Front Numberplate Sizes

[SwankBaton]

What is everybody getting away with ?

I've been 'seen' with the following on and the BIB did nothing. But the auto-number plate cameras at airport parking obviosuly have no chance.
Is it a matter of time before I get a ticking off ? I do carry the full size behind the seat. A few guys on the Z4MC scene are literally running around with no number plate, and claim no hassle??

[2.5bluenob]

ive been without a front one for sometime now. ive passed quite a few police who have had a good look at me coming towards them and they have done nothing.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Illegal numberplate = 3 points and £60+ fine
No numberplate = £60 fine

Take your pick

[wessexrfc]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Illegal numberplate = 3 points and £60+ fine
No numberplate = £60 fine

Take your pick

I had the Bib come up behind me as I, some what enthusiastically joind the M5 from the A30 after coming back from having the car remapped. They had blues and twos going, and thought I was for it. They came up behind and followed me after switching off the lights for a bit, then overtook and were gone. My plate is incorrectly spaced, but the correct size etc, seems they have more important things to worry about (I hope )

[hollowpockets]

I had 3/4 sized plates on for a year with no hassle. If what Adrian says is true I'll run no front plate and a full size one on the rear once it's back on the road.

[mgbond]

My plate is M 6 BND and is cut down as its not Many letters but is ileagaly spaced. Had it 8 yrs now with no issue.

Bondy

[funkybmx1]

I ot pulled for speeding. Had no front plate. And a small front plate on the rear. And he said nothing. More interested in the car. And telling me to slow down. Plenty of ok ones. You do get the odd one tho

[arabian]

I have a legal size and spaced one on the rear, and a small and incorrectly spaced one on the front. Police have seen it and not commented. I also keep a full size front one in the car which fell off this morning officer....

Mind you, I'm interested on the comment that you simply get a fine for no number plate and yet fine plus points for illegal numberplate. Is that right ? I suppose an illegal plate is a deliberate thing whereas they couldn't prove your front one hadn't just fallen off ??

Any lawyers out there to answer that one ? I'm guessing its really just down to pot luck with the copper that pulls you over.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

arabian said:

Mind you, I'm interested on the comment that you simply get a fine for no number plate and yet fine plus points for illegal numberplate. Is that right ? I suppose an illegal plate is a deliberate thing whereas they couldn't prove your front one hadn't just fallen off ??

Yup. In extreme they could take your plate off you (if you have one that's worth money) and stick a standard one on that you can't change, and repeated offences can have up to £1000 fine.

I don't know anyone that's been done (that's had a nice car).

However, try it on something boring, or act a cock they'll go after you.

[Blu3R]

Who told you that an illegal number plate attracted 3 points? That's rubbish.

[Rob_W]

I had one made to the absolute minimum legal dimensions and it's quite a bit smaller than the typical plates you buy. It's not strictly legal because it doesn't have a BS marking or a manufacturer's details e.g. postcode.Picture below shows typical standard plate size, minimum legal dimensions and a 3/4 plate.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Blu3R said:

Who told you that an illegal number plate attracted 3 points? That's rubbish.

Looking at it all afresh I wonder if the confusion was that the numberplate and no seatbelt fines were revised at the same time.

[Blu3R]

Those two are covered by the same non endorsable fixed penalty notice which just attracts a £60 fine.

[JulesBliss]

I was once told that if there is nowhere for you to put your plate, you do not have to display one.

I have mine in the windscreen at the moment, and have done the same on all previous cars. Been pulled a few times for it, but they just tell me to put it on and let me go!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

JulesBliss said:

I was once told that if there is nowhere for you to put your plate, you do not have to display one.

Nope, I know that one's not true

[Daisy Duke]

Blu3R said:

Those two are covered by the same non endorsable fixed penalty notice which just attracts a £60 fine.

The on-the-spot fine is ₤60, but according to the Directgov website, a harsher penalty can be imposed, "The police can issue fixed penalty fines for illegally displayed number plates. Offenders could face a maximum fine of £1,000 and in some cases the number plate may be withdrawn. Vehicles with illegally displayed number plates may fail the MOT test."

I doubt they'd do this for a first offence though.

JulesBliss said:

I was once told that if there is nowhere for you to put your plate, you do not have to display one.

There's a loophole concerning SVA'd vehicles which haven't completed the registration process, but this only applies under limited circumstances though, ie they can only be driven without a number plate from the port of entry to your home address/first destination, to and from a pre-arranged SVA/MoT test and to and from a garage for remedial work following failure to pass the tests.

However, there's also some leniency re the size of number plate required:- "Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display numberplates with smaller characters if:

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval
And
The vehicle's construction/ design cannot accommodate standard size plates"

[JulesBliss]

And does anyone know the legalities of displaying it in your windscreen (so all numbers and letters are visable?)

Julian

[snuffy]

Why not simply display a correctly spaced, of the correct size, with correct font, front number plate ? That way you don't have to worry one jot about the legality of it, or if you're going to get stopped by plod. Why is doing that so bloody hard ?

[JulesBliss]

Where do you put it?

In the standard place it restricts flow to the rad too much for me.

[snuffy]

JulesBliss said:

Where do you put it?

In the standard place it restricts flow to the rad too much for me.

I put it where it's supposed to go.

Why does it restrict the air flow ? My temperature never rises above around 85, even in the hot weather we're had for the last few days. It might make a difference on a track, but's then that's irrelevant.

I used to hear this kind of number plate nonsense from Elise owners; stuff about having one in the boot and producing it if they get stopped.

There are many stupid laws in this country about all sorts of things; but the size and placement of a front number plate is not one of them.