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Are Number Plate Frames Illegal

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are number plate frames illegal? What is their purpose? We will go through everything you need to know about plate holders and frames here.

Want to secure your number plate to your vehicle, but don’t want to screw it in? What are the other options? Are number plate frames illegal? There are a few things to consider here with plate accessories, so we are going to go through everything you need to know.

At Number Plate Clinic, we explore everything you could want to know about number plates. From how to personalise 3D gel plates for special occasions and making sure your 4D plates are road legal, to the role of 3Ds in corporate branding and how to make them last longer.

What Are Number Plate Frames?

What Are Number Plate Frames?A number plate frame or number plate holder is an accessory that is typically made from metal or plastic. They are secured to your vehicle with your number plate to – as the name suggests – hold it in place.

There are all different colours to consider when it comes to number plate frames, and there will definitely be something to suit every style. From black frames to transparent ones, they are suitable for any car or motorbike.

The purpose of a number plate frame is to protect your number plate from damage and secure it to your vehicle. The frame goes around the edges of the plate, and helps to prevent cracking, chipping, and other kinds of damage as you go about your daily life.

So, they can be very useful, but are number plate frames illegal in the UK?

Are Number Plate Frames Illegal

Are Number Plate Frames Illegal

Thankfully, number plate frames are not illegal, and there are plenty of options if you want to get one yourself. Here at Number Plate Clinic, our frames or holders do a fantastic job at protecting and securing, and they follow guidelines to make sure that you can drive without fear of being pulled over.

Just remember that different countries might have different rules to consider, and we are talking about the UK here. If you plan to visit another country, make sure to do your research before using plate holders, as you could land yourself in trouble.

What Could Make Your Number Plate Holder Illegal?

There are a number of things that could make your number plate frames illegal if you aren’t careful. Whether it’s caused by faulty manufacturing, or you got your frames from an unreliable source, you need to know that the following issues will make your plate holder illegal:

  • If the frame is made from a weak material
  • If the plate frame is not securely attached to the vehicle as intended
  • If the holder has added features that could be seen as distraction to other drivers and road users
  • If the frame covers any of the number plate’s characters
  • If the plate frame is loose or badly installed

Any reliable number plate shop – like us – will only supply number plate frames that have been manufactured using the appropriate materials and follow the guidelines. Tests will be carried out to make sure the criteria are met, so you never have to worry about getting into trouble for any of the above reasons.

Do Number Plate Frames Need to be On the Bumper?

Do Number Plate Frames Need to be On the Bumper?

The answer to this depends on where your number plate would typically sit on your particular vehicle. Most cars will have their number plate on the bumper, so you can probably assume that your plate should be there, too.

If you drive anywhere with your number plate on another part of the car, there’s a very good chance that you will be pulled over by the police. At the very least, you will be questioned, but you could also be fined or worse.

If you have never used number plate frames, you might be intimidated if you need to install it yourself, but there is nothing to worry about. Attaching a number plate is easier than you might think and only takes a few simple steps. However, if you bring your vehicle into the shop, we can get everything done for you – including attaching the plate with a number plate frame.

Other Methods of Attaching Your Number Plate

In the instance where you don’t want to use a number plate frame for whatever reason, there are alternatives to consider: screwing the plane on, or using sticky pads. Both of these options are viable and legal, but we will always recommend using sticky pads so that the plate doesn’t get damaged.

If you plan to remove and replace the plate yourself, here are a few things to remember when doing so:

  • Be gentle as you work – number plates are not invulnerable and they can easily break
  • Never stick a new plate on if it or the vehicle is dirty
  • Don’t do it on a very hot day – wait for it to cool down for the best results
  • Use the correct materials – double-sided tape or Blue Tack doesn’t cut it!
  • Make sure the adhesive you use is water-resistant
  • Be careful not to scratch or otherwise damage your vehicle in the process
  • Use sticky pads rather than screws for installing – these are easier to adjust if you get it wrong, and they don’t damage the plate like drilling through it would.

Making Sure Your Number Plates Are Road Legal

Making Sure Your Number Plates Are Road Legal

With all of that being said, you can get a legal number plate frame and still get in trouble. Why? The number plates themselves. There are strict guidelines that number plate manufacturers need to follow, and deviating from these will mean that anyone seen driving around with an illegal plate will be fined.

Below are the key number plate rules that you need to know about, so that you know exactly what to look out for:

  • Not have reflective characters
  • Not have removable characters
  • Be made with a background of reflective material
  • Have a plain background, with no pattern or distracting characteristics
  • Front plates must have black characters on a white background
  • Back/rear plates must have black characters on a yellow background
  • Show who supplied the number plate (mark of provider is required)
  • Have a British Standard number for any plates fitted after the first of September 2021
  • Must have characters written in the Charles Wright 2001 font
  • Can have raised characters (3D & 4D)
  • Can display certain identifiers such as flags or symbols

A number plate that fails to follow these rules will result in trouble with the law, so always get your plates and frames from trusted suppliers – like us. The last thing you need is to be pulled over and handed a fine or worse for having an illegal number plate that you didn’t even know about.

On this topic, if you are selling number plates or buying a vehicle second-hand, make sure you go through all the paperwork properly. You would be surprised by how often people accidentally purchase a cloned car, or are scammed when trying to legally sell a registration plate.

Get Your New Number Plate Frames at Number Plate Clinic

Get Your New Number Plate Frames at Number Plate Clinic

Number plate frames or holders are a popular option these days. With the added security and interesting aesthetics, it isn’t difficult to understand why, either. If you want to get a number plate frame for your vehicle, there is nothing stopping you – we have some great options to check out.

Here at the Number Plate Clinic, we have everything you could need for your vehicle. We have plate accessories, including a variety of plate holders like black or carbon-effect, as well as sticky pads, white or yellow plate screws, and even keyrings. Whatever you need, we have it.

So, are number plate frames illegal? No, they are perfectly legal in the UK as long as they follow the rules we’ve outlined in this article.

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