Front Number Plates - Legality

[Yeti]

Anyone know what the law is concerning front number plates? Was in a Supercar Drivers Club convoy at the weekend and was amazed by how many cars didn't actually have a front number plate. I ran my old GT-S for a couple of years with a very small plate and the only time I was ever challenged was by a jobsworth at the channel tunnel, and even then he didn't take action.

With the (hopefully) imminent arrival of the Stradale, I am thinking about either sticking a number plate to the horizontal part of the splitter, or not bothering at all as the supplied number plate holder is plug ugly. If caught is it an endorsable offence, or simply a vehicle use transgression and a fine? I would always carry a legit plate in the boot so I can stick it in the windscreen so the car isn't seized or impounded. Thoughts?

 

[Fangio63]

Pretty sure you've got to have one...

Just changed plates on my GT... its a 4 digit number and I wanted the plates as small as possible..so I had a quick look into it..

There is No legal restriction on the size of the plate itself... However, there is I think only 1 legal Font... (and that can be solid or 3d) and for modern cars front plate must be black on white, rear black on yellow..
Spacing is prescribed too .. 11mm between each letter and as I recall 13m where there is a space..
No border is required ... however there must be 11mm between the digits and the edge of the plates..

Additionally the plate makers details must be on there too..

So far as "sticker " plates are concerned I've no idea.. But I got mine made up by Plates for cars in Ireland.. (and on the www)... no docs required as there would be here.. They had some info on the website..

Most private plate I see do not seem to be legal.. (font spacing etc..) .. and it seems most people get away with it.. However... lots of places now use numberplate recognition cameras .. (car parks etc) .. and with the new car tax regime this will be used I think a lot more to check car tax by the cops.... If their cameras can't read the plate... It takes ages for the car park cameras in the local multi storey to read the plate on my MiTo as its curved.... I can see you getting the Rozzers attention if cameras can't read it...

hope that sort of helps ...

 

[MAF260]

Agreed as above, it's a legal requirement.

Mine conformed, but seems to have shrunk in the wash..

.

 

[drewf]

Unless it has recently changed though, it's only a £30 fine for not having one on the car, non-endorsable.

 

[mjheathcote]

I've stuck my old Elise smaller number plate on the front of mine, like Marks.
Not had any issues while on either car but know it's illegal.

 

[Hexadex]

Unless it has recently changed though, it's only a £30 fine for not having one on the car, non-endorsable.

Yes that is the case £30 slap and no endorsement

 

[hukent]

'Stick on plates' are not legal, as they do not have a BS number on them, as no one makes them with this no. on them.
Certain cars have an exemption, such a jaguar E-type, as they had stick on plates as standard fitment.

 

[Yeti]

I think you would be very unlucky to get tugged for a stick-on plate not having a BS number, but I can cope with the £30 and no endorsement. Just been down to Graypaul to look at a Strad and there really is nowhere to fit one unless you use the gawdawful steel bracket that Maserati supply. There is no way that is going on my noo motor....

 

[Doohickey]

It's not an issue on your new car but I'm pretty sure it's an MOT failure to not have the correct plates fitted. My wife's car failed because the spacing was wrong though quite why this affects the roadworthiness of the car is beyond me.

 

[AndyW]

I have been told (by a policeman)! that the best bet is to have a full size plate in the boot that could have technically just fallen off and easy to put back on if questioned. Having a smaller or non standard plate is more likely to get you in bother as its then a deliberate change and difficult to claim otherwise. He did say you would be very unlikely to be stopped for that alone. Tempted to take / fall off my front plate

 

[drewf]

I disagree.

If you have one in the boot, it looks like you have intentionally not fitted it. Why would it be in the boot if it fell off? I'd imagine it would be somewhere smashed to bits on the road if it fell off, and you'd never know... Much better to look at the front and declare it was certainly there when you left home etc!

Will need a plate for the MoT, no question.

 

[Catalan3200]

I have the same size front plate as MAF. When I had the MOT the guys made a point of saying that it was within legal requirements. I do however carry the full sized one in the boot as a " just in case"


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[maverick]

I use to have a reduced plate on my old car it complied with the regs but found that car parks with number plate recognition couldn't read it ,this became very annoying when parking at stansted with prepaid parking ,after a long trip home having to speak to a halfwit to get it sorted when all your want t to do is get home for a proper cup of tea .

 

[2b1ask1]

I bought a sticker front plate for mine before Modena but did not have time to fit it. I intend to cut it down to the absolute minimum 11 mm all round and apply it directly to the middle bar of the from bumper;Curiously it may be even more angled down than the current one!

 

[Catalan3200]

I use to have a reduced plate on my old car it complied with the regs but found that car parks with number plate recognition couldn't read it ,this became very annoying when parking at stansted with prepaid parking ,after a long trip home having to speak to a halfwit to get it sorted when all your want t to do is get home for a proper cup of tea .

Ah ..... So that's why mine couldn't be read at Heathrow last month!


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[BennyD]

Does that mean the SPECS (average speed) cameras can't read them either? If so, RESULT!

 

[Andyk]

I had a little plate on my old Elise SPort160..Got pulled and was given a warning saying it I was caught again I would get a fine........

 

[mcs]

I had a small front plate installed as I have a 4 digit plate - took it off and replaced it with a full sized one as I thought it made my front end look like a mouse ! Seems to flow better with a proper plate.

 

[CatmanV2]

Does that mean the SPECS (average speed) cameras can't read them either? If so, RESULT!

SPECS are rear reading, are they not?

C

 

[drewf]

No - front, usually.

They should still read them, as they also have human readers to look at the 'difficult' plates. The system can see it's the same plate, but not necessarily work out the actual characters.