1.10.2018
The things to look out for when checking your number plates.
As a legal document, the number plate design can be complicated if you don't know the rights and wrongs, so we've made it really simple!
Our number plate builder has been designed to only allow you to build a legal number plate. This way, you don't have to worry about spending your money on something illegal that could lead to potential fines in the future!
So, are your current number plates legal? Here are some things you can check straight away.
Digits
Cars and motorcycles have two slightly different prescribed digits. Both are based on the New Charles Wright font, and must be printed at a high density of blackness so they can be easily read by the human eye and ANPR cameras alike.
Spacing
It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent the numbers and letters on a number plate to form names or words, or in a way that makes it difficult to read the registration number. The registration must match how it is read on the V5C entitlement document, also known as the logbook.
Legal spacing and correct fonts helps ANPR camera readability. Digits are commonly rearranged to look more like a name but doing this is illegal.
Flags
Motorists can display a regional flag or green flash (zero-emission vehicles only) on the left-hand side of the number plate, along with its identifying name or letters.
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
You are not allowed to display any other flag or symbol, and these requirements only apply to vehicles registered in England, Scotland and Wales.
Supplier details
Finally, and most importantly, your number plate must show where it was made. This should be the name and postcode of the supplying outlet, the business details of where the plate was made. This should be displayed on the bottom centre of the plate. A number plate should also show who originally manufactured the parts (JEPSON) and that it is British Standard compliant (both shown bottom right of the plate).
If your number plates do not meet these requirements, it means your number plates are illegal and you could fail your MOT test.