I've just bought a 8 by 6 number plate, and received it. It's got the BS blah number on it and the makers details, but came in a bag sealed with a 'Show plate only' type notice. I had to supply the doc's to buy it (V5 and Driving licence), and was under the impression it was road legal. Any opinions please people? (It's a 6 digit plate, which is why I think a 8*6 is ok!)
Motorcycles and tricycles There are separate provisions for motorcycles and tricycles. This means, motorcycles registered from 1 September 2001 must only display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles registered before 1 September 2001 can display a number plate at the front, but do not have to. The number plate must be a “2-line” number plate and must be displayed on all motorcycles registered on or after 1 January 1973. Tricycles derived from four-wheeled bodies, such as saloon cars and quad bikes must meet the normal requirements above. 9Tricycles derived from motorcycles must meet the requirements for motorcycles shown below. n Character height 64mm n Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) 44mm n Character stroke 10 mm n Space between characters 10mm n Space between groups 30mm n Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm n Vertical space between groups 13mm Thats a copy from DIRECT.GOV. Looks like so long as letter height and spacing are correct there's no problem. I can find nothing about minimum plate size. Dig your ruler out and give it check if you're really bothered. To be honest though, I've only ever been pulled just for a plate once, it's normally just something mentioned if I'm already being told off.
Thanks. I was under the impression that the requirement for the docs and the printing of makers details confirmed it. It's just in case I'm having a chat with Mr. Policeman. Do I bend over and take it or 'discuss' it at the roadside!
You would be wasting your time talking to the roadside copper about number plates . Far to technical for him . I have been stopped twice and made to take car to station with rectifier notice . Both times thick copper thought that the saint george cross on the side was not legal. Laws were changed about 4 years ago making them legal but do they keep up to date . Not fucking likely. On arrival at station asked for someone who had a slight clue about vehicle law and said rectification notice was ripped up . THICK F.
The only time I was stopped just for a tiny plate, I asked the copper what the legal size was. As I'm sure you've guessed, he didn't know, he asked his pal in the car and he didn't know either. I'd didn't actually get a ticket but was told to go to the nearest MOT station and get it checked and changed. Along with getting the illegal but can't tell you why exhaust checked.
I'm not worrying about the chance of getting stopped, I'm curious if I ended up chatting to a pissed off Plod who would be in the right from a purely legal point of view? I think I'm legal. Full stop. It's got the makers name, post code, and BS number. To me that says that the plate maker has ensured it complied with the relevant laws when it was made - regarding font size, lettering, etc. That's my query. I've run around with rather illegal plates in my time, but when I was stopped, knew to just nod and say sorry. If this plate is legal as I bought it to be I'd enter into a 'roadside chat'!
All the above is really only compliant on a 9x7 plate especially with an 11 mm margin, why bother standing at the side of the road arguing with Mr Plod, imo it's all unnecessary agro running a smaller plate, however much better you think it looks.
But isn't that based on a 7 character plAte? Mine is 6. I bought it as a road legal plate, purely to cover my arse. I'd email the maker but their website is down (they've been around awhile, I've used then a couple of times over the last few years, so I'm happyish they're not on the fiddle!).
The BS marking only relates to the reflective material that the plate is made of, you probably won't be pulled over but an 8x6 is not legal, that's why it arrived with a disclaimer stating it is a "show plate" Out of interest are the characters 64mm high?
Ian, It isn't legal. The only ones that are completely legal are the full size ones that are supplied with new bikes. But you won't get stopped or get grief for an 8x6 or 8x5 plate as they are plenty big enough to get caught on a roadside or gatso radar gun from quite a distance. But if they do ask, when you are already in trouble, then I wouldn't push it. But by then, you are probably over the speed limit, with an excessively loud exhaust, dark visor, small plate plus a number of other minor infringements. The only one of which they will care about is the first one. Just watch your speed.
I got stopped the other day for wasn't doing anything, just had a bit of a part wanting to impress a WPC he had with him, couldn't do me for anything else other than incorrectly spaced number 6 on my plate, He was sad "B" end of the day cost me £100 fixed penalty. The morel of this story is they will book you if he happens to be a plonker with nothing else to do. Or don't drive a Porsche around in the Rhondda valleys the coppers there are a bit jealous. Guvs.
OR, get a legal plate and then you wont get a fine! You end the day £100 worse off, he goes off duty, just who is the plonker? Edited to add, down here if you get done twice then DVLA can revoke your plate, just a heads up,:biggrin:
You may notice that on the above quote from the legal requirements for a number plate that nowhere does it mention the overall dimensions of the number plate! It's down to the character size, font and spacing that determines if a numberplate is "legal" or not. As long as you meet these requirements your numberplate can be any size you like. There are a few other rules (post 1st Sep 2001 must be 2 lines, etc) but nothing about overall plate size. See: https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates
'The British Standard for number plates The British Standard sets out the physical characteristics of the number plate. This includes visibility, strength and reflectivity. The British Standard also requires each number plate to be permanently and legibly marked with the following information: n the British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d); n the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier; and n the name and postcode of the supplying outlet.' I'd say I'm legal....
But its hard to meet all the requirements on a plate smaller then 9x7 unless you have a very short personal plate
If you have any questions - check the DVLA / UKgov web-sites. It used to be a £60 fine for an illegal plate - I found that out the hard way (maybe it's gone up since). Mine was legal size, legal size lettering, legal spacing, but had italic letters. The reason the plod will nick you for it ( yes, they can and will ) is that if it's not absolutely legal it may not be able to be read by ANPR.
The industry standard size front number plate is 520 mm × 111 mm (20½" × 4⅜"). Rear plates are either the same size, or 285 mm × 203 mm (approx 11"x8") or 533 mm × 152 mm (approx 21"x6"). There is no specified legal size for a number plate : for example, the rear number plate of a Rover 75 is 635 mm x 175 mm. The material of UK number plates must either comply with British Standard BS AU 145d, which states BSI number plates must be marked on the plate with the BSI logo and the name and postcode of the manufacturer and the supplier of the plates or "(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification, and which, in either case, is marked with the number (or such other information as is necessary to permit identification) of that standard or specification." as specified in http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/schedule/2/made The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (Statutory Instrument 2001 Number 561), Schedule 2. Older British plates had white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972, and is now only legal on vehicles first constructed before 1 January 1973. Motorcycles formerly had to display a front plate, which was usually but not always a double-sided plate on top of the front mudguard, curved to follow the contour of the wheel and visible from the sides. The requirement for the front number plate was dropped in 1975 because of the severe danger these presented to pedestrians in the event of a collision. Motorcycles registered after 1 September 2001 may only display a rear number plate, while motorcycles registered before that date can display a number plate at the front if desired. From January 1973 onwards, the front plate must be white and the rear plate yellow.
