Drivers Urged to Ensure Road Legal Number Plates to Avoid Severe Penalties
Motorists are being strongly advised to inspect their vehicle’s number plates to eliminate the potential risk of incurring a substantial fine or failing their MOT test.
The experts at National Numbers, a leading provider of personalized registrations, have cautioned drivers to ensure their number plates comply with road legal requirements, especially if they have purchased a new car or fitted new plates after September 2021 when the law underwent changes.
These modifications prohibit the use of number plates with printed 3D-style digits and those featuring two-tone effects, such as carbon fibre appearance with black and grey lettering.
The updated regulations mandate the use of solid black digits on number plates, ensuring a clear contrast between the background and the letters. This contrast facilitates the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in swiftly and accurately identifying vehicles on the road, even when they are in motion during both day and night.
All newly manufactured number plates must adhere to the enhanced British Standard BS AU 145e, which replaced the previous standard BS AU 145d two years ago. The aim of this change was to address concerns related to road safety and law enforcement.
Number plates produced according to the new standard are also more resilient to abrasion, providing prolonged protection against dirt, road grime, and jet-washing.
“There are still drivers on the road who remain unaware of these requirements, putting themselves at risk of incurring an entirely avoidable fine,” stated David Edwards, the Operations Director at National Numbers, the UK’s longest-standing dealer of personalized registrations.
“Considering that these changes have been in effect since late 2021, traffic authorities are unlikely to be lenient towards individuals claiming ignorance after being stopped. For this reason, National Numbers urges every driver to ensure their number plates comply with the law.”
Failure to display legally compliant number plates can result in fines of up to £1,000 and an MOT test failure for the vehicle. In some cases, the registration number may even be permanently revoked.
However, the repercussions can be far more costly, as insurance companies may view the offense unfavorably and potentially refuse to provide coverage following an accident if the number plates are not road legal.
Thankfully, motorists have a variety of legal options available to replace their number plates. Traditional acrylic plates with solid black printed digits, widely used and compliant with the new regulations, offer clear visibility and legibility.
An increasing number of drivers are opting for alternative options such as 3D and 4D plates, which incorporate modern gel digits and solid black acrylic digits, respectively. These plates provide a unique finish and remain within the rules as long as the digits are non-removable.
Car owners are encouraged to visit our website to explore a wide range of alternative number plate formats.
