What makes up a legal car number plate??

Question

Need to get some new plates but getting a lot of conflicting information about what's legal and what's not. The plates will be for normal on-road use on a standard car. Can't find anything concrete on the useless Government sites so would appreciate some help from people who know what is and isn't legal!

Firstly there's the font: Standard or Standard 3D, but is Carbon Domed also legal?

Secondly the logo on the left side: either a GB or one specific to your country, eg. Wales, where can I see the exact logos that are legally allowed?

Thirdly the background: I believe no background is allowed behind the registration but what about behind the logo? eg. have the logo on a silver background as opposed to the plate colour of yellow or white?

Fourth point: what are the rules regarding borders, do they have to be a certain size? Can they be in any colour?

Fifth: are any slogans allowed on a legal plate other than the name and postcode of the supplier and the BSAU145D thing?

Answer 1

Check out the Plate Market for their advice, which basically says that your answers are (as I interpret them anyway!):

1)  The font must "substantially" the same as Standard, so it's down to the copper's eyesight!

2) Try Craig's plates for the logo's (put your registration into the "order plate" option.

3) As far as I can tell, that would be classed as a different logo, so it wouldn't be legal

4) Just get your plates made up for you, and you won't have to worry about the border being wrong!

5)  No, but it would have to be a fussy traffic bobby to pick up on anything unless it was offensive!

Answer 2

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflet...

Answer 3

If your number plate supplier is putting BSAU on your number plates then it will be road legal regarding font,size logos, etc, as that is why the suppliers postcode now has to be displayed on the plate  as well?to prove that the plate is"road legal"any thing other than that becomes a Show Plate which is normally illegal!Hope this helps

Answer 4

Having Wales and the Welsh flag on your plate is technically illegal. Your supposed to have GB and the EU flag.

Stupid police kept stopping me and telling me to change my plate or i'll be fined - though that was when i went into england......

Answer 5

The construction and use regulations will give you all the information you need

Answer 6

This should provide the details:

http://www.premierplates.co.uk/registrat...

Answer 7

The best place to find ALL about plates is one of the sellers of Cherished Numbers,   the one I always refer to when asked questions is  http://www.newreg.co.uk/  Hope you find what you need there...Regards  Graham

Answer 8

The letters and numbers have to be a certain size and font on white and yellow back grounds, and the spacing is critical, you can have some small words etc at the bottom and a border line in black blue etc. and you can have the EU thing or a flag or the Welsh or Scottish signs, there are two or three types of letters that you can have as well, but not fancy Gothic character and so on, Take a look on eBay and you will find loads and the better firms will tell you that the plate is legal or just for show purposes.