Following a thread a while back about numberplates I checked out the dealer fitted ones on my new car. They seem correctly fonted and spaced, have the dealer name and a BS number but no Post Code which I thought was required.

Can someone in the know, please clarify what is the leagl requirement for a plate as I am getting so many pages from a google search and want to make sure mine are okay now rather than wait till the first MoT and then have to chase the dealer.

i have never had a legally made number plate on my car, any of my cars, all have had a personalised plate which i got made on a show plates site. I have never had a problem even though there is no maker stamp. On my BMW i had it a different font and slightly itallic also and drove the car all over the UK with no problems what so ever.

I believed the postcode was required.

http://www.mottest.net/mot/registration-number-plates/

i have never had a legally made number plate on my car, any of my cars, all have had a personalised plate which i got made on a show plates site. I have never had a problem even though there is no maker stamp. On my BMW i had it a different font and slightly itallic also and drove the car all over the UK with no problems what so ever.

So you had illegal plates and were happy to display them and have been lucky enought not to be caught.

Interesting, but I'm not sure how that helps the original poster that is asking if a postcode needs to be displaid.

I see loads of illegal plates every day.

The police just can't seem to be bothered to do anything about it. Not that this helps the OP.

You dont have to have BS or postcode stamped on the plate. as long as the font is within Legal parameter and the plate is made of a reflective meterial and yellow for rear and white for front you are fine.

i believe stamped metal plates aren't legal but see lots of them around

Thanks for the responses. I know many people drive around with different forms of plates and probably have no issue. My question though is about what are the legal requirements for a UK plate on car registered in 2011. The MoT guides I can find mention font, size and background but I cannot find reference to Supplier details or BS number but am sure I have seen somewhere these are required.

If I had deliberately fitted a dodgey plate then that is my choice but I want to make sure that the dealer supplied plates are correct and I am not going to get penalsed because of them.

This is the font and plate, size and colour: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedRegAndNumberPlates/DG_181503

This states that the plate must adhere to those colours/fonts etc and must also adhere to BS AU 145d, which can be summarised here: http://www.bnma.org/bsaua45d.htm

Please accept these two links as gospel

You dont have to have BS or postcode stamped on the plate. as long as the font is within Legal parameter and the plate is made of a reflective meterial and yellow for rear and white for front you are fine.

Wrong. See my above post

i believe stamped metal plates aren't legal but see lots of them around

Also wrong. The physical material doesn't matter, and 3D characters are allowed as per government guidelines. As long as the plate adheres to them and the British Standard, it is legal.

From BossFox's link:

Registration Number Plates

New checks have been introduced to the MOT Test to ensure the registration plate confirms to the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.

These checks will now confirm the following:

•The characters and background colour comply with regulations

•The character font is an a correct type

•The characters are the correct size as is the size of the margin

•The plates are fitted vertically

•The non-reflective border is within the permitted width

•Finally an unacceptable symbol or flag, such as football team crests or logo, is not displayed.

Also for vehicles registered on or after 1 September 2001 ( i.e 51 plates and later ) the additional checks will also be performed:

•It displays the BSAU 145d marking

•It also displays the name and postcode of the registration plate supplier •It does not display a honeycomb or similar effect background.

My question though is about what are the legal requirements for a UK plate on car registered in 2011. The MoT guides I can find mention font, size and background but I cannot find reference to Supplier details or BS number but am sure I have seen somewhere these are required.

Did you check my link in post 3?

It mentions the postcode, supplier and BS number, just like Bab's 2nd link, which is also correct...

Did you check my link in post 3?

It mentions the postcode, supplier and BS number, just like Bab's 2nd link, which is also correct...

Wasn't meaning you BossFox. Was aimed at those saying basically that no one cars about illegal plates as I want to keep it on topic.

I have checked out the various links posted as well as the Direct Gov site which has a PDF MoT testers Guide. There are discrepancies between them and I want to ensure I have all the facts before getting into an argument with the dealer who insists there is no postcode requirement.

Number plates must display the trading name and post code of the supplying outlet and the BS mark if made or fitted after 2001.

The exception being pre 1973 black and silver plates.

This is the law and cannot be disputed.

People do fit plates wthout but it does not mean it is a legal plate.

I work in the numberplate industry and can state this as FACT.

Edited 12 December, 201114 yr by ruffday

The information posted in Bossfoxs link is out of date. It was in the MOT, it got suspended and some parts of it were reintroduced. The amended items were reintroduced by means of this April 2009 Special Notice, I can't find the special notice that suspended all the number plate checks.

These independent MOT information sites don't tend to updated very quickly. The best MOT manual to use is the one that the testers use:

Here

There are other manuals and testers information:

Here

Though the number plate may be good enough for a MOT, they may not be legal. I'm fairly sure that the ones on my car aren't legal, correct font, reflectivity, size, borders and spacing, just missing the BSAU145d and the supplier post code. As it's a pre 51 plate, I'd argue for them to prove when they were made, unfortunately they are in the new font.

The information posted in Bossfoxs link is out of date. It was in the MOT, it got suspended and some parts of it were reintroduced. The amended items were reintroduced by means of this April 2009 Special Notice, I can't find the special notice that suspended all the number plate checks.

These independent MOT information sites don't tend to updated very quickly. The best MOT manual to use is the one that the testers use:

Here

There are other manuals and testers information:

Here

Though the number plate may be good enough for a MOT, they may not be legal. I'm fairly sure that the ones on my car aren't legal, correct font, reflectivity, size, borders and spacing, just missing the BSAU145d and the supplier post code. As it's a pre 51 plate, I'd argue for them to prove when they were made, unfortunately they are in the new font.

I found those links via the direct gov site and this is what confused me as there is no mention of the postcode. I cannot justify forking out over £80 for a copy of the British Standard so as I cannot show the need will just have to let it be I suppose. I've got the BSAU145d and the dealer name, just no postcode.

In reality it is not somthing I can get too worked up about but I will remember it when it comes to the first MoT.

Thanks again to all for the time and effort you have given in answering my query.

gjib - the "basics" of the that British Standard are listed in the 2nd link I posted, all reputable plate makers should me familiar with them!

Check out form V796 for the details.

This is a link to a PDF version of the document.

http://www.google.co...AdZzCa6WfGIlfwg

Edited 12 December, 201114 yr by ruffday

That should stop the arguements!

But I bet some silly beggar will still disagree with them!!

I work in the

That should stop the arguements!

But I bet some silly beggar will still disagree with them!!

I work in the industry mate and I get it all the time.

Check out form V796 for the details.

This is a link to a PDF version of the document.

http://www.google.co...AdZzCa6WfGIlfwg

Excellent. Was a bit worried as the document looked like being published in 07 and someone else commented that the rules had changed again but doing further searches with some of the info it gave led me to INF104, can't link it as technologically challeneged, but it looks like the updated version of the V796, and also states the need for a postcode. Dealership here I come!

Check out form V796 for the details.

This is a link to a PDF version of the document.

http://www.google.co...AdZzCa6WfGIlfwg

That should stop the arguements!

But I bet some silly beggar will still disagree with them!!

Yes, i have a copy of this in my car for the next time i get pulled over for my 'illegal' (legal dubmeister plates) pressed metal plates. Touch wood i haven't had to present it to any officer of the law and have only been pulled once for them...

Back on the postcode being displayed, it is pre 2001 for the registration mark or for the vehicle?

Back on the postcode being displayed, it is pre 2001 for the registration mark or for the vehicle?

Niether the trading name and postcode must be on any number plate made after sept 2001.

The age of car has nothing to do with it if you are fitting white and yellow reflective plates.

The only saving grace is if you have a car registered before sept 2001 and have plates with the new type font but no trading name and postcode you should be ok.

The new type font ran alongside the old type font for around a year before sept 2001 so it would need to be proved they were made after sept 2001.

From MOT tester notes

Second box which now states the reasons for a failure which is now obselete and un avaliable for selection i.e you cant fail a vehicle for not displaying BS and post code.

So are you saying that the Government document linked to in post #16 is incorrect?

So are you saying that the Government document linked to in post #16 is incorrect?

I wouldn't have thought so, the government document shows how they want registration numbers displayed and the document above shows what aspects of the display of the registration number that must conform to meet VOSAs test standard.

What's legal and what's upto MOT standard are two totally different things. I've had to pass vehicles with heavily tinted front side windows, I don't like it, I know that they're illegal, but there is no way that I can fail them on a MOT test.