Number plates legalities

[120y]

Could I use the old pressed metal numbers plates on a 94 M redg car or better still am I allowed to use the old style with metal back and individual letters.

Ive never got my head round the legal side can somebody explain it to me, sorry if its been covered before.

Thanks

[swampy76]

No you can't use the black and white ones.(legally)

As for the pressed type , you can get ones that meet all bs requirements with regards to legal font, spacing and reflection with the correct bs marks.

Though some people do still get stopped with these on

[starionturbo]

You can't use black number plates, they are for pre 73 cars (i think) Fpr a 94 you must have white front, yellow rear and they must be reflective so you could get pressed ones as long as they adhere to those rules. Don't forget the font has to be correct and the right size to.

[ferny]

www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates

[1900sr]

The only replacement number plates you can legally fit to any post 73 car are the current font ones as fitted to new cars, which is ridiculous. My Manta has the aluminium reflective plates with rivetted plastic letters. If I ever damage one I can't legally replace it with a period correct one.

[jiminwatford]

May 18, 2014 15:29:23 GMT swampy76 said:

No you can't use the black and white ones.(legally)

I don't think the op thought you could

I believe the reflective pressed ones are ok

[Copey]

Had reflective coloured pressed plates on my 1990 Saph for a while, never been pulled with them and they went straight through an MOT with no mention

[ChasR]

May 18, 2014 21:11:22 GMT 1900sr said:

The only replacement number plates you can legally fit to any post 73 car are the current font ones as fitted to new cars, which is ridiculous. My Manta has the aluminium reflective plates with rivetted plastic letters. If I ever damage one I can't legally replace it with a period correct one.

You could always not mention it . My Stag has a pair of age related styled plates fitted.

[kabman]

May 18, 2014 21:11:22 GMT 1900sr said:

The only replacement number plates you can legally fit to any post 73 car are the current font ones as fitted to new cars, which is ridiculous. My Manta has the aluminium reflective plates with rivetted plastic letters. If I ever damage one I can't legally replace it with a period correct one.

It only applies to cars built after Sept 2001 (those with a two letter prefix). You can use whatever plates were required at the time your car was new. You might have to search to find them though. The rules are vague to say the least. They refer to 'new plates fitted before 2001'. How can plates be 'new' if they were fitted more than 13 years ago?

[jonw]

You can use pressed steel, but they must be a legible sans serif font (there is no specific font until 2001), of the correct size and correctly spaces. They must be black letters with either white or yellow reflective backgrounds.

Had these on my '92 mini and passed MoT and never got stopped.

Black plates are for pre 72 only.

[v8ian]

Not saying too much, I have just cast a new rear alloy numberplate for my Austin, going to be "aged" before I attempt to fit it,

[optima21]

wonder how long I will get away with a backlit numberplate for my Herald (once I've finished it). it'll be on a pre 1973 car, so black and white is fine and current MOT regs say backlit plates are ok, but I don't think you can make your own number plates legally, but are stick on number plates still legal for age related cars (which this plate is)

[1900sr]

May 19, 2014 7:36:58 GMT kabman said:

May 18, 2014 21:11:22 GMT 1900sr said:

The only replacement number plates you can legally fit to any post 73 car are the current font ones as fitted to new cars, which is ridiculous. My Manta has the aluminium reflective plates with rivetted plastic letters. If I ever damage one I can't legally replace it with a period correct one.

It only applies to cars built after Sept 2001 (those with a two letter prefix). You can use whatever plates were required at the time your car was new. You might have to search to find them though. The rules are vague to say the least. They refer to 'new plates fitted before 2001'. How can plates be 'new' if they were fitted more than 13 years ago?

This is from the document linked to earlier on

"For vehicles with new or replacement number plates
fitted from 1 September 2001, “3-line” number plates
are no longer permitted (except where the vehicle was
first registered before 1 January 1973). In addition,
the characters on number plates purchased from
1 September 2001, will need to meet the following
specifications.
n Character height 79mm
n Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 50mm
n Character stroke 14mm
n Space between characters 11m"


So as I said, LEGALLY you cant fit anything other than current font replacement plates to any 1973 onwards car. Obviously plates fitted to the car before 1 September 2001 only have to meet the then current British Standard (BSAU145a in the case of my 73 Manta)

[1900sr]

May 19, 2014 4:21:38 GMT ChasR said:

May 18, 2014 21:11:22 GMT 1900sr said:

The only replacement number plates you can legally fit to any post 73 car are the current font ones as fitted to new cars, which is ridiculous. My Manta has the aluminium reflective plates with rivetted plastic letters. If I ever damage one I can't legally replace it with a period correct one.

You could always not mention it . My Stag has a pair of age related styled plates fitted.

The OP was asking about legalities, there are ways around it but it's not strictly legal. Proving when they were bought and fitted would be difficult for the authorities, so as long as the plates are period correct in every way, including the correct BS numbers you'd probably be OK.

[ferny]

May 19, 2014 14:51:21 GMT optima21 said:

wonder how long I will get away with a backlit numberplate for my Herald (once I've finished it). it'll be on a pre 1973 car, so black and white is fine and current MOT regs say backlit plates are ok, but I don't think you can make your own number plates legally, but are stick on number plates still legal for age related cars (which this plate is)

That looks lovely! How did you make it? Don't think you'll have many problems with it. I ran the Herald with no front plate for a couple of years and never got a pull. It currently has one this small and again, no tugs.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/Sally/20140218_140803_zps886f34ba.jpg

Could be because they don't think their pencil will last long enough to list all the "issues" on the car though.

[SmokeEm]

So as my car is 1982, can I legally have reflective pressed plates in the German style font?

[optima21]

May 20, 2014 6:54:32 GMT ferny said:

May 19, 2014 14:51:21 GMT optima21 said:

wonder how long I will get away with a backlit numberplate for my Herald (once I've finished it). it'll be on a pre 1973 car, so black and white is fine and current MOT regs say backlit plates are ok, but I don't think you can make your own number plates legally, but are stick on number plates still legal for age related cars (which this plate is)

That looks lovely! How did you make it? Don't think you'll have many problems with it. I ran the Herald with no front plate for a couple of years and never got a pull. It currently has one this small and again, no tugs.
img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/Sally/20140218_140803_zps886f34ba.jpg

Could be because they don't think their pencil will last long enough to list all the "issues" on the car though.

sorry for the thread hijack.....

ohh I'll my herald wont be rocking over riders when its finished either ,

the lettering on the number plate is a stick on plate from ebay with the letters cut out, thats stuck onto some 3mm white perspex and then cut back to the size of a number plate. the base is bent from aluminium and led strip lights stuck arround the inside,the plate is then stuck the the aluminium base with silicone sealer. the base ended up being 22mm thick to give an even distribution of light. I also used an external resistor (68 ohms) to reduce the light so it doesnt glow like a taxi sign. the boot lid has been smoothed and then a numberplate recess was welded into it

[Copey]

Those backlit plates are fantastic! Good job man!

[chairchild]

May 20, 2014 7:40:05 GMT SmokeEm said:

So as my car is 1982, can I legally have reflective pressed plates in the German style font?

Only if you live in Germany... otherwise it has to be the UK style (legally)

[classof82]

Slightly off topic but how about square plates on the rear or front like old FIAT have?