UK numberplates with international identifier?

[TheConsultant]

Hi all, I'll be picking up a car soon and would like to fit numberplates that include the necessary country designator so I don't have to bother with a separate oval sticker on the back of the car when driving abroad. (I know there are some exceptions such as Spain which require the presence of a sticker regardless).

I imagine that most who look in this forum are aware that the old identifier incorporated and frequently seen in numberplates is no longer valid:



For now we need to have a "UK" identifier and a union flag. However I was in a local numberplate shop today and they said that the only legal plate for EU travel was one without the blue background

i.e. this:


and not this:


I can't see any indication in the DVLA's description of whether the blue background is permissible or not ( https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-... ).

Does anyone know if the numberplate shop is correct? All the EU plates with the circle of stars have the blue background so presume it's acceptable in the EU. I know it's probably very trivial as many folk go abroad for their summer holidays without any country designator at all, and have no problems, but if I'm going to get plates made up to avoid having to use a sticker I may as well get it correct.

[C69]

https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-...

That page says

Your number plates can also:
- have 3D (raised) characters
- display certain flags, symbols and identifiers
- display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle

Which suggests that the only acceptable flash now is a green one. So maybe any other colour on new plates would mean that they don't comply with BS AU 145e?

[Pica-Pica]

My plates are just plain (Dec 2016 registered, so ‘66 plate). I personally would just use a rear UK sticker.

This is what the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association suggest.


https://www.bnma.org/news/uk-flag-number-plate-des...

[Biker 1]

Looking at the above, what happens if I put a plate with 'green flash' on my ICE car? Is it illegal, or will it just annoy EV owners?

[Gesberg]

Seems like not all of the online plate makers know this.

The (non scientific) sample of on-line bs compliant plate makers tried this morning all add a blue flash if you choose the country identifier.
When I had my plates made I assumed they were correct.
I’ve had no issues (up to now) travelling here or abroad with the union flag and UK marking and blue flash on this or my previous car.

I’ll ask the on-line store I bought the latest plates from and see what they say, I don’t expect a reply but you never know.

Edited by Gesberg on Sunday 13th August 10:53

[TheConsultant]

C69 said:

https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-...

That page says

Your number plates can also:
- have 3D (raised) characters
- display certain flags, symbols and identifiers
- display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle

Which suggests that the only acceptable flash now is a green one. So maybe any other colour on new plates would mean that they don't comply with BS AU 145e?

Indeed, and there must be loads of new cars and plates being produces that still have the blue flash on the left hand side.

The government page about driving outside the UK says, "You do not need a UK sticker if your number plate has the UK identifier with the Union flag (also known as the Union Jack)." but doesn't say anything about a coloured flash.

The BNMA page seems to corroborate this by stating that the plates eligible for overseas travel can either have a green flash or no flash.

I guess I'll go with no coloured flash, seems to be what the legislation is suggesting. It'll be interesting to see if you get any response Gesburg - another thing I discovered when learning about the BS AU 145e regulations is that they now discourage you from screwing the plate to the car, instead preferring sticky pads. First I'd heard of this as I assume the vast majority plates are still drilled and screwed on - but plenty online retailers still try and upsell a fixing kit of screws and caps!

[Dingu]

Biker 1 said:

Looking at the above, what happens if I put a plate with 'green flash' on my ICE car? Is it illegal, or will it just annoy EV owners?

No idea if it’s illegal but I would find it pretty tragic if that helps?

[Dogwatch]

Biker 1 said:

Looking at the above, what happens if I put a plate with 'green flash' on my ICE car? Is it illegal, or will it just annoy EV owners?

No and YES!!

[TooLateForAName]

Biker 1 said:

Looking at the above, what happens if I put a plate with 'green flash' on my ICE car? Is it illegal, or will it just annoy EV owners?

Your plate would be non-conforming to the regs (fixed penalty?) and it would mark you out as a complete throbber.

[Dog Star]

I still buy and fit GB with EU stars plates.

I doubt they’ll attract untoward attention from foreign authorities.

[Mandat]

Many non-EU countries seem to have a similar number plate design, with a blue flash with their national flat and country identifier.

[Turbobanana]

Dog Star said:

I still buy and fit GB with EU stars plates.

I doubt they’ll attract untoward attention from foreign authorities.

I wanted to get UK identifiers but with an EU badge, just as a poke in the eye to the Brexiteers, but couldn't find any. I ended up with UK identifier, blue rectangle and a Union Flag. Having just completed 2,500 kms through France (including going into cities where the Crit'Air ANPR cameras are located) with no problems, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

[sonnenschein3000]

Turbobanana said:

I wanted to get UK identifiers but with an EU badge, just as a poke in the eye to the Brexiteers, but couldn't find any. I ended up with UK identifier, blue rectangle and a Union Flag. Having just completed 2,500 kms through France (including going into cities where the Crit'Air ANPR cameras are located) with no problems, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

+1

I take the ferry to hoek van holland every now and again, and its interesting to see all the different variations on the cars parked in there... Some still going with GB stickers, some have the correct UK stickers, some have union jack and UK without a blue flash, some have a blue flash, some say GB, etc.

I don't think anyone particularly cares about the fine details in reality, as long as there's enough to indicate that the vehicle is indeed from the UK.

[Dog Star]

Turbobanana said:

I wanted to get UK identifiers but with an EU badge, just as a poke in the eye to the Brexiteers, but couldn't find any. I ended up with UK identifier, blue rectangle and a Union Flag. Having just completed 2,500 kms through France (including going into cities where the Crit'Air ANPR cameras are located) with no problems, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

You get them from places like fancy plates, show plates etc They usually come from the Channel Islands. They come with correct BS marks, postcodes etc if you tick that option. I use them as a very petty way of “sticking it to The Man” as I cannot be arsed with the ridiculous legislation around V5 and I’d needed to make up a plate - it’s pointless and has absolutely zero effect on plate cloning etc - it’s just a hoop for normal folk to jump through. I refuse to jump through it.

[Pica-Pica]

Dog Star said:

You get them from places like fancy plates, show plates etc They usually come from the Channel Islands. They come with correct BS marks, postcodes etc if you tick that option. I use them as a very petty way of “sticking it to The Man” as I cannot be arsed with the ridiculous legislation around V5 and I’d needed to make up a plate - it’s pointless and has absolutely zero effect on plate cloning etc - it’s just a hoop for normal folk to jump through. I refuse to jump through it.

Nice to know you’re ‘sticking it to the man’ and ‘refusing to jump through hoops’; a true PHer.

[C69]

Dog Star said:

You get them from places like fancy plates, show plates etc They usually come from the Channel Islands. They come with correct BS marks, postcodes etc if you tick that option. I use them as a very petty way of “sticking it to The Man” as I cannot be arsed with the ridiculous legislation around V5 and I’d needed to make up a plate - it’s pointless and has absolutely zero effect on plate cloning etc - it’s just a hoop for normal folk to jump through. I refuse to jump through it.

Dog Star said:

I still buy and fit GB with EU stars plates.

Some might say that voluntarily displaying the symbol of a supranational political union is the antithesis of 'sticking it to the man', but each to their own!

[MarcelM6]

Have just spent 2 weeks driving through France with a UK identifier on a blue flash. No additional sticker. No issues.

Don't think it's worth worrying about

[ncjones]

I have a little magnetic UK badge that spends most of its life on the back of the garage door and occasionally gets allowed out for little trips abroad.

Caused 10/20 seconds of stress when I discovered one of the cars had an aluminium boot, but found a work around. Otherwise has proved a quick and hassle free solution to this dilemma.

[48k]

Biker 1 said:

Looking at the above, what happens if I put a plate with 'green flash' on my ICE car? Is it illegal, or will it just annoy EV owners?

Yes it would be illegal. Would probably not annoy EV owners just Daily Mail readers.

[carl_w]

48k said:

Yes it would be illegal. Would probably not annoy EV owners just Daily Mail readers.

Under what law? If it's outside the reflective yellow or white area surely it can be anything as long as the spacing of the letter and numbers and the borders are correct?