There are many references to the MoT check. Not sure if that is the definitive as the MOT test does not require actual measurement of the letters, nor does it cover things like window tints (although the police can issue someone a ticket requiring them to get there car checked by an MoT tester and these can be abve and beyond the MoT requirements). I did find an upto date DVLA document which stipulates the need for a postcode.

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.

Just spotted a mistake on this.

I should have said this.

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

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.

dont forget... MOT and whats road legal are MILES apart.. a tyre that could pass an mot.. you would probably get points if you get pulled for..

a tyre that could pass an mot.. you would probably get points if you get pulled for..

Go on . . . . .

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.

Do you want a simple answer?

Take your car into the place where you intend to have it MOT'd.

Ask the MOT tester his opinion as to whether the plates meet the standard, will be accepted and give you a pass.

Simples

Do you want a simple answer?

Take your car into the place where you intend to have it MOT'd.

Ask the MOT tester his opinion as to whether the plates meet the standard, will be accepted and give you a pass.

Simples

No quite so simples!

Car won't need an MoT for 3 years so tester may have changed.

As has been metioned a few times MoT and legal are different things.

Car won't need an MoT for 3 years so tester may have changed.

But they'll be working to the same set of rules.

That's as good as you're going to get.

Just look at other cars with standard plates, does it look the same? Yes? Then it's fine, as long as the letters are the same size, font, are correctly spaced and have no background then it's fine, simples.

Go on . . . . .

Yer....I was hoping for an update to this one as well.

So....a tyre that passes an MOT will get you 3pts in a Stop....please.....explain some more!

It could be that some policemen don't know how to assess a worn tyre. Often manufacturers won't cut the tread as deep as the channels which contain the wear bar indicators on some parts of the tyre which are within the centre 3/4. The policeman sees this, measures the tread at below 1.6mm and gives out a ticket.

This type of stepped tread is covered in the MOT manual by:

The tread pattern excludes any tie- bars, tread wear indicators, or features designed to wear out substantially before the remainder of the pattern, and other minor features. Grooves that had not been cut as deep as those containing the wear indicators when new, are not to be considered as part of the tread pattern.

The MOT is correct and the policeman would be mistaken.

Going back onto topic, post a picture of the registration plate, suitably disguising the number and we'll give an opinion.

No real need for a piccy, as all I have on my plate is the Reg in what looks like proper sized font on a plain properly coloured background, the name of the dealership and the BSU number. So the only thing missing from what I understand to be the DVLA requirements, but not the MoT ones!, is the postcode of the supplying person.

It could be that some policemen don't know how to assess a worn tyre. Often manufacturers won't cut the tread as deep as the channels which contain the wear bar indicators on some parts of the tyre which are within the centre 3/4. The policeman sees this, measures the tread at below 1.6mm and gives out a ticket.

This type of stepped tread is covered in the MOT manual by:

The tread pattern excludes any tie- bars, tread wear indicators, or features designed to wear out substantially before the remainder of the pattern, and other minor features. Grooves that had not been cut as deep as those containing the wear indicators when new, are not to be considered as part of the tread pattern.

The MOT is correct and the policeman would be mistaken.

Going back onto topic, post a picture of the registration plate, suitably disguising the number and we'll give an opinion.

Load of rubbish, the police will take more than one reading so that would never happen.

What's the number of readings got to do with it? If the tyre is below 1.6mm within the centre 3/4 at one place only then it's illegal, taking more readings isn't going to alter that. It's where the reading is taken that counts. I had a car in the other day with a good 4mm of tread over virtually the whole of the centre 3/4, except in a small area where it was on 1.6mm.

As for it'll never happen, in my experience it has, we had a customer in, after a policeman had told her that her rear tyres were illegal, he had taken readings in the centre 3/4, except he had taken them in a circumferal groove that had not been cut as deep as the main tread. The policeman later paid us a visit and we had to explain to him the MOT test requirements of measuring tread depth. Quite basic, but it does catch a few people out. On the MOT testers course we were shown two tyres, one illegal and one legal, everyone (myself included) except one person out of twenty picked the wrong tyre as the legal one.

I always get confused when trying tommeasure the depth and how much of the tyre needs to have it but for me when it gets to that stage I change them.

Going off topic now, but hey I'm the OP, at what point would the MoT tester issue and advisory on the tyres?

Just had a call from Skoda Uk Customer Services. They contacted me a few days ago about the survey I filled in. Mentioned on the phone to them about the number plate and sent them the DVLA document. Guy called back today saying there is a problem and I was the first to raise it, he seemed quite shocked at that, but did admit that the DVLA document was correct! He is trying to sort out (after the christmas break) what they will have to do about it. Presumably he is a bit concerned at the potential number of people who could be affected by this!

As I get more info I will post it.

To be honest Im not surprised as even now after 10 years a lot of main dealers dont know what needs to be on the plates.

They have all been informed numerous times.

Also if the dealer has thier name on the plate they have to be registered as a Number Plate Supplier.

As a number plate supplier they have a legal obligation to make the plates to the legislation.

Update on the story, Skoda UK clearly didn't believe me or the DVLA document I sent them so approached DVLA for confirmation of what is required. They called back today saying yes the postcode is needed and would get the dealership to contact me. 5 mins later, service department calls asking when I can bring the car in for a new set of plates! Doesn't seem to be an issue of them getting the backing with the correct details so you have to ask why did they fit the dodgey plates to start with?

To be honest, I would have just lived with the plates with no postcode.

To be honest, I would have just lived with the plates with no postcode.

Frankly I was not too bothered other than making sure that I didn't get caught out in three years time at the MoT. However Skoda UK called me to discuss a couple of points I had mentioned in my customer satisfaction survey and I mentioned it in passing to them. They guy there is the one running with it not me. Just thought I'd share the info as there was some debate on what was actually required,

...so you have to ask why did they fit the dodgey plates to start with?

Old stock to either use up or throw away? With all the confusion I know what I'd try and get away with do