Registration plates are a legal requirement, but what makes one ‘legal’ and how can it be personalised? Here’s our guide to keeping on the right side of the law.
Every vehicle licensed for use on the road must display its registration mark and that must conform to certain standards. Now, we all know that there’s the legal standard and there’s real life. There are plenty of plates out there that don’t conform to regulations, but just because people are getting away with it doesn’t mean they’re legal. Ask anyone who was riding 20 or 30 years ago, and they’ll tell you that it was possible to get a handful of ‘producers’ in one night; now it’s rare to see a traffic car and even rarer to get a random stop. That’s because most enforcement is now managed through cameras, and that means an increasingly dim view of non-standard plates. Outside of MoT time, you’re likely to get away with modifications, but if stopped you’re likely to face the consequences. If that happens, put on your big boy (or girl) pants and accept what’s coming. You pay your money and take your chances…
Q: What are the consequences of not displaying my number correctly?
Enjoy more Scootering Magazine reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
A: There is a maximum fine of £1000, but it’s more usual to receive a £100 fixed penalty notice. In addition, if the case is heard at court, three points can be added to a driving licence. In some circumstances the vehicle can also be seized.
Q: What registration plate must I display?
A: That’s a simple question, but the answer is complicated as it depends on when the vehicle was registered, and major changes took place for motorcycles registered on or after September 1, 2001. These must only display a numberplate at the rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles registered before that date may also display a registration plate at the front of the vehicle but are not obliged to do so. Plates must comply with the relevant British standard specification, and if manufactured after the 2001 date should also include the BS number, a way of identifying the manufacturer (usually a postcode) and the name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
Q: Is there a format to display registration numbers?
A: Yes, and again this depends on the date a vehicle was first registered. Vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1973 must display number plates that are made of a reflective material, white at the front and yellow at the rear with black letters and numbers.
Q: What about black and white plates?
A: There is an anomaly in the regulations around black and white (or black and silver) plates. As we’ve just set out above, these became illegal on vehicles registered after January 1, 1973. Vehicles that were registered prior to that date may continue to display black and silver plates. However, when the historic vehicle taxation class was introduced, the regulations allowed black and white plates to be fitted to vehicles registered in that category. This rule applied on a 40-year exemption basis and until 2021 rolled forward automatically on April 1. This loophole was closed on January 1, 2021, but the regulations weren’t applied retrospectively. So, vehicles that date after 1973 but prior to January 1, 1980, and are registered in the historic vehicles category, can legally display black and silver plates.
Q: Is there a style of letter that must be used?
A: Yes. For new vehicles there is a ‘prescribed font’; slight variations are allowed providing they are ‘substantially similar’ to the prescribed font. There are very specific measurements for the font, and again those depend on the year of registration. Fonts that are italic, stylised, or make the registration mark difficult to read, are not permitted.
Q: What about size?
A: There is no minimum size of registration plate, however the letters must be set out in a way that conforms to the regulations. This means that the registration ‘A 1’ can be displayed on a plate that’s smaller than that required for ‘PNT 919G’ and still be legal. The critical point is that the border is present and all the letters/numbers are of the correct size and spacing.
Q: What about three-line registrations?
A: These were very popular on motorcycles after suffix registrations were issued and led to seven-figure registration numbers. So that the plate could sit on existing number plate carriers, the suffix was added to a third line. This type of registration can’t be fitted to motorcycles registered on or after January 1, 1973.
Q: I’ve seen number plates with national flags on them. Is that legal?
A: It’s not only legal, but unless you’re travelling to Spain, Malta or Cyprus it removes the need to display a ‘UK’ sticker when travelling in the EU. British riders may choose between the Union flag, Cross of St George, Cross of St Andrew or Red Dragon of Wales.
The flag and identifier must be displayed on a retro-reflective blue background and be accompanied by the internationally recognised descriptor for the flag, for example ‘UK’.
Q: What about the tinted film, or sprays that make it difficult for ANPR to photograph the number?
A: The regulations don’t specifically outlaw such products by name; however, if you need to ask that, then you’ve not understood what’s going on. Reflective plates must conform to the standards set out in regulations; tampering with that in any way means they’re no longer compliant, so by default tints are illegal. There’s also a phrase that runs through the regulation which is ‘tampering in a way that makes it difficult to read the registration number.’ That’s the catch-all. It’s also worth noting that no background design is allowed, thus the ‘honeycomb’ disruptors that were popular in the 90s are also forbidden.
Q: I see ‘show plates’ being advertised, what are they?
A: The regulations apply to vehicles used on a public road. When used on private property, or exhibited in a custom show, any plate can be displayed. The term ‘show plate’ is the manufacturer telling you that the plate is not legal for road use and, to some extent, is their way of evading their responsibilities should you decide to do otherwise.
Q: This all sounds very complicated. How do I know if my plates comply?
A: The DVLA has published all the data online and it can be found in its publication: INF104. Alternatively, pop into the showroom of your nearest major franchised scooter dealer, it’s guaranteed that the plates they fit to new scooters will show all you need to know!
Q: By pure luck, with a little creativity, the registration plate on my scoot can be made to read my name. Is that okay?
A: The regulations forbid any tampering with the letters and numbers to form names or words so that they are hard to read, for example strategically fitting a black bolt to change the number ‘4’ into the letter ‘A’. However, the whole subject of personalised plates is a different matter entirely, and we’ll look at that next month.
Words: Stan
Images: DVLA, Gary Chapman
With thanks to the DVLA for assistance with this article
