I know, I know, I'm allowed to havea non standard plate because it's an import or so I was lead to believe.

 

I don't have a license plate bracket on my Stillen.

 

I was trying to get some sense out of the police that pulled me over but they were adament that as soon as imports come into this country they need to obide by the UK rules, fair enough I guess.

 

So I'll be ording new plates tomorrow.

 

Any suggestions about what type would look best on a stillen front end (UK legal that is). Also where would I put it ?

 

Any ideas, any photoshop ideas also ?

 

Good find Athene.

 

I had a letter the other week from the bedfordshire police saying that my number plate (on the BMW) had been seen by a member of a special team of police officers that were specifically allocated the job of driving around looking for and reporting any vehicle that had an illegal number plate. They told me to get it sorted or next time I would loose the number and have to pay to have the car reregistered?

 

What a farce :headvswal

You can not have smaller size plates on imports if the standard size UK will physically fit. The fact it is an import makes no difference in the eyes of the law !!

 

3/4 size plates are not legal - I know this to my cost !!

 

You need to have:

 

Character Height 79mm

Character Width 50mm

Letter l or 1 14mm

Space between characters 11mm

Space between groups 33mm

Top, bottom and side margins 11mm

Space between vertical lines 19mm

 

That maybe the case but if you have a 5 digit or less plate eg D5SMW you can use a 370mm by 110mm, also exclusions to rear plates for imports as due to plate shape standard new charles wright digits at 79mm will not fit so new charles wright motorcycle digit size can be used instead.

 

I make number plates for a living, and the rules are very strict on what can and cant be made for a road plate, just aswell i can also make signs on the same machine if for example i wanted to make a b19rks sign!!!

Good find Athene.

They told me to get it sorted or next time I would loose the number and have to pay to have the car reregistered?

 

What a farce :headvswal

 

It is possible, DVLA (not the police) have the right to retain your number plate if you deliberatly and persistantly mis space or mis represent it.

 

In the 10 years ive had my plate ive had a couple of fines and 3 letters from dvla warning me that if im caught again they "MAY decide to revoke my plate, with no reimbursement of your fees" as far as im aware they havent sucesfully revoked anyones plate in the UK to date, so its a bit of a bluff.

did you have a read in here... not sure if it helps or not :)

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=99309

 

The government may let people display a motorcycle rear plate if thats all that fits but you try nipping in to halfrauds and asking for a motorcycle front plate!!!!

The rear plate looks acceptable but the front looks like it has insufficient white border thickness around the characters. You probably don't have a BS145 marking on the plate which shows correct reflectiveness?

Pink slip- is this a vehicle defect rectification notice?

Finally following on from b19rks advice, it may well only be a non endorsable but you do run the risk of DVLA withdrawing your plate without any financial compensation to you.

I drive past leicestershire police force head quarters every day with mine, its legal sizing on a plate in the correct font and never had any problems.

 

 

Still not legal, insufficient thickness of white border around characters.

It is possible, DVLA (not the police) have the right to retain your number plate if you deliberatly and persistantly mis space or mis represent it.

 

In the 10 years ive had my plate ive had a couple of fines and 3 letters from dvla warning me that if im caught again they "MAY decide to revoke my plate, with no reimbursement of your fees" as far as im aware they havent sucesfully revoked anyones plate in the UK to date, so its a bit of a bluff.

 

I know someone who had their number plate revoked and that was after once being advised verbally by a police officer, one fixed penalty notice and then the third time a police officer reported himand he was summoned to court and the plate was revoked and was fined several hundred pounds.

I'm not going to take any chances, forgot to call you on Saturday Berkley, but will get roun dto it this week.

 

Thanks all for the comments and links.

As a temp messure I've put a standard plate on the front, I've just trimmer the sides slightly but still left a big enough boarder.

 

Some before and after shots.

 

 

Stu, if you want me to do one of the small plates for you give me a buzz, also i can make the maker name at the bottom very small (between 1 and 2mm) and you can have something written above it in bibber letters eg Silver Streak or Stuart Waterman etc.

 

Might look a bit better than Manlove Motors!!!!

MOT regs have just changed & incorrect font size & style is now a reason for rejection along with other checks. is now more in line with legal requirements.

 

Just put the new pages in our MOT inspection manual ;)

Stu, if you want me to do one of the small plates for you give me a buzz, also i can make the maker name at the bottom very small (between 1 and 2mm) and you can have something written above it in bibber letters eg Silver Streak or Stuart Waterman etc.

 

Might look a bit better than Manlove Motors!!!!

 

Also illegal unless it is the address of the numberplate producer.

I think I just want to keep it legal guys.

 

B19rks, Is what you are suggesting legal without question ?.

If it is legal and I can get a smaller plate than the one I have then I'm well up for it.

I don't think I'll risk having anything above the plae like "Silver Streak" etc. I want to give the police as little excuse as possible so I don't keep getting pulled.

MOT regs have just changed & incorrect font size & style is now a reason for rejection along with other checks. is now more in line with legal requirements.

 

Just put the new pages in our MOT inspection manual ;)

 

Paul, forgot to ask, any chance you can let us see the new requirements or is it not allowed to go public ?

Also illegal unless it is the address of the numberplate producer.

 

No its not, you have to have the maker name and postcode on it but there is no size requirement, a line of any text can still be written above it.

I think I just want to keep it legal guys.

 

B19rks, Is what you are suggesting legal without question ?.

If it is legal and I can get a smaller plate than the one I have then I'm well up for it.

I don't think I'll risk having anything above the plae like "Silver Streak" etc. I want to give the police as little excuse as possible so I don't keep getting pulled.

 

 

It is perfectly legal, if you have a a 5 or 6 digit reg you are allowed to display a short standard plate (370 by 110mm) if you want an eu logo on these you have to have a "medium standard" (420 by 110mm) and all 7 digit and new style plates 51 on must be made on "standard" 520 by110mm.

 

There is only one legal font which is new charles wright, however this can be done in 4 different styles, standard, 3d, carbon or hi line.

 

We are registered number plate suppliers all our plates are computer printed, if the plate is illeagal the program wont allow it to be printed without warning you first! And also the DVLA audit us on a regular basis, so believe me i wouldnt risk losing my plate licence on a dodgy plate.

In that case mate, I'll definately give you a buzz tomorrow with my V5 at hand and we can sort something out.

 

Thanks mate. I'll be in touch.

not much i can find to link to on the web, but most of it is covered here:

 

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf

http://www.mottest.net/mot/registration-number-plates

I think the police are having some kind of crack down on number plates as my son was stopped yesterday by 2 different police office for his number plate which as now been on the car for over 8 years passed the same number of years m.o.t and been seen by 1000 of police it the time. They must be short of cash now the fuel is so high so they are clawing it back from us guys

I have seen somewhere that there is a link between illegal numberplates and crime. Secondly the police make no money from fixed penalties, any fines barely cover the admin costs but saves money on the judicial system by not taking offenders to court.

I have seen somewhere that there is a link between illegal numberplates and crime. Secondly the police make no money from fixed penalties, any fines barely cover the admin costs but saves money on the judicial system by not taking offenders to court.

 

:rolleyes: I must admit since putting a smaller no plate on my car I have had an urge to start robbing banks & mug OAP's / :rolleyes:

I have seen somewhere that there is a link between illegal numberplates and crime. Secondly the police make no money from fixed penalties, any fines barely cover the admin costs but saves money on the judicial system by not taking offenders to court.

 

 

Yes, false plates maybe, but it doesnt mean everyone with a mis spaced front reg has to sign the sex offenders register.

 

The purge is due to the fact that the new generation of speed cameras and A.N.P.R struggle with everthing other than standard reg plates, so the computer throws it out and an officer has to spend their time processing manualy thus costing the police time and money.

Paul, Do you know what Group 1 and Group 2 are for cars registered before 1st Sep 2001 ?

 

After checking your links it seems that we (i.e. all cars registered in this country before 1 sep 2001) have to have even bigger plates than cars registered after 1 sep 2001. Unless of course we bought a private plate after 1s Sept 2001, that's the way I read it anyway. Everyone agree ?

 

i.e.

Number plates purchased from 1 Sept 2001

Character Height 79mm

Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 50mm

Character stroke 14mm

Space between characters 11mm

space between groups 33mm

Top, Bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm

Space between vertical lines 19mm

 

Number plates fitted before 1 sept 2001- Group 1

Character Height 89mm

Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 64mm

Character stroke 16mm

Space between characters 13mm

space between groups 38mm

side margins (minimum) 13mm

Top, Bottom and side margins (minimum) 13mm

Space between vertical lines 19mm

 

 

Number plates fitted before 1 sept 2001- Group 2

Character Height 79mm

Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 57mm

Character stroke 14mm

Space between characters 11mm

space between groups 33mm

side margins (minimum) 11mm

Top, Bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm

Space between vertical lines 19mm

 

I have to add that Yampiedog was spot on with his measurements in his initial post.

Just to add, after reading all the links. It seems only 1 font is now allowed and only standard black lettering also, no more highlights, no more 3d and no grovy backgrounds.

Just put the new pages in our MOT inspection manual

 

 

That will be the pages sent to you around November 2007 then :nono:

 

the ones that were recinded two weeks later :rolleyes: