Number plates + new UK identifier
Discussion
I’m buying a new car and the registration plates won’t come with the old EU stars and the GB identifier.
Given the new identifier is the Union flag and UK, should I request this on my number plate (actually the rules state it’s just for the rear I think)?
I travel to Europe, so it’ll avoid me having to get a new UK sticker.
M
Given the new identifier is the Union flag and UK, should I request this on my number plate (actually the rules state it’s just for the rear I think)?
I travel to Europe, so it’ll avoid me having to get a new UK sticker.
M
Edited by thebullettrain on Thursday 30th June 16:00
If you’re driving abroad, there are some rules you need to follow. As of 1st January 2021, new UK number plates are no longer permitted to display the GB Euro side badge. However, there is no need to worry if yours was fitted prior to 2021, existing GB Euro plates can be retained.
If your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag, you don’t need a UK sticker. However, you will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:
- a GB identifier with the Union flag
- a Euro symbol
- a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
- numbers and letters only - no flag or identifier
If you're visiting Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate. And if you have a GB sticker, remember to cover or remove it before driving outside the UK.
If your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag, you don’t need a UK sticker. However, you will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:
- a GB identifier with the Union flag
- a Euro symbol
- a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
- numbers and letters only - no flag or identifier
If you're visiting Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate. And if you have a GB sticker, remember to cover or remove it before driving outside the UK.
You have a few options.
(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
REDGTA said:
Why was GB changed to UK? I'm sure there is a reason, but it seems like a mega-faff to a lot of people.
Post Brexit - to be more inclusive of Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, whereas the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Bubba Zanetti said:
REDGTA said:
Why was GB changed to UK? I'm sure there is a reason, but it seems like a mega-faff to a lot of people.
Post Brexit - to be more inclusive of Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, whereas the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
It's fun trying to explain all this to foreigners so when I worked abroad I generally used to point them at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
REDGTA said:
Why was GB changed to UK? I'm sure there is a reason, but it seems like a mega-faff to a lot of people.
As said, it was to emphasise the inclusion of Northern Ireland. However the 3 letter code for athletics is still GBR, I believe, even though ‘Team GB’ includes Northern Ireland.A bit like the England cricket team includes Wales, and is governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
While we are at it: it is ‘Three Leopards on a Shirt’, they are ‘passant regardant’, they are only termed lions, heraldically speaking, only when ‘rampant’.
My ‘66 plate car has no country identifier at all. The dealers were quick off the mark post June 2016 vote.
deckster said:
You have a few options.
(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
Absolutely this. Unless you transgress in some other way (speeding) the gendarmes will not give a flying f(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
k whether you have a GB sticker, a union jack or a pistonheads logo.....egomeister said:
Bubba Zanetti said:
REDGTA said:
Why was GB changed to UK? I'm sure there is a reason, but it seems like a mega-faff to a lot of people.
Post Brexit - to be more inclusive of Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, whereas the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.It's fun trying to explain all this to foreigners so when I worked abroad I generally used to point them at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
deckster said:
You have a few options.
(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
As it's a new car, OP could just ask for it to be supplied with the UK plates (1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
OP, I fitted UK plates last year to my mile muncher as the existing plates were looking tired and I was off to the continent. Doubt I'd have got into any hot water as I too saw plenty of cars without UK markings and didn't see any police let alone anyone stopped by said police. Was only a few hundred miles into France, so YMMV depending on how far you drive/ how pedantic the police are. But, might as well.
Since getting UK plates I've felt no need to get a staffie, a satellite dish or to visit a flat-roof pub. And I still think Nigel Farage is a bit of a t
t (for balance, I also think Charles Michel manages to be even more of a tt, but I thought that before I got my Brexit plates).donkmeister said:
deckster said:
You have a few options.
(1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
As it's a new car, OP could just ask for it to be supplied with the UK plates (1) Order new number conforming plates
(2) Display a UK sticker on the car
(3) Get some stickers for the numberplate which add the union flag and UK in the right place
(4) Don't bother at all
On (4), I'd estimate over 30% of the UK cars I saw in France last half term didn't have any country identifiers at all. And last time I went over without any on the car, the French authorities still managed to send me a speeding fine. So I'd suggest it's not terribly important either way.
OP, I fitted UK plates last year to my mile muncher as the existing plates were looking tired and I was off to the continent. Doubt I'd have got into any hot water as I too saw plenty of cars without UK markings and didn't see any police let alone anyone stopped by said police. Was only a few hundred miles into France, so YMMV depending on how far you drive/ how pedantic the police are. But, might as well.
Since getting UK plates I've felt no need to get a staffie, a satellite dish or to visit a flat-roof pub. And I still think Nigel Farage is a bit of a t
t (for balance, I also think Charles Michel manages to be even more of a tt, but I thought that before I got my Brexit plates).Yes - I just went with Sureplates (other online plate retailers are available) with a standard design. It looked visually odd when I first fitted them as I don't think I had seen any others about, but now they are quite commonplace it doesn't stand out to me as any different to how the old euro-style ones did.
I'd say it looks like the flag is there for bureaucratic reasons, rather than patriotic reasons.
I'd say it looks like the flag is there for bureaucratic reasons, rather than patriotic reasons.
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