New car stickers for European travel

[MrB.]

Hello all. Heading back to France later this summer for a couple of weeks, and will be driving as we did last time a couple of years ago. Back then we had our trusty Land Rover Freelander which I stuck a couple of old-fashioned chrome 'GB' letters to (the separate letters rather than a sticker). Obviously now the law has changed, and we have replaced the car. I did consider just the numberplates with the 'UK' logo, but I don't really want a flag on them, but I'd also rather not have a huge big white sticker on the back of the car either!

I can't seem to find whether there is a minimum size of new sticker required, so is there, and does it have to be in a certain place? My thought is just to get a relatively small one and put it on the back window in the corner so I can easily remove it when I get back to old Blighty. Would this be acceptable? Can't see any reason why not.

[Poisson96]

Would magnetic UK plates work? Easy to remove.

[Tabs]

Just make sure your vehicles rear end is not comprised of aluminium and plastic if considering a magnetic version....

[Poisson96]

Having a quick scrape of the web, The official size is 18cm wide by 13.3cm tall. I assume that's the white sticker size.

[AJB88]

I usually just buy a motorbike GB/UK sticker and put it on the side of my plate and then remove as soon as I'm home. Done this several times through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland and had no issues.

[MrB.]

AJB88 said:

I usually just buy a motorbike GB/UK sticker and put it on the side of my plate and then remove as soon as I'm home. Done this several times through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland and had no issues.

That’s a good idea. Hadn’t thought about a smaller bike one. Thanks for that!

[Dog Star]

Just don't bother.
In over three decades driving on the continent (including years living in France and Germany with my UK car) I've never had a sticker or any form of identifier (until the advent of the blue EU/GB strip (which I still use)) and never had anyone care.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

I didn't want a flag either.

I got new plates from here - https://www.fancyplates.com/buy-plates/standard-uk...

They do a UK with an EU circle - called UK Euro 2 BS

[MrB.]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

I didn't want a flag either.

I got new plates from here - https://www.fancyplates.com/buy-plates/standard-uk...

They do a UK with an EU circle - called UK Euro 2 BS

But we aren’t part of the EU anymore? Hence the change. They say the whole change to UK from GB is to be more inclusive of Northern Ireland, but did we not include them before?

Anyway, I think I’ll just order a motorbike one put on the rear window and remove it when we get back. Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

[Griffith4ever]

Dog Star said:

Just don't bother.
In over three decades driving on the continent (including years living in France and Germany with my UK car) I've never had a sticker or any form of identifier (until the advent of the blue EU/GB strip (which I still use)) and never had anyone care.

Same here, and I lived in Italy for some time too. Decades of continental driving. Never a GB sticker.

There was a long thread on here recently where the op asked if anyone had actually every been "done" for it. No one came forward but lots did to say "what if?...". Etc. Usual stuff.

Personally, I reckon they are for folk to show they have been abroad in their car :-)

[Dashnine]

Apparently, and no doubt I’ll be corrected if wrong, the UK / GB identifier requirement is from the Geneva Convention and has no legal standing in any country hence no fines / prosecutions.

[Stuart70]

Dog Star said:

Just don't bother.
In over three decades driving on the continent (including years living in France and Germany with my UK car) I've never had a sticker or any form of identifier (until the advent of the blue EU/GB strip (which I still use)) and never had anyone care.

This. Certainly my experience across France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands over the last 20 years.

And if the Swiss don’t bother enforcing a rule, is it really a rule?

[Rushjob]

Dashnine said:

Apparently, and no doubt I’ll be corrected if wrong, the UK / GB identifier requirement is from the Geneva Convention and has no legal standing in any country hence no fines / prosecutions.

You'll be wrong on two counts.
1. It's the Vienna Convention......
2. You're at risk of getting stopped and fined as in order to drive in a foreign country in a UK registered vehicle, you have to follow the Vienna Convention or face fines for breaking the laws in that country. Very popular with the Spanish Guardi Civil Trafico and also I'm aware that some Gendarmerie Brigades are also enforcing it in France.

[ATG]

Dashnine said:

Apparently, and no doubt I’ll be corrected if wrong, the UK / GB identifier requirement is from the Geneva Convention and has no legal standing in any country hence no fines / prosecutions.

Oh, I hope that's true.

Two blokes in a holding cell in The Hague. First bloke, "I've been done for a dodgy license plate. What about you?". Second bloke, "Unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but it's my first conviction so I'm hoping for community service."

[MXRod]

What ever you regarding GB/UK identification , you also will need a CritAir identifier if you wish to go into or through major cities , eg Paris, Toulouse ,Orleans.
Read here
https://uk.france.fr/en/paris/article/critair-anti...

[Rushjob]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The Gendarmerie use it here too, as well as the MIB database.....

[Griffith4ever]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I'd dearly love to see an actual example of someone being fined for no GB sticker (not just "I'm aware of"). Last thread didn't produce one, and I don't believe this one will either.

[Rushjob]

Griffith4ever said:

I'd dearly love to see an actual example of someone being fined for no GB sticker (not just "I'm aware of"). Last thread didn't produce one, and I don't believe this one will either.

Doesn't really matter does it? It's the law, choose to ignore it and you'll possibly face the consequences. If you're aware of the requirements you can make a judgement, entirely up to you. For France, get stopped and you'll get a 135€ fine or up to 750€ if you don't pay and get sent a summons. Or a £1.50 sticker. Entirely your choice.

[Dashnine]

Rushjob said:

Dashnine said:

Apparently, and no doubt I’ll be corrected if wrong, the UK / GB identifier requirement is from the Geneva Convention and has no legal standing in any country hence no fines / prosecutions.

You'll be wrong on two counts.
1. It's the Vienna Convention......
2. You're at risk of getting stopped and fined as in order to drive in a foreign country in a UK registered vehicle, you have to follow the Vienna Convention or face fines for breaking the laws in that country. Very popular with the Spanish Guardi Civil Trafico and also I'm aware that some Gendarmerie Brigades are also enforcing it in France.

Oh, Vienna. This means nothing to me.

[Kermit power]

MrB. said:

But we aren’t part of the EU anymore? Hence the change. They say the whole change to UK from GB is to be more inclusive of Northern Ireland, but did we not include them before?

Does that mean NI are going to start using proper UK numberplate formats then?