41 replies to this topic

[Dan]

Plus, it's only a C&U reg. so no points on license, just a 60 quid fine.

 

  If they decide to deal with you through a fixed penalty, which they don't have to.  It's at the officer's discretion.  If you are pulled for a registration offence more than a couple of times, or are cocky and mouthy, or come up with 'Oh no officer I know it's illegal but they are just show plates and I have the real ones in the boot' (show plates illegal too incidentally) , you are quite likely to end up in court.  The maximum penalty is £1000.00, plus withdrawal of the registration and probably something else that I can't remember too.  Withdrawal of the registration means getting your car re-registered which is a major pain.

[HarrysMini]

 

Plus, it's only a C&U reg. so no points on license, just a 60 quid fine.

 

  If they decide to deal with you through a fixed penalty, which they don't have to.  It's at the officer's discretion.  If you are pulled for a registration offence more than a couple of times, or are cocky and mouthy, or come up with 'Oh no officer I know it's illegal but they are just show plates and I have the real ones in the boot' (show plates illegal too incidentally) , you are quite likely to end up in court.  The maximum penalty is £1000.00, plus withdrawal of the registration and probably something else that I can't remember too.  Withdrawal of the registration means getting your car re-registered which is a major pain.

 

That is very true.

[Peterg1]

What if it's a private reg that's is 1930.s but the car is a modern car..

Is it the number or car that's has to be pre 1973??

[HarrysMini]

You can't get a '30s plate, I think it was sometime in the 60s that they started using dated plates.

 

It would also be illegal to use that and still use black plates, but you would be much less likely to be pulled for it.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

this has been covered SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many times, please just search.

[AVV IT]

Also bare in mind that the black & yellow plates that are legally required for post 72 cars are also required to be reflective, which of course black & silver plates are not. By fitting black and silver plates to a post 72 car, it could easily be argued that you have reduced the reflective properties, and therefore the visibility of your car during periods of reduced visibility (dark, heavy rain, fog, etc). If for instance you were struck from behind by another car at night (which under normal circumstances would usually be the other parties fault), you could be deemed as contributing to the accident, meaning that any settlement could be reduced, or the claim refused completely..

 

The other issue is that fitting black & silver plates is a modification from standard spec, so you would therefore need to disclose it to your insurer any way, otherwise you risk not being insured in the event of a claim, and insurers don't tend to be too happy about insuring illegal modifications. 

[robminibcy]

Also bare in mind that the black & yellow plates that are legally required for post 72 cars are also required to be reflective, which of course black & silver plates are not. By fitting black and silver plates to a post 72 car, it could easily be argued that you have reduced the reflective properties, and therefore the visibility of your car during periods of reduced visibility (dark, heavy rain, fog, etc). If for instance you were struck from behind by another car at night (which under normal circumstances would usually be the other parties fault), you could be deemed as contributing to the accident, meaning that any settlement could be reduced, or the claim refused completely..

 

The other issue is that fitting black & silver plates is a modification from standard spec, so you would therefore need to disclose it to your insurer any way, otherwise you risk not being insured in the event of a claim, and insurers don't tend to be too happy about insuring illegal modifications.

would this mean the 3d yellow and black plates would be illegal as well? i thought these were standard spec in the 70s? my car came with them and its a 79?

[tmarmsi]

Yes, breaking the law is idiotic to do it over something as simple as a number plate is just dumb

[HarrysMini]

 

Also bare in mind that the black & yellow plates that are legally required for post 72 cars are also required to be reflective, which of course black & silver plates are not. By fitting black and silver plates to a post 72 car, it could easily be argued that you have reduced the reflective properties, and therefore the visibility of your car during periods of reduced visibility (dark, heavy rain, fog, etc). If for instance you were struck from behind by another car at night (which under normal circumstances would usually be the other parties fault), you could be deemed as contributing to the accident, meaning that any settlement could be reduced, or the claim refused completely..

 

The other issue is that fitting black & silver plates is a modification from standard spec, so you would therefore need to disclose it to your insurer any way, otherwise you risk not being insured in the event of a claim, and insurers don't tend to be too happy about insuring illegal modifications.

would this mean the 3d yellow and black plates would be illegal as well? i thought these were standard spec in the 70s? my car came with them and its a 79?

 

The pressed coloured metal ones are 100% legal for every road car. They are reflective.

[tom1]

Yes, breaking the law is idiotic to do it over something as simple as a number plate is just dumb

Now you're calling my wife dumb 

[patricksouth]

Yes, breaking the law is idiotic to do it over something as simple as a number plate is just dumb

so what you are saying is if your gonna break the law rob a bank as that wouldn't be idiotic or dumb....

[AVV IT]

Those vintage pressed black and yellow plates (or at least the ones that use the old pre-2001 charachter sizeing/ spacing) are an interesting one. The manufacturers/ suppliers of these are quick to claim that they are 100% street legal. Yet the regs seem to state that all new and REPLACEMENT plates manufactured after 1st September 2001 must be of the new design (I.e with 50mm character width, and spaced 11mm apart). The only exemption of this is Pre-73 vehicles, which of course are entitled to display black and silver plates with the old type charchters and spacing.

So technically at least, it would seem that those plates are only legal if they were manufactured before 1st September 2001 and the ones that you buy and fit today aren't, even if your car was fitted with them originally. But then it's always going to be difficult for anyone to prove exactly when your plates were actually made. Unless of course you've been on a public forum shouting to everyone about how great your brand new vintage black and yellow plates are!

[Tamworthbay]

I ran my 1974 VW camper on black and silver plates for five years with no problems at all, I even had conversations with coppers stood by the bus and no issues. That doesn't mean that will apply to anyone else though. Why did I do it? I was talking to a guy at a show about what cocks some drivers were and how little space they gave you, pulling in right in front of you so you nearly go up their chuff, etc etc. he said he had switched to black and silver plates and because people think you are an older motor they expect you to be dog slow and give more room. I tried it and the difference was amazing. All that is not really relevant in a mini but it made life in the VW tank much nicer. Most of the time, if you are driving sensibly then coppers have far better things to do BUT it does give them a reason to pull you if they so choose. Would I fit them to a post 72 mini? NO.

[Cooperman]

If you had an early '73 Mini on an 'L' registration and used B & W plates there is not likely to be any issue as the Old Bill won't want to be bothered checking the date of manufacture. However, anything on an 'M' plate 7 subsequent will be obviously illegal if on B & W plates.

What is the advantage in risking it? The possible disadvantages are obvious to anyone.

[tmarmsi]

Yes, breaking the law is idiotic to do it over something as simple as a number plate is just dumb

Now you're calling my wife dumb 

Yes, breaking the law is idiotic to do it over something as simple as a number plate is just dumb

Now you're calling my wife dumb 

Ha I never specifically mentioned any names or person's your the one who keeps mentioning your wife, all I was trying to state was that breaking the law in any sense is really stupid, is the penalty/punishment let alone the buying costs of numerous number plates really worth the rewards