Are reg plates allowed to be cut/trimmed?

[Gilhooligan]

Interesting thread. I had a cut down square plate on an mx5 for years that never had any issues. It still had the required 11mm border.
Just got another car and have put on a private plate which I cut down, as it’s only 5 characters. The plate still has the manufacturer name and postcode but the BS number is now gone. Hoping I don’t have any issues come MOT time.

[Muddle238]

The 11mm border is a minimum. There's no maximum border, hence as previously mentioned, certain cars such as Rover 75 have oversize "smiley" shaped plates. In fact, quite a few cars have oversized (larger than the standard 520mmx111mm IIRC) rear plates, Jag XJ, S Type, MGZT, Crossfire, various Land Rovers, Range Rovers etc.

If you had a super short registration, for example 1P, then with an 11mm border around the digits the whole plate would probably be no bigger than a piece of A5 paper.

[RSTurboPaul]

Roo said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Is it not the case that plate manufacturers have to include the BS Number and Postcode, but if the plate had been on your car for years it is not necessary because the legislation is not retrospective?

Only if the plates were manufactured and fitted to the car prior to 1st September 2001.

Is it therefore the case that one could not physically unscrew and move an existing Private Plate from an older vehicle to a 'New' vehicle?

[RSTurboPaul]

Proteu5 said:

I know someone who cut out the lettering and numbers in the plate, to let air through to the FMIC. Would this be an option?

There was a company that was offering this 'back in the day' when Max Power etc. was big (might have been fancyplates IIRC?) - I think it was a 'grey area', in that it technically accorded with the rules of an 11mm border round the letters/numerals, but that 'da fuzz' did not like it.

They stopped offering it after a while, I'm not sure if the legality was ever tested in a legal case.

[CRA1G]

I used to have mine cut down to the 11mm to edge as mentioned and never had any problems with plod or MOT's etc but over the years when I bought new I just went standard again somehow looks better imo...

[RSTurboPaul]

This is an interesting interpretation of the rules, lol:

https://audisrs.com/cut-out-number-plates-t25485.h...

[Jaguar steve]

RSTurboPaul said:

Roo said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Is it not the case that plate manufacturers have to include the BS Number and Postcode, but if the plate had been on your car for years it is not necessary because the legislation is not retrospective?

Only if the plates were manufactured and fitted to the car prior to 1st September 2001.

Is it therefore the case that one could not physically unscrew and move an existing Private Plate from an older vehicle to a 'New' vehicle?

I've done exactly this several times with no problems with MOTs or the BiB.

My number plates were made in the 1970's soon after the change from black and white to yellow and white and when I buy another car I wait for the V5 to arrive showing the transfer then just swap my plates from the old car to the new one. At 40 odd years old now they're getting a bit scruffy and carry advertising for a long gone car dealer but they still do the job so that doesn't bother me.

So far I've found the original registration is re allocated to the old car I'm planning to sell so I always keep those plates too and just screw them back on when I take mine off.

[PF62]

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

[Roo]

RSTurboPaul said:

Roo said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Is it not the case that plate manufacturers have to include the BS Number and Postcode, but if the plate had been on your car for years it is not necessary because the legislation is not retrospective?

Only if the plates were manufactured and fitted to the car prior to 1st September 2001.

Is it therefore the case that one could not physically unscrew and move an existing Private Plate from an older vehicle to a 'New' vehicle?

Was the car first registered before 1st September 2001?

[RSTurboPaul]

Roo said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Roo said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Is it not the case that plate manufacturers have to include the BS Number and Postcode, but if the plate had been on your car for years it is not necessary because the legislation is not retrospective?

Only if the plates were manufactured and fitted to the car prior to 1st September 2001.

Is it therefore the case that one could not physically unscrew and move an existing Private Plate from an older vehicle to a 'New' vehicle?

Was the car first registered before 1st September 2001?

I am speaking hypothetically so it could be before or after!

[jshell]

PF62 said:

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

[Jaguar steve]

jshell said:

PF62 said:

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

Yeah me too. No need to try hard if you've already got a short or distinctive plate which is why I prefer mine distressed and old and tatty and looking like you don't give a st. Just stick the cheapest bog standard size ones on you can get and be done with it .

[Roo]

jshell said:

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

I've got a small import plate on my car as I think it looks better but I agree with you about a 2x2 looking better on a full sized plate.

[jshell]

Jaguar steve said:

jshell said:

PF62 said:

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

Yeah me too. No need to try hard if you've already got a short or distinctive plate which is why I prefer mine distressed and old and tatty and looking like you don't give a st. Just stick the cheapest bog standard size ones on you can get and be done with it .

Yup, looks like 'wealth' rather than 'new money - lookatmeeeee'. Class, not crass. But, again, personal choice.

[jshell]

Roo said:

I've got a small import plate on my car as I think it looks better but I agree with you about a 2x2 looking better on a full sized plate.

[Jaguar steve]

jshell said:

Jaguar steve said:

jshell said:

PF62 said:

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

Yeah me too. No need to try hard if you've already got a short or distinctive plate which is why I prefer mine distressed and old and tatty and looking like you don't give a st. Just stick the cheapest bog standard size ones on you can get and be done with it .

Yup, looks like 'wealth' rather than 'new money - lookatmeeeee'. Class, not crass. But, again, personal choice.

That works particularly well if the plate is worth way more than the car it's attached to...

[jshell]

Jaguar steve said:

jshell said:

Jaguar steve said:

jshell said:

PF62 said:

Krikkit said:

Slow said:

Like this?



I assume its legal.

Yep, all good there

Apart from being a crime against taste.

That's where I am. It's like cutting a hole in your jacket sleeve to show your Rolex. Personal taste, but I do think it smacks of 'trying too hard'. Just IMHO, short numbers look way better and more casual when on a standard plate.

Wouldn't think of cutting my 2x2 down as it gets enough attention.

Yeah me too. No need to try hard if you've already got a short or distinctive plate which is why I prefer mine distressed and old and tatty and looking like you don't give a st. Just stick the cheapest bog standard size ones on you can get and be done with it .

Yup, looks like 'wealth' rather than 'new money - lookatmeeeee'. Class, not crass. But, again, personal choice.

That works particularly well if the plate is worth way more than the car it's attached to...

S1 on a normal sized plate used to sit round the corner from me on an old 3-series Touring in dark green. Lovely!!