25 replies to this topic

[Lukie-J]

Is it strictly legal to have my front number plate displayed at the bottom of the windscreen inside?
I just love the look of it plain on the front (minus the bird sh*£ on the bonnet!):





Is this legal?...

[luvlygal]

I got told once that you don't even need a front number plate as long as you have the rear one. Don't know how true it is - no doubt someone'll correct me!

[mike.]

Not it isn't - They have to be displayed vertically - Plus your wipers obstruct it anyway.

If you like the smooth look get a stick on numberplate for the bonnet - These aren't strictly legal either because there not vertical but can be bought with reflective backing and if correctly spaced with legal font and size will look perfectly legal and you will have much less chance of trouble with the law.

[paulrockliffe]

What he said, except for two things:

None of the stick on number plates have type approval, e-marking or whatever the requirement is, so even if they claim they are reflective, they're not legal.

I think you're less likely to get in trouble with it in the wondow as you can just say that it fell off, so long as this is plausible (ie there are screw holes in the numberplate holder and in the number plate etc) you're more likely to be let off than with the stick on ones that would be seen as a pre-meditated breach of the law, rather than an accident or unavoidable.

[Lukie-J]

Thanks for the replies,
Does it matter where it is placed vertically?
I recently saw a mk1 golf with it vertically on the back of his sun visor.
Dont have sun visors but could hinge up the number plate!
Also what's the deal with the black/silver plates, are they illegal?

[Natalie]

I think you can only have the black & silver on cars pre 1973 (I think)

[Waffs1984]

Not it isn't - They have to be displayed vertically - Plus your wipers obstruct it anyway.

Mini windscreens are practically vertical hahahaha!

[cambiker71]

Is it strictly legal to have my front number plate displayed at the bottom of the windscreen inside?
I just love the look of it plain on the front (minus the bird sh*£ on the bonnet!):





Is this legal?...

Three things i can see from a MOT point are, 1. (as already mentioned) the wipers obscure part of it 2. it's not fixed securely and the final nail in the coffin is 3. it obscures a large part of the windscreen, even fitted to the sunvisor it'll still fail as the visors have to be able to be stowed in the up position, so the plate won't be visible then either.

And personally i think it makes it look like you've knocked it off parking too near a kerb in a car park!!

[miniEgg]

the black / silver plates hve to be used on cars over a certain age... not sure what year it is though. yours being H reg would be Ilegal to have the black/silver plates

[Ru55boy]

This comes up all the time...

In short, any numberplate that isn't exactly standard in size, colour, font, position etc etc IS illegal. Sticky ones too.
Black and silver plates are illegal if on a car manufactured after 1973.
Number plates inside the car are illegal.


BUT is it worth the risk?

Well, its only a non-endorseable offence, so you won't get points, and the fine is £30.

You won't get pulled over by the Police for ONLY the numberplate issue unless its blatantly taking the mick.
Black on Silver plates hardly get noticed on a mini because its a classic car and they often older than they really are.

If you're driving dangerously, or go through a red light or committing some other driving offence and you give the Policeman who stops you attitude, you could well get done for the plate as well.

Also, lying and trying to pull the wool over a copper's eyes will often get you a ticket. Saying, "Yeah I know its wrong, sorry, I'll change them at the weekend" will often get you off.

I'm sure people can come up with exceptions to the above, but it all applies most of the time.


by the way, the number plate on the dash does look like its fallen off, so not a good look really, imo.

[Bungle]

what i have seen a lot of lowered campers do is fit the number plate on a hinge under the front valance

1/ its so low and back you don't notice it much
2/ as you drive it bends back out of the way
3/ if you hit anything it just hinges back
4/ if you get pulled you stop the plate hinges back down under it's own weight and is visible again

no idea if its legal but lots of campers get away with it

[paulrockliffe]

no idea if its legal but lots of campers get away with it

I'd expect they could argue that although its securely attached, it isn't securely attached in the verticle position.

[chunkomunko]

It seems like everytime I need a question answering someone on TMF does it just before me

I'm going to stick a bike style plate to the bonnet of my Mini and see how I go. Its only a second car anyway so I don't drive it much!

[sprintmini]

As already mentioned above
1. The number plate has to be securely fixed to the vehicle.
2. It has to be fixed in the vertical
3. If you fit a stick on number plate to your bonnet it you are leaving yourself open to a fixed penalty,should you be stopped again for the same offence you could be facing a summons to court!
4. Silver on black pressed steel or plastic plates are only legal on Pre 1973 vehicles

[paulrockliffe]

The bike style ones do look better, I'd just add that the extra height of the plate means they're a lot less vertical than the normal shaped ones.