normal one. Of course it would have to have all the new legal gubbins of maker's postcode etc.

Wot 'e said

[Satsuma]

you could always get a sticky one and put it on the bonnet...?

[Hooli]

Satsuma said:

you could always get a sticky one and put it on the bonnet...?

not legal anymore

[Bibbs]

Non EU cars can have motorbike sized lettering if there isn't room to mount them.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayo...

Page 3 ..

Mine is now off to one side.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g54/Bibbs_1977/S...

I moved it to improve airflow through the front.

Edited by Bibbs on Sunday 11th November 21:28

[BadgerBenji]

Not trying to start trouble, but why can Honda main dealers mount the number plate on an s2000 in the correct place, and you chose not to based on the grounds of air flow?

Edited by BadgerBenji on Sunday 11th November 21:58

[Bibbs]

BadgerBenji said:

Not trying to start trouble, but why can Honda main dealers mount the number plate on an s2000 in the correct place, and you chose not to based on the grounds of air flow?

Edited by BadgerBenji on Sunday 11th November 21:58

Mine is an import. The UK cars have extra holes in the bumper for the number plate mount to go. I don't have those holes, or the mount.

I tried mounting the plate in the main rad area, I think it was causing airflow issues. I would mount it on the nose, but I can't find any way to fix it due to the curvature and narrowness that wouldn't have it falling off.

I've tried several places now. That's where it is at the moment.

[BadgerBenji]

Bibbs said:

BadgerBenji said:

Not trying to start trouble, but why can Honda main dealers mount the number plate on an s2000 in the correct place, and you chose not to based on the grounds of air flow?

Edited by BadgerBenji on Sunday 11th November 21:58

Mine is an import. The UK cars have extra holes in the bumper for the number plate mount to go. I don't have those holes, or the mount.

I tried mounting the plate in the main rad area, I think it was causing airflow issues. I would mount it on the nose, but I can't find any way to fix it due to the curvature and narrowness that wouldn't have it falling off.

I've tried several places now. That's where it is at the moment.

Thanks for that Bibbs makes sense now, didn't know it was an import.

[Bingo Brian]

Peter Ward said:

I am not an expert, but I do remember reading experts' opinions. As long as you allow the required space between the letters and the edge of the plate, it's legal even if the plate ends up smaller than a normal one. Of course it would have to have all the new legal gubbins of maker's postcode etc.

As for positioning, is there any chance you could put it in the same place as the current large one? Would it still interfere with cooling air given it's so small? Just a thought. Certainly the Alfas have offset plates so there's no issue in principle with not having it central.

It IS a legal plate

I could put it where the current one is, but that isnt my preference. I'm just trying to find out if the law (or their accountants!) have a stated preference? I 'know' they need to be perpendicular, but cant find where that is defined... BB

Edited by Bingo Brian on Sunday 11th November 22:24

Edited by Bingo Brian on Sunday 11th November 22:37

[Dwight VanDriver]

Bibbs

Your No Plate does it comply with:

Road Vehicles Display of Reg Marks Regs 2001

This paragraph requires the plate to be fixed -



(a) vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable,

(Yes)

(b) in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length specified in paragraph (4). (??????????? because it is angled towards the nearside and therefore not visible from the offside of the square????)


(4) The diagonal length of the relevant area is -



(a) in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is at least 57 millimetres, 22 metres,

(b) in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 50 millimetres, 21.5 metres,

(c) in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 44 millimetres, 18 metres.

Maybe the photo is distorting the perspective?

dvd

[Bibbs]

Thanks for the info ..

So where do i need to stand and be able to read the plate?
My characters will be 44mm (I think), so it's 18m .. but standing 18m where? 18m at a 45deg angle?

It is quite slanted unfortunatly. If someone can confirm, I'll go out and check ..


(Damn it!)

[JP_Midget]

Could Bibbs put two on, one each side?

[pikeyboy]

this might be a bit controvesial but why not just leave it off altogether, keep it i nthe car with you andthen if you get stopped tell the officer damn its fallen off again as the mountings are a bit wonky on my import s2000, worst come to the worst its just a 30 quid fine, plus no chance of a speed camera fine from the front anyway! my mates not a had fron plate on his mx5 for about a year now and never gets any stress from the BIB.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Bibbs said:

Thanks for the info ..

So where do i need to stand and be able to read the plate?
My characters will be 44mm (I think), so it's 18m .. but standing 18m where? 18m at a 45deg angle?

It is quite slanted unfortunatly. If someone can confirm, I'll go out and check ..


(Damn it!)

As I see it.

Centre of VRM ...line off at 45 degrees the length of your allowed diagonal line depending on width of characters.

At the end of that line take another line off to the right and left at 45 degrees either side.

From the original point of your diagonal line at VRM likewise take line at 45 degrees, left and right and where these lines intersect with those from para above......this forms the box.

Is the plate easily readable from everywhere in that box?

It is?

Good.

So why didn't I keep my bladdy mouth shut.

dvd

[Bibbs]

Nope, you've lost me ..

Are you talking about a diamond (with 90 deg corners) from the centre of the plate?

I think the plate is prob at 40 degrees .. so anything over 50 and you'd struggle to see it. But if you say 45, I think it's fine (fingers crossed).

I'll check with my MOT man.

[Bingo Brian]

Gosh that's complex! Diamonds???

It reads to me too that if you draw two lines directly out from the centre of the plate, with a 45 degree angle between them (even though a diamond could have MANY different angles within it (unless it is equilateral then it becomes a.... square!)) then the number plate should be visible from 18m away within these imaginary lines in this case. Need a car park, protractor, tape measure and some time now.

Seems to be nothing in the favouring either side notion? Regs favour the straight on approach - nearside could be as out of favour as offside?

BB

[Bibbs]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2001/20010561.htm#6

It says "diagonal area" .. but no mention about the angles of this diagonal area.
Gotta love the law.