Number plate bolts

[reAnimate]

Quick question - what is the law regarding the bolts used to secure your number plate?

I have the registration X11 XXX and a bolt between the 11's. The spacing is legal, the bolt is normal size and it is not taking the p155.

Cheers.

[nubbin]

With all those X's, it loses a bit in the telling....

[reAnimate]

Ah ... but the law remains the same!

[raceboy]

I thought the plate actually was X11XXX
I presume the bolts on the back plate are yellow, and white on the front

[reAnimate]

Oooops good point!!!

... the bolts are black.

[raceboy]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, like you say it's not really taking the ps to much, but you appear to have a few different plates, some worse than others

[reAnimate]

I was tugged and have to get it changed, I don't think that it's illegal that's all ... so if I don't need to change it I won't.

[raceboy]

If you've been pulled and you don't sort it, and your pulled again, I think it's a £1k fine so best to play it safe for a while, this is always going to be the problem with plates that require a bit of 'tweaking' to say what you want it to say
I used to see a Saab Cab locally with had a played about with plate on the front and a 'legal' one on the back

[Mr2Mike]

reAnimate said: I was tugged and have to get it changed, I don't think that it's illegal that's all ... so if I don't need to change it I won't.

It is illegal. You must use the correct colour bolts or screwcaps on the registration plate, to stop exactly this kind of thing.

[Flat in Fifth]

Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 561
The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm

Section 11 para(3)

"A registration plate must not be fixed to a vehicle -

(a) by means of a screw, bolt or other fixing device of any type or colour,

(b) by the placing of a screw, bolt or other fixing device in any position, or

(c) in any other manner,

which has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters of the registration mark, which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which prevents or impairs the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device."

hope that helps

[kevinday]

Mr2Mike and Flatin5th are correct, it is illegal.

[reAnimate]

Hummm ... thanks.

So ... if I remove the bolts, stick the plates back on with glue or something, and leave the holes where the bolts were is this OK?

[madcop]

reAnimate said: Hummm ... thanks.

So ... if I remove the bolts, stick the plates back on with glue or something, and leave the holes where the bolts were is this OK?

Just get the bolt covers to correspond with the background where the hole is. Halford sell them, black, white and yellow.

[kevinday]

reAnimate said: Hummm ... thanks.

So ... if I remove the bolts, stick the plates back on with glue or something, and leave the holes where the bolts were is this OK?

Only if the holes appear the same colour as the surrounding plate, so probably not. See Madcop's answer as well.