Do you lot have a front number plate?

[mister kevlar]

Hey one and all ive spent some serious cash on my s1!!...im just wondering about a private plate for myself...do any of you lot actually drive around with no front plate??...

Unsure if i really like the smaller plates, but it could be the answer....aso i presume no front plate is an mot failure??

[Mrs Fish]

we have a front plate

[arlo]

mister kevlar said:

....aso i presume no front plate is an mot failure??

More importantly it's illegal and you'll get pulled over and fined!

I toyed with the idea of a sticker style one on the bonnet, like on E-Types, but I'm pretty sure they are illegal as well due to the fact that it has to be displayed vertically.
The only reason the likes of E-Types get away with it is because they were built like it in the days when it was OK. Same goes for indicators, if it is a classic and was built without them then it is OK; otherwise it isn't.

[mister kevlar]

As i thought then really...so small un' it may have to be!

[davey S1]

Mr kevlar

Lots of people have been running around without a number plate for months. Some people have been caught, some havent.

If you want a small plate have a look on fancy plates.com. you can buy a small 3/4 plate for a few £ and you would be unlucky to be pulled over with one.

I have had a full size plate for 2 years and it has been fine.

[bogie]

My friend has had a stick on one for 4 years - no probs...coppers said they were ok with it as it was legible and full size...Ive had a 3/4 plate on the front for 2.5 years no probs...standard font etc, legible, just dosent catch on the ground all the time

[tupolev]

went 10 months, mostly in london, without one. coppers all to busy to bother.

back on now (till it gets ripped off again) as car just had mot.

[sweatysock]

Just put my S1 front plate back on again after not having one for the last 6 months. The police saying they are going to be cracking down on illegal plates so thought it was wise.

To be honest i'm not sure if the car looks any better without a front plate.

[abz 7001]

I have been pulled over twice with my 3/4 plate in the last 6 months in the City (of London) near Liverpool Street with mixed results. First time was City Police (footsoldiers)at 14,30 on a Sunday afternoon. Male officer was unaware why I had pulled over, but his female colleague had the pad out already and I got a producer...nice!

Second time was last week again in the City near London Bridge this time it was 2.00 am and the Met traffic boys. Nice guy told me straight off the bat he wasnt nicking me, just wanted to suggest a legal size stick on if clearance was an issue and to ask where I got the Alvan Front splitters, thought they were a nice touch! And off we went our separate ways.

I have seen Bogies and have to admit the font on mine is too small, I got a new one after the new front clam was put on and it seems to have come up smaller than the last fontwise. Still think they are a good idea but am going to ditch the fancy border and get standard font and return to hassle free driving.

Moral of the story is if you dont take the piss then its not a problem for most. Still think they should stop the blue LED brigade first - what is the point?

[arlo]

abz 7001 said:

Still think they should stop the blue LED brigade first - what is the point?

I quite agree; same goes for poncey green lights under the vehicle. Problem is most of them don't know if it is actually illegal. My interpretation of 11.2 and 16 of the following is that it is:
www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm#(Tii)i6restrictionfittingbluewarningbeaconspecialwarninglampsimilardevice

[trunkie]

I lost 2 plates (one mini and one full size) on the curbstone outside my flat in the space of 2 weeks. Plod stopped and fined me and gave me a producer while my current plate was on order from fancyplates.com. Fancy plates will make your plate as small as legally possible if you request it.

[steff]

I've a 3/4 sized plate from fancy plates on my S1 and had no problems in 2 odd years.

[S Works]

FWIW, I subscribe to the keep it normal brigade...

a) 'cos I don't want to waste time explaining to some bored BiB and getting a producer, and
b) I'd rather the numberplate alert me to a grounding than the clam!

I do like the stick on plates though, especially work well on the Norfolk Mustard cars IMHO.

[StuartB]

I didn't used to have one but started to get nervous after I moved, living about 150 yards from the police station - every one of their cars drove past the front of my car each morning... realised it was only gonna be a matter of time!

If you have a look on the DVLA site for the exact specifcations of sizes and gaps you can order a number plate that is both small enough to not worry about and is legal. I ordered mine from Fancyplates.com (technically you are menat to have the name of the people who made your plate... however that is the smallest of legal small print in this context)

My number plate is like R000 XXX - the dimensions of the plate are 460mm x 101mm if you have 1's in it the 460mm width can be decreased

[black_potato]

It is an MOT failure...

Plod... a small fine.. £30 IIRC...

I've driven without one for around 8 months now with no issues ( Around 6k )
I have two in the boot a broken one and one with a letter wrong in the reg number which the MOT place made up to get the car past its MOT.....

To be honest.... with all the front facing cameras.... I'll take my chance without one...

[pic] www.bpracing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/NW-110904.jpg [/pic]

[Dave.B]

No front plate for over a year, no tug as yet Looks much better IMO

[DanH]

Worst case without a front plate is 30 quid fine and showing a plate to an officer at the station right?

Beats 3 points and a 70 quid fine

[stuartb]

To the letter of the law, a violation can be £1000, and having the plate taken out of use

www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm

In practice it seems that it is a £30 / £40 + producer

[mark-111r]

I have the smaller one on mine and in 7 months of having it i have not been pulled... Plus its a great private number plate!!!! MY 04 LTS.

[stuartb]

Provided you are not driving it like you stole it then the police will probably leave you alone.

There will be people who will say that "I got pulled for no other reason than my number plate".... however in practice I bet that 99% of the time the copper that stopped them was bored and wanted to have a look round the car, maybe got jealous or was tired of the owners excuses / conversation.

If you have one in the boot, then you'll probably not suffer more than getting your wrists slapped