Rear number plate light requirement
Rear number plate light requirement
Author
Discussion

edc

Original Poster:

9,486 posts

274 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
Is there a penalty/fine for driving at night (or day) without the lights to illuminate the rear plate?

I may need to do some bodywork whoch would mean their removal.

On a tangent, if the rear plate lights are on the car they will be tested as part of MOT but if they are not on the car are they simply not a tested item or is it an instant fail?

:cheers

jesusbuiltmycar

5,054 posts

277 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
From what I understand, a rear number plat light is an MOT requirement. Removing it is an MOT failiure and makes your car un-roadworthy.

When getting my TVR MOT'd a few years ago I had a problem with this. On my TVR the light is behind the number plate and illuminates it through the actual number plate.

The orangutan testing my car had failed it because there was no light fitted. I pointed out the car was like that from new and he replied "If you purchase a foreign motor you should modify it to comply with UK law..." Last time I looked blackpool was part of the UK! After a heated discussion and a re-test the car finally passed.

Flat in Fifth

47,929 posts

274 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
While we are dealing with lighting questions:-

Assuming your vehicle is neither

a) A vehicle not required to be fitted with a rear registration plate;
nor
b)A works truck

then you need a number plate light as part of the obligatory lights.

Yes there is a fine £30 iirc.




>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 17th August 17:50

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

267 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
Bad day FiF? You missed off other exemptions

Road rollers,

Agriculural machines,

Vehicles first used before relevant day i.e. before 1st October 1938 .

Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regs 2001.

DVD

Flat in Fifth

47,929 posts

274 months

Tuesday 17th August 2004
quotequote all
Dwight VanDriver said:
Bad day FiF?



cheers and DVD thanks for correcting my ommissions.

Bad day? Been better must admit. You know how it is no matter what the job, some days covered in glory, others just one ball ache end to end.

>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 17th August 20:09

edc

Original Poster:

9,486 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th August 2004
quotequote all
Thank you.

So if I remove the rear plate lights (97 car) and drive the car whilst the work is being done then I may get into 'trouble'.

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

267 months

Wednesday 18th August 2004
quotequote all
Could be......

&1,OOO fine - No points. (S 56 Veh Excise and Registration Act 1994 the parent Act for the Reg stated)

DVD

edc

Original Poster:

9,486 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th August 2004
quotequote all
So in addition no rear plate lights could contravene s43 too www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940022_en_4.htm#mdiv43

The upshot is, don't drive without them