Self adhesive number plate

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
2

Hi all,

Just thought I’d let you all know a little about self adhesive number plates to put on your bonnet or bumper.

I have been doing lots of research on this topic over the past few weeks, scouring the internet, checking DVLA, searching for legal companies.

I know there is a lot of hearsay, some state that it is illegal, some state that it isn’t.

After extensive research I believe I have found the answer and self adhesive number plates are LEGAL!!

 

The below information I gathered from this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533255/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf

 

"Vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1973 must display number plates:

  • Made of a reflective material

  • With a white background at the front of the vehicle and a yellow background at the back of the vehicle

  • with black letters and numbers."

 

"The British Standard sets out the characteristics of the number plate. This includes visibility, strength and reflectivity. To meet the British Standard, each number plate must be permanently and legibly marked with the following information.

  • The British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d)

  • The name, trademark or other way of identifying the manufacturer or supplier

  • The name and postcode of the supplying outlet"

 

"On 1 September 2001, new regulations introduced a standard font (style of lettering) for number plates, making them easier to be read. This change ended the use of italics and other styles of lettering that are difficult to read.

For vehicles with new or replacement number plates fitted from 1 September 2001, registration numbers can no longer be shown over three lines (unless the vehicle was first registered before 1 January 1973) or if a vehicle is constructed before 1 January 1976 and is registered in the historic tax class and is exempt from vehicle tax. Also, the letters and numbers (characters) on number plates bought since 1 September 2001 will need to meet the following standards.

  • Characters must be 79mm tall n Characters (except the number 1 or letter I) must be 50mm wide

  • The character stroke (the thickness of the black print) must be 14mm

  • The space between characters must be 11mm

  • The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm

  • The margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be 11mm

  • Vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 19mm"

 

You are also allowed “3D” style, found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates

 

"If you want to you can display the European symbol and GB national identifier on the number plate. This will get rid of the need for a separate GB sticker when travelling within the EU. The symbol must meet the EC Council Regulation 2411/98 which states that:

  • It must be at least 98mm tall

  • It must be between 40mm and 50mm wide

  • The background must be reflective blue with 12 reflective yellow stars at the top

  • The ‘GB’ must be in reflective white or yellow."

 

"If you want to, you can display a GB national flag with the letters ‘GB’ on the far left of the number plate. The flags you can choose from are:

  • The Union Jack

  • St George’s cross

  • The Scottish saltire

  • The Red Dragon of Wales

The letters you can choose from are:

  • Great Britain or GB

  • United Kingdom or UK

  • ENGLAND, England, ENG or Eng

  • SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco

  • CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym

  • WALES or Wales

Although number plates displaying these national flags and letters would be legal when travelling outside the United Kingdom, they are not acceptable for identification purposes. To meet international requirements, when travelling outside the United Kingdom, the oval GB sticker would also need to be displayed (displaying the European symbol removes the need for this sticker when you are travelling within Europe).

You are not allowed to display any other flag or symbol, and these requirements only apply to vehicles registered in England, Scotland and Wales. For vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, the only symbol that can be displayed is the European logo."

 

So as long as your number plate conforms to the above, it is legal. There are no documents that state that you can’t have a self adhesive number plate, however, you must ensure your plate is clearly visible and is on the forward most point of your car, as vertically and horizontally as possible. I have a Mk3 and once my new self adhesive number plate arrives I will be removing my number plate plinth and placing my new number plate between the bottom of my front badge and the top of my grill.

 

So where do you get these plates from?

 

A lot of companies nowadays do not supply road legal, self adhesive number plates. Some don’t sell self adhesive ones at all, and others won’t have all the legal jargon attached. If the plates don’t have the legal jargon, they can only be used for show and are not road legal.

 

I did find one company though, and I’m not plugging them yet, but they were incredibly helpful and offered me information regarding the legality of self adhesive number plates. Like any number plate manufacturer nowadays they must see original copies of your V5C and proof of name and address (driving licence will do).  You can e-mail the company, they will send you the link to purchase the plates and an address of where to send your original documents. They will then send your new plates and documents to you together. They state they will ensure the plates are road legal by supplying all the legal jargon on the plate.

 

HOWEVER!! I am yet to do this! I will be purchasing the plates this evening and I will edit this post with the company details when I have received my new plates and my original documents ensuring all is in good order. (Call me a Guinea pig)

 

I hope this post has helped anyone confused by the laws around self adhesive number plates and please, any conflicting information you may have, reply to this post.

 

Disclaimer: If however, the information I have supplied is wrong and legal action is taken against you, I will not be held responsible.

 

Many thanks and happy driving all,

 

James.

3

All above will be a great help to guys & gals. See my avatar picture. My E-Type jag i had in 1974 , they all had stick on plates on the bonnet. Nowhere near verticle though but was acceptable back then & i wondered if i could do the same with the NC. I also looked & only found as verticle as possible. But how verticle are we talking. Undecided

4

A quick internet search turned up the relevant legislation on the installation of number plates:

Statutory Instrument 2001, No 561.  The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. 

Section 5, (5 a) " The plate must be fixed vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable ’

Therefore the snag I can see in using stick on plates where the original vertical mount on an MX5 has been removed and a stick-on plate is used in its place is that the original fixing could be considered ‘reasonably practicable’ and a replacement stick-on plate an excuse for a vehicle rectification notice to be issued.

There seems to be no exemptions for older vehicles, but one suspects the relatively small numbers of historic vehicles is so low that it’s not worth the issue being pushed by the authorities.

JS

 

5

I have a self adhesive number plate on my Celica and it has a similar bonnet shape to the Mazda in that the plate is not vertical. I’ve done 22,000 miles in it since 2011 when I restored it and , touch wood, not been bothered by the Police! It does have manufacturer, postcode and Brit std on the plate so I have always considered it legal!

Perhaps it’s because they view it as historic and aren’t too sure of the rules?? 

I am seriously thinking of fitting one to the MX5. 

6

First off let me state that I had a stick on number plate on my MX5 all the time I owned it, in the full knowledge that it was illegal.

Back in 2009 I spent a lot of time talking to the various authorities via email.The stuff is listed below and taken from my FAQ

 

 

The MOT guy doesn’t care weather the plates are stick on or not so long as the numbers are legible.

This is a direct quote from the DVLA in reply to an e mail that I sent to them

Dear Mr Walton

 

Thank you for your email received on 9/10/09. Your email reference number is 130980.

 

I have highlighted some information in this email which may help you further.

 

The Road 
Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) regulations 2001, took effect from 1 
September 2001. These regulations introduced a mandatory character font, 
provision for the optional use of the Euro-symbol, provision for the new 
registration number format to take effect on that date and a new British 
Standard (BS AU 145d) for the manufacture of number plates. Besides the 
registration number the new British Standard made it compulsory for a number plate to display:

 

  • the British Standard number
  • the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer 
    or component supplier (taken to be the manufacturer of the number plate and the character to be used on it)
  • the name and postcode of the supplying outlet. The "supplying outlet" means 
    the person or company who provides the plate for fixing on the vehicle e.g. dealer who supplies vehicle or affixes new plates
From 1 September 2001 all new 
number plates must be constructed using the new mandatory font and characters 
must be of the size given below (sizes do not refer to motorcycles and vehicles 
manufactured before 1973). The characters must be black; the background must be of reflex-reflecting material white at the front and yellow at the rear. It 
seems unlikely that a "stick on number" could conform to the British Standard. 
However, this could be confirmed by contacting the British Standards Institute (telephone number 0208 9967333).

 

Characters Size all vehicles except motorcycles:

 

Height 79mm

Width 50mm

Stroke 14mm

Side margin 11mm

Top & bottom margins 11mm

Space between characters 11mm

Space between groups 33mm

Motorcycles only:

Height 64mm

Width 44mm

Stroke 10mm

Space between characters 10mm

Space between groups 30mm

Top, Side & Bottom margin 11mm

 

Motorists, may if they wish, 
display the Euro symbol and GB national identifier on the number plate. This 
will dispense with the need for a separate GB sticker when travelling within the 
EU. The symbol must confirm to the EC Council Regulation 2411/98 which states 
the height must be a minimum of 98mm the width must be a minimum of 40mm, 
maximum of 50mm. The background must be of retro-reflecting blue with 12 
retro-reflecting yellow stars at the top and the distinguishing sign of the Member State (GB) in retro-reflecting white or yellow.

 

Full details (including examples 
of the style and shape of number plates) can be found at our website www.dvla.gov.uk. A copy of the new regulations can be purchased through:

 

HMSO (Her Majesty’s Stationary Office)

PO Box 276

London

SW8 5DT

Regards

 

G Parslow

Customer Enquiries Group

DVLA

 

7

If they were illegal, surely the DVLA would have stated in their email that it’s illegal to have a self adhesive number plate rather that tell you the specifications that a number plate must comply to.

So, as I said in my post, as long as the registration plate conforms to all I stated, which is what the DVLA stated, which is also what you stated, it means they are legal.

8

When you get your new plates I would be interested in whether they have the following on the plate, all of which are a requirement by the DVLA

  • the British Standard number
  • the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer 
    or component supplier (taken to be the manufacturer of the number plate and the character to be used on it)
  • the name and postcode of the supplying outlet. The "supplying outlet" means 
    the person or company who provides the plate for fixing on the vehicle e.g. dealer who supplies vehicle or affixes new plates
I guess the next challenge is to find a vertical surface to mount the plate on.......[img]http://verithingeoff.com/VW%20Images/aussie-emoticon1%20copy.gif[/img]
9

Please read the original post thoroughly. It states that the company will supply the British standards number, name and post code.

Also, it states the plates need to be as verticals as possible. If your read the post I also state where I will place my plate…

10

 

 

The plate affixed to the Celica in my post contains all the legal requirements on the plate as posted. I had to verify V5 and identification.

11

The ‘sticking’ point here (sorry lads, just couldn’t resist it !) seems to be the mounting of any plate, however it’s made.

The stipulation that it must be mounted vertically, or ‘as near to vertical as practicable’ is a very grey area, and open to interpretation by the authorities (whether police, DVLA or MoT tester).

The other thing, to my mind, is that if you want to make your MX-5 look like an E-Type Jaguar, you’re going to have to put the plate in exactly the same position as the Mazda badge would normally go.  Personally, I rather like the badge there !  I suppose it does depend on which model 5 you have, there is more room on some models than on others, but on my NC, I can’t see how you could mount it without having to do away with the badge. 

In the end though, is it really worth all the grief you could be bringing on yourself ?  

12

Has anyone actually read the british standard 145?

Just because you write the reference number in the corner of a plate doesn’t mean it complies.  That’s simply a requirment of the law about how to display a plate.

The only bs approved plates are the acrylic ones.  The sticker plate would have to be tested in some lab conditions and no one is going to pay for that.

My own personal view is number plates are a necessary evil and should be as plain and discreet as possible.  Nothing about them enhances the look of any car and any attempt to turn them into something cosmetic is a waste of time.

13

Andy, yes I have read the BS it was one of many documents I read before writing the FAQ about 8 years ago. If anyone is interested here it is in PDF format. Amusingly it talks about dropping a 1kilo weight onto a plate to test for impact damage. Would you like to have the stickon tested whilst it’s fitted to your car?

14

That’s great thanks Geoff

15

I don’t see how a sticker could possibly comply with BSau145d regardless of whether it is printed on the plate or not.  There are some vehicles on which it is difficult to mount a standard plate and the police seem to take a pragmatic view with those which is fine with me, but it doesn’t make them legal.

Personal taste of course, but I agree that while standard number plates are an unnecessarily large eyesore, messed-about-with number plates don’t enhance a car in any way.  I don’t mind ‘cherished numbers’ and I have a couple of dateless ones but I don’t like messing about with spacing, screw heads etc either.  I usually replace my plates with plain ones, no dealer name or Euro identifier. 

Haven’t got round to changing the dealer ones on the Arctic yet - I’ll probably wait until the insurance renewal, assign a number I have on retention, and do it then.

I’d actually quite like a stick on plate - on a D-type :slight_smile:

 

16

Having worked very closely alongside traffic police I learned first hand that they normally take a very pragmatic view (another pun) of things such as this. As long as the plate is of the correct size and the digits spacing and font are correct and can be read by both the human eye and cameras, I would be surprised if any driver was pulled up for having a stick on plate. I experienced a few motorcyclists being given a ticket for “failing to display” in cases where the plate was far too small, missing, or hidden under the rear mudguard, with the obvious intention of camera avoidance. How riders thought they were going to get away with the latter was always beyond me.

17

I was just tidying up a pile of old Soft Top Hardtop magazines, and noticed that on the front cover of the August issue this year, there was a photo of an NA with a (presumably) stick-on number plate placed right on the front edge of the bonnet panel.

Obviously not vertical (nothing like it), and one has to assume that the owner has never been prosecuted, or refused and MoT, because of it. 

18

The most obvious problem would appear to be the tests for mechanical strength.  A stick-on plate would not be rigid enough to be tested. 

Of course, when it’s actually stuck to the car, the whole assembly is strong enough.  Pragmatically, I wonder if a stick on plate could be assessed when it’s actually stuck to a section of MX-5 nose.  Plenty of broken ones in scrapyards I guess.  Stick a plate onto a section cut from an old front bumper and test that.  After all that is how the plate will be mounted in use.  You might need some kind of disclaimer that the BSau145d rating only applied when the plate was mounted in the approved manner, but that needn’t be a problem as any ordinary plate could also fail if it was mounted in a stupid way so it wasn’t supported properly.

1 Like
19

I’ve had a stick on plate on my mk1 for over 5 years, no problems with MOT or police. The speed camera that snapped me doing 45mph in a 40mph stretch of the A5 obviously had no problems with it either…

20

I’d say that a “stick on” is actually stronger than a BS approved plate. I’ve now given up trying to keep those plastic rear plates on my other car and have replaced it with a pressed aluminium one. The reason is that the lower edge of the plate projects below the lower edge of the rear bodywork. It only takes a slight “catch” on the plate whilst traversing rough ground and it cracks around the mounting screws and comes off.

Btw, I know this is only a discussion thread, but I think some are taking this subject far too seriously…

What seems to be happening more often of late is the boy racer fraternity who seem to have taken to removing the front plate altogether and putting it inside the front windscreen. The idea seems to be that if stopped by the police, they claim it’s just fallen off and they are doing their best to display it. But then, once on the motorway, in the “average speed” sections where cameras look a the front of the vehicle, the plate is taken out of the windscreen and put on the floor…