Number plate law

[richb77]

Right. I am completely confused here.

I have read and searched and read more about the law regarding number plates (most is quite old now and it seems to change often).

I have a private plate (C reg prefix) and have just ordered some new plates to fit to my new car (2005).

I have ordered them to be legal (i dont do stupid fonts or spacing) bar the Euro badge which is in black not blue.

The seller claims they are perfectly legal but they dont have any markings (BS AU 145d).

I take it they are probably going to be a problem?

What do they need to have on them now?

[herewego]

the information seems to be here:
https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-...

[richb77]

Cheers for that.

So am i correct in thinking they dont have to have BS mark on them then?

The link says NOTHING about postcode/BS mark e.t.c.

So it seems that my plates are fine

[GuinnessMK]

The PDF linked from the above site seems to state that they do need to display the BS number.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...

"The British Standard for number plates
The British Standard sets out the physical characteristics
of the number plate. This includes visibility, strength
and reflectivity. The British Standard also requires each
number plate to be permanently and legibly marked with
the following information:
n
the British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d);
n
the name, trade mark or other means of identification
of the manufacturer or component supplier; and
n
the name and postcode of the supplying outlet."

[richb77]

Jesus.

See what i mean..

Two DVLA pieces of information and they contradict each other.

So my plates are in fact not legal.

What a P.I.T.A

Cheers gents.

[Snowboy]

At the risk of starting a bun fight;
I would suggest that if the plate is the right size and shape and the font is the correct one with no daft spacing then it's unlikely anyone in authority will care.

[Pablo68]

richb77 said:

Jesus.

See what i mean..

Two DVLA pieces of information and they contradict each other.

So my plates are in fact not legal.

What a P.I.T.A

Cheers gents.

If you get stopped and slapped £30 just for not having the BS mark on the plates (all else being legal) I think you would have found a prime nominee for "Jobsworth bd of the year"

[Exige77]

They are about unfortunately.
If they are determined to nail you for something the missing BS mark or post could make their day.

Ex77

[ging84]

where is the contradiction ?
that page does not mention anything about not requiring a BS mark, and it's not from the DVLA it's gov direct it's general information about number plates for the public not number plate manufacturers

the next page it tells you to buy your number plate from a registered manufacturer, who know that you do need to display the BS mark

[Pablo68]

Exige77 said:

They are about unfortunately.
If they are determined to nail you for something the missing BS mark or post could make their day.

Ex77

I'm sure they do, but if it was me I'd be insistent on taking a photo of the prosecuting officer stood with the "evidence" and post it all over the interweb...would almost be worth the £30.

[herewego]

Why not go to a registered supplier who will supply a legal plate and put their name on it? Then you don't have to worry about it. Couldn't you keep the plates off the previous car?

[Sir Bagalot]

richb77 said:

I have ordered them to be legal (i dont do stupid fonts or spacing) bar the Euro badge which is in black not blue.

• confused*

In having a black Euro badge they are illegal so it doesn't matter about the rest.

BTW they do need the BS mark.

[Red Devil]

richb77 said:

I have a private plate (C reg prefix) and have just ordered some new plates to fit to my new car (2005).

I have ordered them to be legal (i dont do stupid fonts or spacing) bar the Euro badge which is in black not blue.

To comply it must have a blue background - see below

richb77 said:

The seller claims they are perfectly legal but they dont have any markings (BS AU 145d).

Bovine excrement I'm afraid.

richb77 said:

I take it they are probably going to be a problem?

richb77 said:

What do they need to have on them now?

See below

richb77 said:

Cheers for that.

So am i correct in thinking they dont have to have BS mark on them then?

The link says NOTHING about postcode/BS mark e.t.c.

Except you missed this - http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_... - page 8.

richb77 said:

So it seems that my plates are fine

No. See Section 10 and Schedule 2 of the The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.

The Euro badge requirements are to be found in Section 4 of the The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.
Subsection (3) has a link the relevant EC Council Regulation wherein the blue background is mandated by Para (4).

Rule 1. Never rely on the gov.uk site or information leaflets. Always go to the authoritative source - i.e. the relevant legislation.
Rule 2. Never forget Rule 1.

Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 3rd April 16:01

[Durzel]

Possibly a bit underhanded of the seller, he probably knew that he couldn't (and didn't want) to stamp his identifying details and BS mark on the plate and risk comeback on him when he knew it wouldn't be compliant, but didn't want to lose the sale by telling you as such.

[richb77]

So with regards to the Euro badge, I guess its a case of if its there it has to be blue background.

Bugger.

and to confirm the font, spacing and size of the plates are all perfectly legal.

I'll need to get some more then.

As for reusing old plates....The registration is new to me hence no plates as of yet

[Durzel]

To be honest the chances of you running into problems with it are vanishingly small.

[Red Devil]

Durzel said:

Possibly a bit underhanded of the seller, he probably knew that he couldn't (and didn't want) to stamp his identifying details and BS mark on the plate and risk comeback on him when he knew it wouldn't be compliant, but didn't want to lose the sale by telling you as such.

Probably one of those suppliers based offshore (usually RoI). They place themselves outside UK jurisdiction to avoid compliance with The Vehicles Crime (Registration of Registration Plate Suppliers) Regulations 2008. Treat anything they say with caution and always read their T&Cs VERY carefully. If they don't ask you to produce ID documents you will find that what they have sold you is likely to be classed as a show plate.

I get my plates from my local motor factors (who are a legit registered supplier). The cost is less than many internet based suppliers as I am not paying for postage/courier charges, nor do I have to hang around at home waiting to sign for the parcel. I just drop by and collect when they are ready which is usually the same day.

Durzel said:

To be honest the chances of you running into problems with it are vanishingly small.

Maybe, but why be a hostage to fortune? Giving a by-the-book MOT tester an opportunity to issue a VT30 or a BiB who is looking to find something wrong with your car at a stop check a £60 FPN is plain daft.

It helps if you know how the regs work. I have a short (5 character) registration so I can legally use a custom plate with a reduced width compared to the 'standard' offering. The regs do not specify what the size of the backing plate has to be. That is determined solely by height/stroke width/spacing of characters and groups thereof plus the border dimensions.

Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 3rd April 17:59

[MrPicky]

If you really want a black EU background you need to check the EU regulations to see how dark the blue background can be - can it be very very dark? But it looks as though it must be retro-reflective.

Look at the regulations again to see if you can engrave the BS number and the other details into the plastic, they only need to be legible (under what level of magnification) and do you need the BS logo on it?

It does seem like a lot of trouble to go to just to put two fingers up to officialdom.

Russ

[Clivew]

Plates from Halfords have the relavant BS numbers etc on them, but printed in white so are very hard to detect, but there never the less.

[LukeSi]

The Halfords plates are quite good indeed. Look at mine and tell me where the markings are. They are there but they are almost invisible unless you look for them.