Are My Plates Illegal ?

[Jimlad]

DVLA states...

Display of Vehicle Registration Marks on Imported Vehicles

(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

AND

The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number plates

Specifications for smaller sized plates (for certain imported vehicles)

Character Height

64mm

Character Width

44mm

Character Stroke

10mm

Space between characters

10mm

[Bibbs]

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

That's the key .. the SW20 with the 3S-GTE engine is not EU approved ..

[SMiFFAD]

Hard to say, but i would imagine they would atrract lots of bacon attention :(

Your main problem being they are on one line.... dont think you would have a problem if they were on two lines and a tad bigger. i have a motorbike size plate on the back of mine, which i am assured is quite legal as long as it says import on the V5, and it looks the same size as yours...... just on 2 lines so the text is slightly bigger....

[Bibbs]

Display of Vehicle Registration Marks on Imported Vehicles

(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval

AND

The vehicle's construction/design cannot accomodate standard size number plates

Specifications for smaller sized plates (for certain imported vehicles)

Character Height  64mm

Character Width  44mm

Character Stroke  10mm

Space between characters  10mm

DVLA website

Same as the Bike plates - without the borders/spacings etc ..

Character Height 64mm

Character Width 44mm

Character Stroke  10mm

Space between characters 10mm

Space between groups  30mm

Top, side & bottom margin  11mm

Space between vertical lines  13mm

[MattMR2Turbo]

Oops should have posted here. I got warned about my rear number plate on Saturday. Is this illegal then?

[Jimlad]

so are they illegal then ?? OR are the coppers just not 100% clued up ?

[SMiFFAD]

Well measure the letters and find out :D :hokus-pokus:

If they are less than:

Character Height 64mm

Character Width 44mm

Character Stroke 10mm

then yeah, other wise your fine.....

Having said that if a coppers in a bad mood he'll still pull you over

[Bibbs]

so are they illegal then ?? OR are the coppers just not 100% clued up ?

If it's a minimum of those dimensions .. and the correct font - they can't do anything ..

I've got a print out of that page and put it in the glovebox ..

[Bibbs]

MANDATORY CHARACTER FONT

From 1 September 2001 all new number plates must display the new mandatory font. Combined with the new format registration mark, number plates will become clearer and easier to remember.

Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 need not be changed provided the character font used is substantially the same as the one shown above.

Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with:

Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics

Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers

[97paseo]

Think they're illegal. They should be in two sections top & bottom on the square plates.

Mine are illegal but thats due to spacing & I've not been stopped yet. :D

[Jimlad]

hight, width and space between letters I understand.

But character stroke... what's that ?

[97paseo]

But character stroke... what's that ?

Font? Italics?

[Bibbs]

thick(ness)

[MattMR2Turbo]

I'll measure my letters tonight and let you know!

[Fizz]

this is one interestin topic of convo...

so your sayin that the bike numebr plates are cool as long as it says import on your V5....hmm....

[97paseo]

Your sposed to have one of those marks - BSA is it? Otherwise that makes them illegal.

I haven't got one on mine as they're technically show plates.

[Jimlad]

I'll have to wait until I get my car back until I measure the plates.

[Jimlad]

I actually got one of my mates birds to print out about 10 mini copies of that text from the DVLA site.

I'll keep them in my car and if I ever get pulled I'll just whap it in their face.

[Titto]

Thats the best advice to give too Jimlad, cos theres sooooo much law its unreal. But your rear plate looks fine from what i can see. As long as it can be seen clearly and is the correct width lettering etc, they dont normally get looked at twice as much as those that dont have!

(if that makes sense).

[97paseo]

Titto what do you think of my red rear lenses?

They look red-ish when I indicate but they're still very clear, combined with my plate spacing do you think your colleagues might pull me over? I've been ok so far & my friend who's joined recentlly says she wouldn't!

[Titto]

Hi mate, firstly, thats one smart car! You hardly see those around here.

My own personal belief on things like this is that if you can see them clearly then no probs - its when you can hardly see the lights etc that you actually draw attention to yourself!

Someone mentioned about the lettering being stacked in two halfs on the plate - i know its meant to be like that on a motorbike, but on a car im not sure - i believe they're meant to be all in line, like on the Paseo below - But as Jim's mentioned, it looks like your ok if you havent got space to put a long plate on (like the import mr2's). Thats cleared some stuff up anyway!

[Fizz]

Titto what do you think of my red rear lenses?

They look red-ish when I indicate but they're still very clear, combined with my plate spacing do you think your colleagues might pull me over? I've been ok so far & my friend who's joined recentlly says she wouldn't!

rewind a little...

Titto is in the police?

[Titto]

...theres a few on here!

(you own a bike with FIZZ on it??? I saw one in Yorkshire about a year ago!! or just a coincidence?)

[Fizz]

...theres a few on here!

(you own a bike with FIZZ on it??? I saw one in Yorkshire about a year ago!! or just a coincidence?)

not me officer! :D

but seriously... i would love to own a bike but certain females in my life i know would rather kill me first...

Didn't know there were any members of the force on here.. lol... who else?

[97paseo]

Cheers Titto.