New number plate laws on pressed metal plates
Discussion
Are pressed number plates legal for modern vehicles?
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
beaubooth__ said:
Oh damn that’s annoying. So there’s literally no customisable plates you can get anymore just has to be a standard one then or is there some form of customisation available?
I'm pretty sure they're legal despite what the above poster said. Mine have all the right markings etc on them.Even if they aren't I've had them on my car forever and not had any problems.
I had pressed metal plates on a BMW and thought they looked fine, and they were totally legal. I doubt you will accrue any bother from having them fitted. I've also seen a fair few pass through workshops and I've never known one to fail an MOT, only if the plates are illegally spaced.
nordboy said:
Are pressed number plates legal for modern vehicles?
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
I find this intriguing, because the last 2 trailer plates I've had made by Halfords were made from aluminium-backed reflective material with a print of the reg on clear acetate then stuck on top - rather than the previous/normal method of printing the reg onto the reflective sheet and sticking it to thr piece of acrylic.Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
Not only do I find these metal plates far more practical because they don't shatter just by you looking at them the wrong way, but i doubt a company like Halfords would be producing illegal plates
. They can dent and stone chip, so I've replaced them a couple of times before. ChemicalChaos said:
nordboy said:
Are pressed number plates legal for modern vehicles?
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
I find this intriguing, because the last 2 trailer plates I've had made by Halfords were made from aluminium-backed reflective material with a print of the reg on clear acetate then stuck on top - rather than the previous/normal method of printing the reg onto the reflective sheet and sticking it to thr piece of acrylic.Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
Not only do I find these metal plates far more practical because they don't shatter just by you looking at them the wrong way, but i doubt a company like Halfords would be producing illegal plates
And yes, Halfords would not knowingly sell illegal plates!
nordboy said:
Are pressed number plates legal for modern vehicles?
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
I did some research and I'm not sure on metal plates but 3D/4D plates won't in fact be illegal. What the DVLA has said is that 2D printed plates with a two tone effect to make the characters look 3D when they're not is what's going to be illegal. It states on the gov website that 3D lettering is allowed as long as it is only one solid shade of black.Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st 2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard. In 2021, this changed to BS AU145e, with a more robust material introduced.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.
beaubooth__ said:
I did some research and I'm not sure on metal plates but 3D/4D plates won't in fact be illegal. What the DVLA has said is that 2D printed plates with a two tone effect to make the characters look 3D when they're not is what's going to be illegal. It states on the gov website that 3D lettering is allowed as long as it is only one solid shade of black.
I have not found anywhere (including the gov legislation) that permits 3D digits. “Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
Muddle238 said:
I have not found anywhere (including the gov legislation) that permits 3D digits.
“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
It says on the above link underneath the first section titled "Rules for Number Plates" that "Characters on a number plate can be 3D"
Muddle238 said:
I have not found anywhere (including the gov legislation) that permits 3D digits.
“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
Oh yeah also I think by removable they mean they can't be removed and replaced with ease. You could easily peel the print off of a standard number plate to remove the letters and then replace it.“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
AJB88 said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
The DVLA is unlikely to kill its cherished registration cash cow by doing that.
They could still do it, many other countries have the same.I'm on about the supply of plates, 1 style online.
Numerous different lengths but just the 1 style.
Muddle238 said:
I have not found anywhere (including the gov legislation) that permits 3D digits.
“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
I don't interpret the 3rd point/para in the same way you do!“Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
The third point there clearly shows they’re differentiating between digits that are physically 3D (think of those advertised as “4D”) and those that are just printed with shading to appear as if they’re 3D. Having made the differentiation, they still state that they are not allowed.
They also mention the black digits as “printed digits”, so unless some smart-arse starts doing 3D-printed plates, they fall foul of that.
Finally they mention that digits must not be removal - more so a thing with the “4D” trend, as those digits are physically stuck to a plate, but could be removed with enough force. Doesn’t impact a pressed metal plate obviously, but pressed metal is still 3D.
TLDR: 3D not allowed.
said:
Colourimetry. Plates must be of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.”
Simple & clear! said:
“Solid black digits. Two-tone/3D effect fonts of any kind are no longer allowed.”
One colour only - also clear. said:
“All digits must now be solid black according to the new rules. The means that 3D style digits including highline digits and others using two-tone effects are no longer allowed. Likewise, digits must not be removable.”
Seems to be clarifying previous point that they must be single colour and not 3D 'STYLE' digits. Doesn't say they can't actually be 3D, just that they can't be made to look like they're 3D when theyr'e not.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff