Numbers on the side of car - Road legal?

[Timja]

Having heard numerous stories of whether race numbers on the side of doors are legal or not i thought i'd ask in here as i'm sure many of you have numbers on your cars.

Looking for a definitive answer of whether numbers on the side of vehicles are OK to have and drive on public roads. Some people seem to think you have to drive with an X through it, but others have said that is used on road rallies to show you have finished and you can have any stickers on your car as long as they are not distracting to road users.

Can anyone give me a definitive answer?

Thanks.

[Timja]

Just googled Blue Book and found this:

Competition Numbers (Chart 6)
6. Numbers must be displayed in a durable manner
and be black, of a minimum size of 23cm high with
stroke width of a minimum of 3.8cm on a white oblong
background measuring not less than 48cm x 33cm
which must extend at least 5cm beyond the outline of
the numbers.
• If on a white vehicle the background must be
delineated at 48cm x 33cm by a continuous black
line, except for cars of period A to E.
• Numbers must be displayed on each side of the
vehicle (front doors, alongside the cockpit or on rear
wing end plates) and on the foremost part of the
nose.
• Certain types of competition have special
requirements which will appear in SRs (Subject to
approval by the MSA) [See K 194-198 for Kart
Numbers].
• Note. Consideration should be given at all times to
the positive identification of vehicles by the
competition organisers, whose decisions will be final.
• The numbers must be of the ‘Classic’ type as
shown below:
1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–0.
• In International events the name(s) of the driver(s)
and the national flag of the country must be
displayed on the front wings or body work.
• Any means of identifying individual cars during a
competition MUST be removed at the finish of the
event.
• With the exception of events restricted to cars of
periods A to F (see The Terminology) race organisers
must not use three figured numbers unless previously
agreed in writing by the MSA.

[Timja]

Thanks, so from what I can see there is nothing stopping me from driving with numbers (or any other stickers on my car) other than it may attract more attention regarding sections 12 and 13 which don't worry me as i'm sure they would have to do more than saying I have stickers on my car to prove sections 12 and 13 and if I was racing, competing or speeding then my insurance would be invalid anyway so i would expect to get prosecuted.

RTA section 12 Motor racing and speed trials on public ways.
RTA section 13 Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on public ways.

[Timja]

Reason i'm asking is I put them on (along with a few other stickers) for Le Mans and really like the look of it, so thought i'd keep them on for a while!

I just wanted to make sure it wasn't illegal, otherwise i'd remove them. Sounds like they are fine except may attract some attention from the BiB that are looking for something to do. I'll keep them on for a bit then.

Thanks for the replies.