Sticky front numberplates?

[MKH9130]

I've seen a few MX5's with the front plates replaced with a sticky plate stuck to the nosecone.

1. What is the general consensus of these?
2. Are they legal?
3. Where can I buy one and how much are they?
4. Do they ruin the paint?

[Raify]

MKH9130 said:

3. Where can I buy one and how much are they?
4. Do they ruin the paint?

I got mine from Craigsplates, about £15 IIRC

I actually have noticed a tiny crack in the paint near the plate....

[hornetrider]

MKH9130 said:

I've seen a few MX5's with the front plates replaced with a sticky plate stuck to the nosecone.

1. What is the general consensus of these? Cool as fk!
2. Are they legal? Most definitely
3. Where can I buy one and how much are they? As post above, me too
4. Do they ruin the paint? Not mine

[MKH9130]

hornetrider said:

MKH9130 said:

I've seen a few MX5's with the front plates replaced with a sticky plate stuck to the nosecone.

1. What is the general consensus of these? Cool as fk!
2. Are they legal? Most definitely
3. Where can I buy one and how much are they? As post above, me too
4. Do they ruin the paint? Not mine

Ta!

[Combover]

I thought their legality was....errm...questionable...

[JRT]

IIRC legislation was only brought in for cars registered after 2001, so technically anything before 2001 (with the correct numbering and spacing etc) should be ok

BUT it's still one of those grey areas...

[Munter]

Combover said:

I thought their legality was....errm...questionable...

Yep the questions come in about rigidity and reflectivity I believe. The good news is the ones from craigs plates are reflective. And once you stick it to the bumper they are quite ridgid.

Never had a problem with mine. In fact a traffic copper has even used it to read the plate over the radio.

[driverrob]

I read somewhere (on this forum?) that the main point is that the plate should be (near) vertical, self-adhesive or not. Both mine are held on with sticky pads and always have been.
If you wrap a flexible, self-adhesive plate around a curved surface then, technically, you could be pulled for it. The maximum penalties are likely to be the same for a plate not conforming to letter size/spacing etc. i.e. £1000 fine, failed MoT, removal of registration!

[Kinky]

I thought it was a bit of a gray area.

For example, any cars registered before sometime in 2001, do not need to conform to the current regulations, in terms of having the plate makes name, postcode, etc.

During the MOT, there are no applicable reasons for rejections for pre-01 cars.

However, the plate itself has to be made before 2001 for it to apply.

Therefore in principle any sticker plates you get made now would technically fail.

But as I say, a gray area.

I should stress that this is just my own understanding of it - which might be wrong.

I'd love to have a sticker plate on the front - but as the car was only imported a few years ago (post 01), there's no way the plate was made before 01.

Tricky one. And I'm not sure I'd fancy the aggro should I get pulled.

K

[Planet Claire]

My car is currently numberplateless, well, it's stuck in the window on the dash and has been like that since last July! I've got a sticky plate to put on, which will be sometime soon because my MOT is due in May. Since my car is a '99 I can get away with the 2001 regulation. But Lazza had problems at his last MOT, his is a '51 reg, because his sticky didn't have the 'special code' and so he had to go and quickly get a new plate made up and velcroed it to the front. I'll try and dig out his post on another forum where he gives details.

[Planet Claire]

Here it is clickity click

[Munter]

Planet Claire said:

My car is currently numberplateless, well, it's stuck in the window on the dash and has been like that since last July! I've got a sticky plate to put on, which will be sometime soon because my MOT is due in May. Since my car is a '99 I can get away with the 2001 regulation. But Lazza had problems at his last MOT, his is a '51 reg, because his sticky didn't have the 'special code' and so he had to go and quickly get a new plate made up and velcroed it to the front. I'll try and dig out his post on another forum where he gives details.

Go to this page: http://www.motester.co.uk/ And read the bit on the right hand side under the title "Number plate fiasco?".

Basically the advise to MOT testers to fail cars on number plates has been withdrawn. Lazza was just unlucky with his being in the period when they were failing cars.

[Planet Claire]

Poor Lazza! Thanks for that, i was wondering myself if I'd have to use my old plate with the BS mark on it to get through the MOT.

[skinny]

thought laz had tiny writing on his plate?

i've never had a problem with mine, been on for a few years, not reflective and no makers stuff on the bottom...

[MKH9130]

So.. the general advice is they look cool but the legality is questionable?

I do have a private plate, but it is not illegally spaced in any way. I do have a traditional fixed plate so for the purposes of the annual MOT I could always velcro this on. I know my MOT tester well so I'm positive he would pass me either way!

Will just have to 'wing it' if I ever get stopped by traffic cops. Not been done yet, though!!

[hornetrider]

Mine flies through the MOT mate, no problemo. Not even on the radar.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I think what you CAN be certain of is that they ARE legal i.e. as far as the police are concerned they are fine as long as they are the right size and have the correct font/letter size/spacing. All they are really interested in these days is whether they can be read easily by speed cameras.
Where the problems are possible is at MOT time (when they sort out just what the rules should be).