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Do You Actually Need A Front Number Plate?


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#1 The_Mistro

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 07:14 PM

if this is the case, then surely a stick on numberplate can be put there just for looks and doesnt have to be functional!?

#2 tomsbluemini

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 07:30 PM

if this is the case, then surely a stick on numberplate can be put there just for looks and doesnt have to be functional!?


Cars need one by law. It must be reflective and meet other safety standard aswell, which is why a sticker numberplate won't suffice. It's to do with ANPR and other things.

A search on here will bring up many topics about numberplates...

Numberplate law in brief:

In Brief

All registration marks including marks purchased through DVLA's sales scheme must be displayed in accordance with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (obtainable from Her Majesty's Stationery Office).

Rules for the display of number plates are set out in law, briefly these are: -

* A number plate must be displayed at the front and rear of motor vehicles (with
some exceptions).
* Number Plates must be easy to read and meet the British Standard.
* Lettering should be black on a white plate at the front and a yellow at the rear.
* The background surface should be reflex-reflecting but the characters must not.
* There are separate requirements for traditional number plates displayed on
vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973.
* Lettering and spacing must be of a set size. They must conform to one of the
groups shown at:- Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001 or Number
plates fitted before 1 September 2001.

Common Questions and Answers

NUMBER PLATES FITTED AFTER 1 SEPTEMBER 2001

Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown below.

Characters

Height. 79mm
Width (except the figure 1 or letter l) 50mm
Stroke 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between groups 33mm
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm


The character width has been slightly reduced from 57mm to 50mm to accommodate the Euro-symbol on the number plate.


NUMBER PLATES FITTED BEFORE 1 SEPTEMBER 2001

Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown in one of the two groups below


Characters Group 1 Group 2
Height 89mm 79mm
Width (except the figure 1or letter l) 64mm 57mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm
Side margins (minimum) 13mm 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm 19mm



Common Questions and Answers

TRADITIONAL NUMBER PLATES

* Vehicles constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style "black and white"
plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.
* Lettering must be of a set size. It must conform to one of the two groups below.

Characters Group 1 Group 2
Height 89mm 79mm
Width (except the number 1) 64mm 57mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm
Side margin 25mm 11mm
Top & bottom margin 13mm 11mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm


* There are additional arrangements if the vehicle is a motorcycle or tricycle
* Traditional number plates fitted to vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1973 are not required to display the mandatory character font, but the characters must be easy to read.

Common Questions and Answers

Display of Vehicle Registration Marks on Imported Vehicles
(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:

* The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

AND

* The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number
plates

Specifications for smaller sized plates (for certain imported vehicles)

Character Height 64mm

Character Width 44mm

Character Stroke 10mm

Space between characters 10mm


MOTORCYCLES AND TRICYCLES

* Motorcycles and tricycles registered after 1.9.2001 must only display a number
plate at the rear of the vehicle.
* Motorcycles and tricycles registered before 1.9.2001 can display a number plate
at the front but are not required to.
* The characters may be smaller e.g.

Character Height 64mm

Character Width 44mm

Character Stroke 10mm

Space between characters 10mm

Space between groups 30mm

Top, side & bottom margin 11mm

Space between vertical lines 13mm



* Motorcycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must display a two-line number plate number plate. Motorcycles registered prior to the 1 September 2001 may display a three-line plate, but one-line plates are illegal, irrespective of the date of registration of the motorcycle.

Common Questions and Answers

MANDATORY CHARACTER FONT

From 1 September 2001 all new number plates must display the new mandatory font. Combined with the new format registration mark, number plates will become clearer and easier to remember.
Character fonts



Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 need not be changed provided the character font used is substantially the same as the one shown above.

Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with:

* Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics
* Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers

Commons Questions and Answers

THE EURO PLATE

Since 1st September 2001 there has been an optional provision for the display of a Euro-plate for vehicles registered in the UK. The Euro-plate is a number plate that incorporates the symbol of the European Union (a circle of 12 stars on a blue background) with the national identification letters of the member states below. This symbol is located on the far left-hand side of the number plate.



The Euro plate

Vehicles displaying this symbol no longer have to use the traditional oval shaped national identifier (GB) sticker when travelling within the European Union. All vehicles registered in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have, by international convention, the distinguishing sign GB.

The Government announced on 28 December 2001 the intention to permit the display of national flags and national identifiers on vehicle number plates. The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 are in the process of being amended. They will provide for the voluntary display of the Union flag, Scottish Saltire, Cross of St George and Red Dragon. Football team crests etc are not allowed.

Common Questions and Answers

THE LAW

The law states that,

* You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers
* Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g. A242 ABC must
not be displayed as A242A BC).

Offences may result in any or all of the following:

* A fine of up to £1,000
* The registration mark may be WITHDRAWN
* The vehicle may FAIL the MOT test

Full details of the requirements are included in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

Common Questions and Answers

THE BRITISH STANDARD

The British Standard sets out the physical characteristics on the number plate. This includes:

* Visibility
* Strength
* Reflectivity

The British Standard also requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: -

* The British Standard Number (currently BS AU 145d)
* The name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or
component supplier. (The company who actually make the number plate.)
* The name and postcode of the supplying outlet. (The 'supplying outlet' is taken to
mean a company whose business consists wholly or partly of selling number
plates.)
* A non-reflective border and the Euro-symbol with the national identification
letters are optional additions.
* There shall be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.

Info from DVLA...

#3 sally the mini

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 08:08 PM

if this is the case, then surely a stick on numberplate can be put there just for looks and doesnt have to be functional!?


Cars need one by law. It must be reflective and meet other safety standard aswell, which is why a sticker numberplate won't suffice. It's to do with ANPR and other things...


someone has done some research

#4 cosworth

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Posted 24 April 2009 - 08:40 PM

I was going to answer this by simply saying 'yes you do need a numberplate'

But to be honest I think the first post clarifies this matter....Just!!!! :D

#5 tomsbluemini

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Posted 25 April 2009 - 09:00 AM

Yes, i did some research...

Perhaps my post is worth pinning in the FAQ's to stop people asking more questions about numberplate law? I can't be bothered to write it again :(

#6 Mini_Magic

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Posted 25 April 2009 - 03:16 PM

someone has done some research


Not quite sure why you had to quote all of that.

I agree on having the post pinned, right there is all the information you're possibly going to need on numberplates and the law.

Despite what quite a few people with bodykits do, sticking the numberplate on the dashboard is illegal.

#7 LankyJames

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Posted 25 April 2009 - 09:27 PM

*Stuff*

Numberplate law in brief:

*LOTS OF STUFF*


That wasnt in brief at all, actually made me laugh scrolling through it!

#8 Dan

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Posted 25 April 2009 - 09:40 PM

Believe me, I've looked into numberplate law several times for this site and written similar pieces many times. That is a brief summary of the law, there's a lot more.

I think there is something about numberplate law in the FAQ already, I'll compare this with what's there and see what I can make from it all. Still nobody will read it though, someone will ask the same questions again and someone will have to write out another long answer like this. Although this is perhaps the oddest number plate question so far. Of course you need a front number plate in the UK! In fact there is a rumour that soon bikes will need to start fitting them again. Then again there is also a rumour that soon cars won't need a front plate. Did you know that front plates were still optional on bikes until sometime in the mid '80s? They were only banned when various safety restrictions regarding sharp edges were tightened up, since the traditional front plate on a bike was always pretty much a blade.

#9 998dave

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Posted 27 April 2009 - 11:58 AM

As with Dan's reply, bikes used to have plates, but as they were along the front mudguard they had a terrible habit of injuring pedestrians, so they were done away with.

As for Tractor's I'm sure they do have front plates, though often on top of the front window, any lower and they'd get damaged or obscured by any farm machinery bolted on. Equally, you're never going to manage to run away from the police in a tractor anyway!

Dave

#10 Jammy

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Posted 27 April 2009 - 12:21 PM

As for Tractor's I'm sure they do have front plates, though often on top of the front window, any lower and they'd get damaged or obscured by any farm machinery bolted on. Equally, you're never going to manage to run away from the police in a tractor anyway!

What about across a ploughed field?! :w00t:

#11 998dave

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Posted 27 April 2009 - 03:42 PM

They have special off-road response 2cv's for that!

#12 The_Mistro

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Posted 27 April 2009 - 04:01 PM

tractors dont have front numberplates ( i have helped out and worked on farms since i was 7) they are nealry always above the rear window bolted to the cab or sometimes there are little square one on the rear mud guard!

Edited by The_Mistro, 27 April 2009 - 04:01 PM.


#13 battleroc

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Posted 27 April 2009 - 04:07 PM

i actually got a slap on the hand from the police the other day as i recently got my car with no front plate
i wanted to get a number plate but did not have the v5 as been sent away as new keeper

so made a number plate sticker and put it on my grill (non reflected)

police tugged me and said naughty naughty sort it ASAP

he said if it was a traffic officer it would of been fine and 3 points

moral of the story ......you must have a reflected front bumper

#14 998dave

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Posted 28 April 2009 - 11:36 AM

tractors dont have front numberplates ( i have helped out and worked on farms since i was 7) they are nealry always above the rear window bolted to the cab or sometimes there are little square one on the rear mud guard!


Okay - i couldn't remember :thumbsup:

i actually got a slap on the hand from the police the other day as i recently got my car with no front plate
i wanted to get a number plate but did not have the v5 as been sent away as new keeper

so made a number plate sticker and put it on my grill (non reflected)

police tugged me and said naughty naughty sort it ASAP

he said if it was a traffic officer it would of been fine and 3 points

moral of the story ......you must have a reflected front bumper


Can't you use the small green new owners slip to get a plate, as long as you explain it's just changed hands?

#15 MiniBonkerz

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Posted 28 April 2009 - 11:46 AM

Yes, i did some research...

Perhaps my post is worth pinning in the FAQ's to stop people asking more questions about numberplate law? I can't be bothered to write it again :thumbsup:



Wrote it out did you not just highlight copy and paste?




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