[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The UK government and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have many restrictions on driving in the UK to ensure everybody’s safe on the roads. Many of the regulations are regarding number plates; there are many more restrictions than most people imagine, so knowing what’s necessary when you get a new number plate or start driving a new car is essential to avoid fines or potentially getting points on your licence.
So, do you need a front number plate to drive in the UK and what are the other laws around number plates you should be aware of?
Number plates were first made essential for road vehicles in 1903, and over the last fifty years, there have been more restrictions regarding what your number plate should look like and where it should be to make it easy to identify.
To be compliant with the law, your vehicle’s number plate must:
Each character on the number plate must also:
Each UK number plate should follow the same format unless it has been personalised. This format should include two letters at the start to indicate where the vehicle was registered, two numbers to indicate the year it was registered and three random letters to differentiate the number plate. Each of these components represents a character group.
Most people in the UK keep their cars for several years and even name them, showing their great attachment to their vehicles. So, it’s no surprise that people love to customise their cars, accessorising the interior, adding bumper stickers and even personalising their number plates. But with the strict regulations regarding number plates in the UK, how can you personalise your plates?
Fortunately, you can apply for a personalised plate through the government and have your plate made and registered relatively easily, as long as it meets the requirements. Generally, if it’s not an obscene word, includes the letter Q or has already been registered, your personalised plate will be given the OK. But there are other ways to make your number plate a bit more interesting.
To drive your car abroad you need to have “UK” and a flag somewhere on the vehicle, whether it’s a sticker on the back or a strip at the start of your number plate. You don’t have to stick to the traditional Union Jack either. If you prefer a Welsh dragon, a Scottish Saltire or an English St George’s Cross, you’re allowed to choose these flags instead.
But to make your number plate more modern, you can also choose 4D characters. 4D number plates make the characters stand out from the background, and as long as they’re all black and can’t be removed, they’re perfectly legal and make your car infinitely cooler.
Image: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-changing-vehicle-registration-plate-on-2044243634
To drive or even park your car on roads in the UK, your vehicle must have a front number plate that adheres to the law regarding colour, font and size. The number plate must be clearly visible, hence the standard location of car number plates. You must also ensure your number plate is not covered by dirt or mud that may obscure any characters.
If your number plate is not clearly visible or does not meet the DVLA’s regulations, you will fail your MOT (Ministry of Transport Test). If you drive or park your car on any public roads in the UK without a valid number plate, including a missing front number plate, you may face a fine of up to £1000 as well as receive 3 points on your driver’s licence.
In the unlikely and unlucky event that your number plate falls off, if you’re fortunate enough to notice and pick it up again, you should be very cautious of where you put it. You may consider putting it in your window so it can still be seen, however, as the glass is reflective, at some angles the number plate is not clearly visible. This means you could face a fine for having your number plate in your window.
So if your number plate falls off, try to reattach it as best you can or call a mechanic to do it for you to ensure you aren’t driving illegally.
If you’re even more unfortunate and you lose your front number plate or it’s stolen, the first thing you should do is call the police to report it missing. They will then advise you to make a makeshift number plate if you’re on the road and can’t get a replacement easily at short notice, and attach this to the place where your number plate should be. You should then get a new number plate as soon as possible to prevent being fined for having an illegal number plate.
While the government’s online resources state that all vehicles must have a front and back number plate, it also states that motorbikes not only don’t need a front number plate, they actually shouldn’t have one if it’s registered before a certain date.
Motorbikes and motor tricycles registered before 1 September 2001 can have a front and back number plate, however, those registered after this date must only have a rear number plate. The rear number plate for motorbikes and motor trikes should be over two lines.
Four-wheeled vehicles like cars, vans and lorries should all have front and back number plates for easy identification, as well as on the back of any trailers. However, large mobility scooters that may be driven on the road do not need to display a number plate, although they must be registered with the DVLA.
If you are on holiday in the UK, you can drive your car on UK roads without any restrictions. You only need your driver’s licence and to meet the age restrictions (be over 17 to drive a car or motorbike and over 21 for lorries and buses). You do not need a new number plate for short stays.
However, if you have a foreign vehicle and intend to drive it in the UK for more than six months, you must register it with the DVLA after 6 months and they will send you a new, UK number plate. After one year of driving in the UK, you must then exchange your driving licence for a UK licence to continue driving.
If you’re from the EU, or former British colonies including Australia, Canada and Zimbabwe, you can exchange your licence without needing to retake your test. However, if you’re not from a designated country, you must exchange your licence for a provisional driving licence and retake your driving test in Britain.
Some cars have show plates rather than standard number plates; show plates are essentially any number plate that is not legal according to the DVLA. You can keep show plates on your vehicle in showrooms, on your driveway or at car shows, but you cannot park or drive your car on UK roads with show plates on without facing a serious penalty.
If you want a new number plate for your vehicle, whether to replace a lost one or improve your car’s appearance, contact the customer service team at the Number Plate Clinic today!
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