A prominent automotive expert has issued a warning about lesser-known number plate rules that could lead to drivers being fined up to £1,000.
Jon Kirkbright, the sales director at Platehunter, specializes in the buying and selling of private number plates. With over 11 years of experience in the industry, he remains well-informed about changes in rules and regulations pertaining to number plates.
Kirkbright cautions drivers against rearranging the letters and numbers on their plates in an attempt to create desirable words. Doing so could result in hefty fines, he asserts.
The UK government stipulates that number plates must accurately display the registration number without any rearrangement or alterations that hinder readability. Failure to comply with this rule can attract fines of up to £1,000, and the vehicle will also fail its MOT test.
The current vehicle registration number format, introduced in 2001, consists of two letters (indicating the region of registration), two numbers (indicating the issuance period), and three randomly assigned letters.
Kirkbright warns, “Some individuals may alter the spacing on their number plates to make it resemble a word or name more closely than before. However, by doing so, drivers risk incurring costly fines.”
For those seeking number plates featuring specific combinations of letters or numbers, there are legal personalized number plates available to meet their preferences.
Platehunter, in business for over 11 years, boasts a collection of over 56 million personalized number plates for sale. The automotive expert emphasizes that Platehunter is dedicated to being an affordable number plate supplier, with prices starting as low as £39 plus VAT and transfer fees.
However, rearranging characters on number plates is not the sole issue that can lead to fines for drivers. There are other regulations to consider, such as the color of the writing.
Guidelines dictate that number plates on vehicles must:
- Be made from reflective material.
- Display black characters on a white background (front plate).
- Display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate).
- Not have a background pattern.
- Indicate the plate supplier.
- Feature a British Standard number (BS AU 145e) for plates fitted after September 1, 2021.
The characters must be non-removable and non-reflective. Additionally, number plates fitted after September 1, 2021, must be a single shade of black.
Number plates may also:
- Have raised (3D) characters.
- Display certain flags, symbols, and identifiers.
- Feature a green flash for zero-emission vehicles.
To avoid falling afoul of the law, Kirkbright advises drivers to purchase number plates only from reputable dealers approved by the DVLA. He asserts, “All drivers should ensure they are purchasing number plates from a reputable seller approved by the DVLA. There are strict rules regarding the font, color, spacing, and size of characters on a number plate that must be adhered to.”
Platehunter offers a service for £25, including delivery, ensuring customers can acquire legal number plates that comply with the law. Orders placed on the same day can be dispatched, subject to the time of ordering.
For those seeking private number plates resembling names, initials, or meaningful words, Platehunter encourages browsing their website. In cases where customers cannot find their desired plates, they can inform Platehunter of their specifications to receive notifications when such plates become available. The company can also auction any legally compliant, unissued number plate on behalf of customers, provided it meets the DVLA’s requirements.
For more information or assistance with purchasing or selling a private number plate, please visit PlateHunter. Additionally, Platehunter can be followed and contacted on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
