Numbers on the side of car - Road legal?
Discussion
Having heard numerous stories of whether race numbers on the side of doors are legal or not i thought i'd ask in here as i'm sure many of you have numbers on your cars.
Looking for a definitive answer of whether numbers on the side of vehicles are OK to have and drive on public roads. Some people seem to think you have to drive with an X through it, but others have said that is used on road rallies to show you have finished and you can have any stickers on your car as long as they are not distracting to road users.
Can anyone give me a definitive answer?
Thanks.
Looking for a definitive answer of whether numbers on the side of vehicles are OK to have and drive on public roads. Some people seem to think you have to drive with an X through it, but others have said that is used on road rallies to show you have finished and you can have any stickers on your car as long as they are not distracting to road users.
Can anyone give me a definitive answer?
Thanks.
Can’t remember if there is a specific MSA reg about it, but I think it is frowned upon as it gives the impression of cars actually competing on the public highway. Joe public doesn’t know the difference between a road/stage rally or race prepared car. Most rally organisers do a proper PR exercise beforehand to let locals know what is going on. A lone race car – even being driven properly - is bound to attract attention and Mr/Mrs busybody would soon be onto the local BiB to make a complaint.
Just googled Blue Book and found this:
Competition Numbers (Chart 6)
6. Numbers must be displayed in a durable manner
and be black, of a minimum size of 23cm high with
stroke width of a minimum of 3.8cm on a white oblong
background measuring not less than 48cm x 33cm
which must extend at least 5cm beyond the outline of
the numbers.
• If on a white vehicle the background must be
delineated at 48cm x 33cm by a continuous black
line, except for cars of period A to E.
• Numbers must be displayed on each side of the
vehicle (front doors, alongside the cockpit or on rear
wing end plates) and on the foremost part of the
nose.
• Certain types of competition have special
requirements which will appear in SRs (Subject to
approval by the MSA) [See K 194-198 for Kart
Numbers].
• Note. Consideration should be given at all times to
the positive identification of vehicles by the
competition organisers, whose decisions will be final.
• The numbers must be of the ‘Classic’ type as
shown below:
1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–0.
• In International events the name(s) of the driver(s)
and the national flag of the country must be
displayed on the front wings or body work.
• Any means of identifying individual cars during a
competition MUST be removed at the finish of the
event.
• With the exception of events restricted to cars of
periods A to F (see The Terminology) race organisers
must not use three figured numbers unless previously
agreed in writing by the MSA.
Competition Numbers (Chart 6)
6. Numbers must be displayed in a durable manner
and be black, of a minimum size of 23cm high with
stroke width of a minimum of 3.8cm on a white oblong
background measuring not less than 48cm x 33cm
which must extend at least 5cm beyond the outline of
the numbers.
• If on a white vehicle the background must be
delineated at 48cm x 33cm by a continuous black
line, except for cars of period A to E.
• Numbers must be displayed on each side of the
vehicle (front doors, alongside the cockpit or on rear
wing end plates) and on the foremost part of the
nose.
• Certain types of competition have special
requirements which will appear in SRs (Subject to
approval by the MSA) [See K 194-198 for Kart
Numbers].
• Note. Consideration should be given at all times to
the positive identification of vehicles by the
competition organisers, whose decisions will be final.
• The numbers must be of the ‘Classic’ type as
shown below:
1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–0.
• In International events the name(s) of the driver(s)
and the national flag of the country must be
displayed on the front wings or body work.
• Any means of identifying individual cars during a
competition MUST be removed at the finish of the
event.
• With the exception of events restricted to cars of
periods A to F (see The Terminology) race organisers
must not use three figured numbers unless previously
agreed in writing by the MSA.
Check the Road Traffic Offenders Act (1988) (c.53) statute whether numbers are prohibited on a road vehicle.
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegTy...
You'll need to look through the schedules 1 - 3 at the back. Makes interesting reading to see what you can be nicked for and what the (guideline) punishments are....
If you've got your foot down when you get stopped, an officious officer could potentially charge you under the RTA sections 12 or 13....
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegTy...
You'll need to look through the schedules 1 - 3 at the back. Makes interesting reading to see what you can be nicked for and what the (guideline) punishments are....
If you've got your foot down when you get stopped, an officious officer could potentially charge you under the RTA sections 12 or 13....
Edited by fergus on Wednesday 16th June 16:18
Thanks, so from what I can see there is nothing stopping me from driving with numbers (or any other stickers on my car) other than it may attract more attention regarding sections 12 and 13 which don't worry me as i'm sure they would have to do more than saying I have stickers on my car to prove sections 12 and 13 and if I was racing, competing or speeding then my insurance would be invalid anyway so i would expect to get prosecuted.
RTA section 12 Motor racing and speed trials on public ways.
RTA section 13 Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on public ways.
RTA section 12 Motor racing and speed trials on public ways.
RTA section 13 Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on public ways.
Timja said:
Thanks, so from what I can see there is nothing stopping me from driving with numbers (or any other stickers on my car) other than it may attract more attention regarding sections 12 and 13 which don't worry me as i'm sure they would have to do more than saying I have stickers on my car to prove sections 12 and 13 and if I was racing, competing or speeding then my insurance would be invalid anyway so i would expect to get prosecuted.
RTA section 12 Motor racing and speed trials on public ways.
RTA section 13 Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on public ways.
i guess the question is what are you trying to achieve and is any potential penalty worth it?RTA section 12 Motor racing and speed trials on public ways.
RTA section 13 Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on public ways.
not sure how plod will react between a proper race prepped but road going car and a regular road car just tarted up to look like a racer. if its a proper racer, they might let you off on account of them making the assumption that you actually know what you are doing and know the difference between a road and a race circuit. if its on a regular road car, they may err on the side of "chav racing on the road"...
whilst there is nothing stopping you, and you often see beetles in "herbie" livery on the road, it is generally frowned upon. if the police catch up with you, you may have to prove that you are at least involved in some properly organised motorsport to appease them, but as i said whats teh effect you are trying to achieve?
generally it is frowned upon. a piece of tape through it is a small price to pay really and actually adds to the look if thats what you are trying to acheive.
A 'piece of tape' will not suffice for the MSA though. I was pulled up by the MSA guy the other day for not completely obliterating my numbers on the way to a hillclimb. They were on the car with tape across them in an X. This is apparently not good enough as I might be bringing the sport into disrepute by being seen to be road racing (I was within the speed limit +/- 10% all the way).
It wound me up a bit on the day, which made me go a bit faster! So I didn't mind too much!
It wound me up a bit on the day, which made me go a bit faster! So I didn't mind too much!
I build road legal race cars, I have had them inspected by VOSA and the plod and they are road legal. Take a look at mine car no 25 http://www.max5racing.com/images/Cadwell%202010/pa...
Paul
Paul
Reason i'm asking is I put them on (along with a few other stickers) for Le Mans and really like the look of it, so thought i'd keep them on for a while!
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't illegal, otherwise i'd remove them. Sounds like they are fine except may attract some attention from the BiB that are looking for something to do. I'll keep them on for a bit then.
Thanks for the replies.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't illegal, otherwise i'd remove them. Sounds like they are fine except may attract some attention from the BiB that are looking for something to do. I'll keep them on for a bit then.
Thanks for the replies.
Sorry to resurrect an old thread!
A mate and I are currently building an MX-5 trackday car and I think it would look nice with some number discs on it. No numbers, just white discs. Thanks to this thread I now know that they are perfectly legal for the road.
However my mate says that TDO's sometimes get a bit funny about cars that look too much like racers.
Any truth in this? A look through my collection of trackday photos shows several cars with discs, and even numbers, which weren't turned away.
A mate and I are currently building an MX-5 trackday car and I think it would look nice with some number discs on it. No numbers, just white discs. Thanks to this thread I now know that they are perfectly legal for the road.
However my mate says that TDO's sometimes get a bit funny about cars that look too much like racers.
Any truth in this? A look through my collection of trackday photos shows several cars with discs, and even numbers, which weren't turned away.
Evangelion said:
Sorry to resurrect an old thread!
A mate and I are currently building an MX-5 trackday car and I think it would look nice with some number discs on it. No numbers, just white discs. Thanks to this thread I now know that they are perfectly legal for the road.
However my mate says that TDO's sometimes get a bit funny about cars that look too much like racers.
Any truth in this? A look through my collection of trackday photos shows several cars with discs, and even numbers, which weren't turned away.
Should'nt be a problem as a lot of track days have any number of race / ex race cas on circuitA mate and I are currently building an MX-5 trackday car and I think it would look nice with some number discs on it. No numbers, just white discs. Thanks to this thread I now know that they are perfectly legal for the road.
However my mate says that TDO's sometimes get a bit funny about cars that look too much like racers.
Any truth in this? A look through my collection of trackday photos shows several cars with discs, and even numbers, which weren't turned away.
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff