What is the number plate law in the UK?
With so many companies out there selling so-called "show plates" and supposedly road legal number plates, it's no wonder there's so much confusion. So what does it all mean? And are there any laws for number plates in the UK? Or can I have whatever I want?
What are legal number plates?
That means...no fancy text, no football emblems or cartoon characters, and no messing around with the spacing. And definitely no distortion of letters or numbers.
- Maker's ID,
- Postcode, and
- BSAu145d
So if all of these don't apply, then the number plates are not legal.
Where do you get legal number plates?
If your supplier doesn't ask for ID, the number plates are not legal.
What are "show plates"?
Some manufacturers get around the number plate law by selling so-called "show plates". These are not road legal number plates.
Why do websites sell non-legal show plates?
Some websites offer you options for images and different fonts. These are supposedly for car shows etc. and are not meant for use on the road. Read the small print...! If your number plates are not compliant with the law, they could get you an on-the-spot fine (currently £60).
Why have number plate laws?
The letters and numbers should comply with the rules, to make them easy to read and identify the vehicle. After all, that's what they are there for in the first place!
