Size of number plates..?

[pbrettle]

I have a private plate on my Chimaera which actually consists of 2 numbers rather than three. As a result the width of the numbers on the plate is less than that of normal ones.

The question is that I would like to reduce the size of the plate a little to aid cooling. I wouldnt change the size of the fonts or the positioning of the letters / numbers, just trim off the extra white bits on either side....

Is this legal? What are the restrictions on plate size and am I risking a tug from the law by having a non-standard size plate?

Just wondering....

Cheers,

Paul

[nevpugh308]

The law was relaxed a short while ago on the size of front number plates for Japanese and USA imported cars, due to the fact that lots of them have "odd" shaped indents on their front bumpers (designed for Jap/USA plates) and it would be prohibitive to alter the car to suit. So a smaller number plate has been allowed ("bike" sized, if I remember correctly)

I was reading in the FOC magazine this month that apparently they've relaxed that rule further, to allow ANY car to have this smaller number plate, if they wish.

Not sure of the size exactly, but 3" x 11" rings a bell .... I'll email my wife and ask her (she works for a japanese car importers)

Nev

[mel]

It depends on loads of things such as age of vehicle date of fitting etc etc.

www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm

explains fully

[Don]

quote:
I was reading in the FOC magazine this month that apparently they've relaxed that rule further, to allow ANY car to have this smaller number plate, if they wish.

Really? Surely this would mean that automatic number-plate reading software in the new "digital gatsos" would be foxed and it would be harder to dish out speeding fines?

Our Govt missing a chance to rip us off? Naaahhhh. Can't be right...?

[zippy500]

I would go ahead and do it. Ive fitted a 9" x 2" one on the front and have never been stopped by Johnny Law. I always put the origional one on for MOT's though.

[135sport]

anyone got any names of companies that will make smaller plates?

seen several Elises with what appear to be plates that are about a 50% reduction on the normal size.

[zippy500]

Try the adverts in the back of motorcycle news. mine was 8 quid

[nevpugh308]

quote:
Really? Surely this would mean that automatic number-plate reading software in the new "digital gatsos" would be foxed and it would be harder to dish out speeding fines?

I think this only applies to front number plates .... most cameras read/scan the back plate, dont they ?

[135sport]

thanks zippy

[lrussell5]

as long as the font, character size and colours are correct you can have a shorter plate front and/or back

[trefor]

quote:
I think this only applies to front number plates .... most cameras read/scan the back plate, dont they ?

Except for TruVelo (and VSPECs I think) which are the one's you probably won't notice/be warned about by a radar detector. Bugger.

[MikeG]

Paul,

The latest regs for number plates specify the font, the size of font and the required spacings around each font. They don't, as far as I have read (and applied to my TVR), specify the size of plate. So if you have only a few numbers on your plate I believe that it is quite legal to cut the plate (front and/or back) down to a more suitable size as long as you meet the above requirements. For the definitive answer suggest you search the open.gov site or the DVLA site for the actual regs.

Regards
Mike

If you cut the plate down the makers name and the BS number also need to remain visible.

>> Edited by MikeG on Wednesday 12th June 13:41

[nevpugh308]

quote:
If you cut the plate down the makers name and the BS number also need to remain visible.

Eh ? What's this ?

[madcop]

quote:
The latest regs for number plates specify the font, the size of font and the required spacings around each font. They don't, as far as I have read (and applied to my TVR), specify the size of plate. So if you have only a few numbers on your plate I believe that it is quite legal to cut the plate (front and/or back) down to a more suitable size as long as you meet the above requirements. For the definitive answer suggest you search the open.gov site or the DVLA site for the actual regs.

Regards
Mike

If you cut the plate down the makers name and the BS number also need to remain visible.

quote:

You are right Mike.

As long as you dont alter the size of the font or the spacings. The size of the plate is not important as long as its black on white at the front and black on yellow at the rear.

Unless the vehicle is registered before I think from memory Jan 1972 (J plate)when you can have silver on back both front and rear.

I will have to check but I dont think the number plate is covered by MOT only the illumination of it.

I have never seen a tester produce a micrometer to measure the height and width of the fonts and their spacings before issuing a certificate

[pbrettle]

Cool - looks like the hacksaw is coming out this weekend then. I recon that I can get a good couple of inches off the size of the plate without making it look daft. Should help with the cooling too.

Will let everyone know if it was sucessful. However, taking into account my luck I will probably end up braking the damn thing and having to get a new one anyway....

Cheers,

Paul

[MikeyT]

quote:

Unless the vehicle is registered before I think from memory Jan 1972 (J plate)when you can have silver on back both front and rear.

Jan 73 actually mad cop which was halfway through the L registration year(1972/1973).

[madcop]

quote:

Jan 73 actually mad cop which was halfway through the L registration year(1972/1973).

I stand corrected, Its nearly 8 years since I dealt with trivial stuff like that. Tend to get a little rusty and the memory isnt what it used to be. thats my excuse anyway :

>> Edited by madcop on Wednesday 12th June 20:11

[Tabs]

Slice the reflective backing with a Stanley blade before using a hacksaw. This will stop it ripping. Some Araldite smeared on the new edge will prevent delaminating.

[hertsbiker]

nah ! just score it really deeply - ie, 20 passes of stanley knife. Then a sharp tap with a hammer, or bend it with pliers.

Perfect result every time for me so far.

Leave 10mm border or it'll be illegal.

rgds.

[dan]

I used the Stanley knife then hacksaw method using the score mark as an outline.

It's been on the car nine months and I have not had any problem with the law. It also makes a difference to the cooling (though only on the move obviously).

Cheers Dan