Is a cut down number plate legal?

[un1corn]

I've spent ages looking for an answer, and all I can find is this;
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

I seem to recall that cut plates arent legal. I suppose if cut, the BS logo/number wouldn't be present, so in turn not legal, so in turn a fixed penalty can be issued?

I also believe there's a legal exemption for Japanese imports, as the plate holder on these cars won't take a normal full plate, but I might have just dreamt that up?

[Dave Hedgehog]

it quite clearly states 11mm margins, so with correct sized and spaced characters you need 11mm at each end

Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm

[Rick101]

There are various dimensions you have to adhere to. Most gormless folk will shout illegal at the mention of a smaller plate and keep repeating it without actually knowing much about the actual requirements.

Will be replacing mine with a smaller one soon as the full size one had a meeting with the floor recently.

There are a few online suppliers which will happily provide a small sized legal plate.

Font size, gaps between letters, suffix and prefix and border size all need to be considered.

[BlueFiestaST]

Police seemed to be ok with my shortened down plate. My private reg is XX XXX.

MOT testers failed it on two different MOT tests. 2014 and 2015. The 2014 MOT testers after I had a bit of work done just passed it with the short plate on.

The 2015 MOT test was failed completely due to it and I was told to buy a normal sized plate.

British transport police passed comment when at my work asking if it was legal. I said yes and he was happy with that, although I get along with them quite well.

The plate had the code on it and the manufacturers address. Perfect spacing etc etc.
The 2015 tester still failed it even after me printing off a document off the website. The MOT guy just said in his book it's a fail and I could not do anything about it. Won't be going back there again.

[jshell]

Short plates can be legal, they just look like trying too hard though...look at me, look at me, I've got an expensive plate. Personal taste, and all that, but like adding diamonds to a Rolex.

[TomLRogers]

I cannot offer much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

Edited by TomLRogers on Wednesday 7th September 11:15

[jshell]

TomLRogers said:

I cannot off much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

How much?

[Vron]

I used to have short plates for my reg X XX but for about the last 15 years I've just had normal size plates. I now think they can look a bit naff when very short. They are legal though as long as the font and 11mm border are there there's no law about how much excess plastic there has to be.

Depends on the car too, often some idiot had drilled the bumpers so you can't have short plates anyway.

[xjay1337]

jshell said:

TomLRogers said:

I cannot off much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

How much?

fk me glad I was sitting down.

[shakotan]

xjay1337 said:

jshell said:

TomLRogers said:

I cannot off much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

How much?

fk me glad I was sitting down.

"Vari-width Technology"

Marketing bks for a knife.

What a bunch of s.

[jshell]

shakotan said:

xjay1337 said:

jshell said:

TomLRogers said:

I cannot off much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

How much?

fk me glad I was sitting down.

"Vari-width Technology"

Marketing bks for a knife.

What a bunch of s.

Yup, fools and their money...

S1 used to sit near where I live. Was fabulous to see on standard sized plates, on an old green BMW 3-series touring. So casual, so obviously worth a fortune. Class personified!

No need to draw attention like 'new money'. Pity it was sold on... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinbu...

[HantsRat]

Yes short plates can be legal if the correct spacing and width etc is used. Why people feel the need to fit them though is still a mystery to me.

[Rick101]

Because it fits the car properly?

[HantsRat]

Rick101 said:

Because it fits the car properly?

99% if the ones I see look chavy and extremely tacky leaving a big spce around it (Where a normal sized UK plate would fit perfectly) Such as these...





The worse ones I see are these ..



Completely illegal and result in a £100 ticket each time.

[xjay1337]

I have a smaller front plate.
It's illegal but not too illegal if you know what I mean, I've not had any issues thus far.

It does look quite a lot better than a normal sized plate.

[HantsRat]

xjay1337 said:

I have a smaller front plate.
It's illegal but not too illegal if you know what I mean, I've not had any issues thus far.

It does look quite a lot better than a normal sized plate.

In your opinion. In my opinion they look awful, especially if on a respectable car and not on a Nova but each to their own. There is a big crack down on illegal plates in Hampshire at the moment. It will go nationwide too as DVLA are really pressing the police to crack down on illegal plates.

No not the crime of the century but plate regulations are there for a reason and everyone needs to abide by them.

[TomLRogers]

jshell said:

shakotan said:

xjay1337 said:

jshell said:

TomLRogers said:

I cannot off much help on the legality of short plates, however I have used these guys in the passed, and they make some uniquely styled plates and appear to be totally legal.

https://www.fourdotdesignerplates.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0...

How much?

fk me glad I was sitting down.

"Vari-width Technology"

Marketing bks for a knife.

What a bunch of s.

Yup, fools and their money...

S1 used to sit near where I live. Was fabulous to see on standard sized plates, on an old green BMW 3-series touring. So casual, so obviously worth a fortune. Class personified!

No need to draw attention like 'new money'. Pity it was sold on... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinbu...

PistonHeads - Where strong opinions matter!

[xjay1337]

HantsRat said:

In your opinion. In my opinion they look awful, especially if on a respectable car and not on a Nova but each to their own. There is a big crack down on illegal plates in Hampshire at the moment. It will go nationwide too as DVLA are really pressing the police to crack down on illegal plates.

No not the crime of the century but plate regulations are there for a reason and everyone needs to abide by them.

My opinion is that until you have seen my car with normal and smaller plate, that judgement is for me to make!

Unless you're one of those "Pagani Zonda must have full sized front plate" type of people.

[HantsRat]

xjay1337 said:

My opinion is that until you have seen my car with normal and smaller plate, that judgement is for me to make!

Unless you're one of those "Pagani Zonda must have full sized front plate" type of people.

If it's an import and cannot support a UK normal sized plate then it's not illegal to have a smaller on.

[Digitalize]

5 or 6 digit plates look fine shorter, after that they start to look a little odd.

Also if the car has a very obvious plate recess (Like the S3 above) just don't do it.

If your cars age requires a BSAU number, you can't just cut one down as you'd cut it off, but you can get them made shorter which would have the BSAU on.