just a quick question as above really, i saw a car the other day with a number plate stuck on the bonnet and was wondering if this was legal or do they have to be on the front bumper.

years ago this was quite common on scoobies.

cheers

as long as its the legal size and lettering etc confirms to BS i cant see why not.

I'm not sure on the exact legal wording, but one of the reasons for an MOT failure is that the number plate is not vertical (as far as is practical).

So, unless there is a very good reason for putting it on the bonnet, it would be illegal

Cant see why should be a problem, other factors are the type of coppers you have in your area :(

it's a bit weird, but for the MOT the number plate simply has to be "legible from a reasonable distance" so as far as sticking one on the bonnet is concerned, as long as it's near vertical and legible from say 20 metres away it would be fine.

The law, is different. Number plates need to be on a retro reflective background and display the british standards kite mark and the name of the supplier, so unlikely on a stick on plate (but not ipossible)

Round here we are VERY hot on non conforming number plates, although most Police will tend to "turn a blind eye" to minor infractions (such as not having the BS mark, or slightly non standard font)

What WILL get you a ticket is one of the following:

1 - a tiny number plate

2 - a black number plate on a post 1973 car

3 - black dots to misrepresent letters or numbers (ie making a 6 look like an E etc)

4 - mis spacing to spell words

Of course, everything is also subject to the "attitude test" if/when you get stopped...

I dont believe ANY stick on plates meet the required BS numbering, and they are all therefore technically illegal.

how does the police view the cheq and german euro plates?

This is at JohnnyCatBiscuit and is semi OT

I was stopped recently on my bike by the police in Shropshire, actually we had a good old chinwag and he was a decent bloke. The reason he stopped me is that I have a 6 digit plate and whilst it was a legal font / size he said that bike plates can not contain 1 row, they must be on 2 row's.

Any reason why that is in particular?

Also is the placement of a number plate subject to the interpretation of the police or is it set in stone? for example, I had a legal plate made up on 2 rows and am going to fit it under the seat unit on the battery box. The battery box has a large vertical surface of a suitable size. The plate is clearly viewable / legible from the sides and behind, but not from an angled elevated position (perhaps the position a speed camera is mounted at for example)

( I am wearing my nomex undies just in case )

The official position is here

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayofnumberplates.pdf

the Law is here

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/uksi_20010561_en.pdf

Use of a stick-on plate will be covered under the British Standard bit - does a stick-on meet BS AU 145d ?

Anyone got a copy?

Edited 1 August, 200817 yr by eccleshill

it's a bit weird, but for the MOT the number plate simply has to be "legible from a reasonable distance" so as far as sticking one on the bonnet is concerned, as long as it's near vertical and legible from say 20 metres away it would be fine.

The law, is different. Number plates need to be on a retro reflective background and display the british standards kite mark and the name of the supplier, so unlikely on a stick on plate (but not ipossible)

Round here we are VERY hot on non conforming number plates, although most Police will tend to "turn a blind eye" to minor infractions (such as not having the BS mark, or slightly non standard font)

What WILL get you a ticket is one of the following:

1 - a tiny number plate

2 - a black number plate on a post 1973 car

3 - black dots to misrepresent letters or numbers (ie making a 6 look like an E etc)

4 - mis spacing to spell words

Of course, everything is also subject to the "attitude test" if/when you get stopped...

Amazing the number I see around soton still that are crazy font or misrepresented in one way or another :(. Sure less than there used to be, but not none by a long way.

Regarding the stick on plates I know you can get one to a BS standard as somebody has one on their Atom.

how does the police view the cheq and german euro plates?

i'm up in court in november for my CZ plates, so i'd say first hand they are definitely illegal

Did you have a Cz badge on them or just a German plate fully complying to GB standards and showing a GB logo?

If the latter surely this covers you:

1. The plate must be made of reflex-reflecting material which, as regards its construction, colour and

other qualities, complies with the requirements of:

(a) the British Standard Specification for reflex-reflecting number plates, published on 11

September 1972 under the number BS AU 145a(a), or

( 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.

In that case say for example your plate broke and you were in Germany, you could just get a german plate made up and use it as if it were a UK one.

As far as I understand there is only a handful of cars that are "legally" allowed to display their plate on the bonnet.

Triumph Spite fire

Austin Heally and Sprite

Jaguar E-Type

Mazda MX-5

Pantera

Ferrari 250GTO

MG roadsters thingy you know the old ones

and the Maserati GTR

Kit cars are exempt in most cases

I had the DVLA bloke come around and do a VIC test on my Beach Buggy and I asked this question. He said as long as it's the right size font and colour and plate size is right, not worries - AS LONG AS it can be read from the front at a distance equivilent to the numplate test in the driving test. If you put it on you bonnet it can only be read from the sky or a copper standing looking down on in. The cars above are standard in some cases as they are low down, and closer to the ground than most cars and less room to hang it on front grill without either spoiling the design of the car of the practicalities of the cooling?

Hope this helps.

Anyway you don't want it on you bonnet do you? I can see it now - police camera action. You got the police helicopter chasing your every move down twisting and turning country road, directing the police to your delinquent driving - and the pilot says over the radio to the feds on the ground...."Oh and by the way his registration is: "PR47 TZZ" Papa, Romeo, Four Seven, Tango, Zebra, Zebra that spells Prats dunnit Guv - and it's on his bonnet" Your Nicked.

They are hot on numberplates in Portsmouth - they will not even let you have a GB of EU or a little picture at the side here - Bell-ends

i'm up in court in november for my CZ plates, so i'd say first hand they are definitely illegal

Court appearance for numberplates?? Bloody hell, were you speeding away from a crime scene at the time? :eek:

They are hot on numberplates in Portsmouth - they will not even let you have a GB of EU or a little picture at the side here - Bell-ends

GB with 'euro stars' on a blue background is perfectly legal, little pictures are not however.

i'm up in court in november for my CZ plates, so i'd say first hand they are definitely illegal

You're assuming that the cop who stopped you and the Procurator who decided to proceed both actually know the law, and aren't just taking a chance that you don't. Get some advice from a specialist lawyer.

You're assuming that the cop who stopped you and the Procurator who decided to proceed both actually know the law, and aren't just taking a chance that you don't. Get some advice from a specialist lawyer.

i know the law, i knew mine were illegal, i was given a 21 day rectification notice which i ignored. i took my chances and its went all the way now. i half expected it to be thrown out as a waste of time but i have a court date so i have to appear now.

my(plastic) plates were in german font, with a cz band and no bs marks. the very same plates are still on my car but sporting uk font, bs marks and a split band so its perfectly legal now.

my main reason for letting it go far is i'm accused of pressed metal german plates which is not 100% correct so i'll see it to the end

chances are i'll walk away with a fine but best case is its dropped.

KTP, do you have a cherished reg purchased from the dvla or a standard reg number. if its the first choice, the worst outcome could be a fine and the DVLA revoke the plate meaning you lose the right to use it and the car will be placed back onto normal plates.

na my plate is standard issue so i dont have that to worry about, i never mis-represented the letters, just didnt confirm to bristish standards as far as legality goes.

my(plastic) plates were in german font, with a cz band and no bs marks. the very same plates are still on my car but sporting uk font, bs marks and a split band so its perfectly legal now.

How can they be the "very same plates" if they now have a different font and BS marks? :confused:

i know the law, i knew mine were illegal, i was given a 21 day rectification notice which i ignored. i took my chances and its went all the way now. i half expected it to be thrown out as a waste of time but i have a court date so i have to appear now.

my(plastic) plates were in german font, with a cz band and no bs marks. the very same plates are still on my car but sporting uk font, bs marks and a split band so its perfectly legal now.

my main reason for letting it go far is i'm accused of pressed metal german plates which is not 100% correct so i'll see it to the end

chances are i'll walk away with a fine but best case is its dropped.

I'm pretty sure that a material error in the prosecution case like that is "case dismissed" as long as it gets to court before it's corrected. Advice ref a specialist lawyer stands.

I don't think it is case dismissed.

Ignoring a rectification notice will probably get you a stop being a tw*t, you've wasted my time, have a fine from the courts.