Arabic number plates in London?

Question

On three or four occasions now I have seen Ferraris and Lamborgini's driving around the Chelsea and Knightsbridge area with Arabic number plates. Is this legal? What would happen if there was an accident and I (or a police officer) needed to take down the number plate?

Answer 1

Don't forget, the number system which we use is Arabic in origin - or you would have us go back to Roman numerals?

Answer 2

Wouldn't fool the ANPR system. It would just flash up, "TERRORIST", possbily.

Answer 3

They could be on holiday, work at an embassy etc.

If its going to be here for over a year then it needs our plates, if the owner lives here then it needs our plates.

If you have a prang with one then you just exchange details as normal, if there was a discrepancy then call the feds.

The law changed recently that if they are living here on a semi permanent basis then their insurance policy must be one from within the UK as it was found that their own insurance companies were not covering them here and also as a traffic officer I couldnt understand the writing anyway on a policy that they produced, I could have been reading anything!

Answer 4

this is perfectly legal they can do this for a year without having to register the car for a UK plate. As for if there was an accident its irrelevant as they cant be traced via the UK police computer

Answer 5

It's only the same as if we travelled in foreign countries. The plates are not changed

Answer 6

As a retired Police Officer I would say that this situation is not legal and should be tested by the Court. I would have 'booked ' the driver for failing to show a proper registration mark on the vehicle and let the Magistrates decide. Unfortunately we now have a Crown Prosecution Service who seem reluctant to Prosecute only 'Present' so I doubt now if it would get to the Magistrates.  I agree that this situation is farcical and needs attention.   I have always thought that the best way to avoid having any Road Tax ,  Insurance, or  Test certificate, is to put a set of Foreign Plates on your car and only use it on a rainy day,  the chances of being stopped by our modern Police is nil - too wet to get out of their car and too complicated for the 'plastic plods'.  Mind how you go!