I have been told that I need a new number plate to pass the MOT as it is allegedly worn and does not meet current regulations. The number is standard and considering the number of plates I see with incorrect spacing, screws of the wrong colour or placement mine seems perfectly acceptable to me. Because of tightening up of the rules regarding number plate purchase the mechanic said it would be easiest if I did this myself. He told me that I needed the log book and a utility bill. When I got to the motor factors they said I needed my driving licence as well. Is this correct? It seems a bit OTT to me as does the number of people who seem able to request personal details and proof of ID these days.
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From the DVLA site:
The number plate supplier will need to see at least one document from each of the lists below. This will allow the number plate supplier to confirm your name, address and entitlement to the registration number. All documents must be original, not copies.
Documents to confirm your identity:
One of the following:
* driving licence, whether or not issued in the United Kingdom (UK) (with or without a photo) - this is preferred because it?s a secure, government-issued document showing both name and address
* a bill issued by your electricity, gas or water supplier, a landline telephone bill, or a council tax bill (current within the last six months) or rates bill (in Northern Ireland only)
* a bank or building society statement
* a passport, whether or not issued in the UK
* a national identity card issued by the government of a state or territory other than the UK
* a debit or credit card issued by a bank or building society
* a police warrant card
* an armed forces identity card
Documents to establish your entitlement to the registration number:
One of the following:
* vehicle registration certificate (V5C or V5CNI) - these are the preferred documents
* the new keeper supplement (V5C/2 or V5C/2NI) of the registration certificate
* certificate of entitlement (V750)
* retention document (V778) (not applicable in Northern Ireland)
* vehicle licence renewal form (V11)
* temporary registration certificate (V379) (not applicable in Northern Ireland)
* authorisation certificate (V948) with an official stamp from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) or Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
* a letter of authorisation from a fleet operator (including lease or hire company) (not applicable in Northern Ireland) - the letter must quote the document reference number from the registration certificate, not the vehicle identification number
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Sounds like the ideal circumstances for the use of the Government's flagship project - The ID card! However, if they ever are brought in, they won't change the rules so we shall still off to Halfords with a passport and the V5 - or whatever
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They changed the rules in April last year and added some ID documents that were acceptable - so I guess they can and will be changed to accommodate the new ID cards at the stroke of a pen (or keyboard !)
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There are still suppliers on the big auction who will sell you a fully compliant plate without the palava.
How or if they do this legally I don't know - maybe they sell them as show plates but they are perfectly compliant with the name, postcode, and BSau145d marking.
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I had a new car from a dealer that failed its first MOT due to incorrect plates - no spacing between numbers and letters if I recall. I kicked up a fuss with the supplier who paid for it - I didn't show any documents at all.
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Its a big fine if you are caught selling road legal plates without the appropiate checks done
However ive never read of anyone being done
and ive never had my records checked
I understand if plates are made in scotland then you can legally purchase them from there with no proof of ownership and have them delivered down through the trossachs
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Blimey, and I thought France was a bureaucracy! Here you only need to be in possession of the registration document to get your plates.
It seems a lot of fuss considering the fact that UK plates can be simply screwed or stuck on - and hence easily stolen anyway.
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I recently got some for my dad at a well known local car shop. They just had a quick glance at the car and a quick glance of the log book and it was simple really. Charged £20 the pair.
My dads plates had rusted in place (the screw head were no longer existant) so I had to snap the plates off then use some pliers to get the screws out. I then my impact driver to screw in the new plates with new screws in a different location, its so tight anty theif will struggle to remove them.
I think the new system is a good idea it does make it harder for crinimals.
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I think the new system is a good idea it does make it harder for crinimals.
But it doesnt make it harder for the criminals!
they dont care if the plates are legally obtained.... and they do steal plates off parked cars.
all this law has done, is made it harder for legitimate people to obtain legal plates.
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i'm a naught boy. i've got a black and silver pressed metal plate on my bike. it makes it look much better and i have the original with me if a copper stops me. i've been overtaked and talked to a few coppers and they don't seem bothered. it is the right size and shape with the correct font.
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Just get some off the internet. I usually get them off the net or from my local sign maker. They're 'show' plates, but are in legal font etc. Never had a problem with them and never expect to! This is some of the most stupid legislation ever, all it does is make life more difficult for the law abiding motorist - and suppliers. It doesn't inconvenience the criminal element one bit!
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Strangely enough, two legitimate providers of number plates in my area have been fined a chunky bit of money for supplying plates to incognito members of whoever polices this system without asking to see proof of ownership, etc.This will make other local shops keener to see your V5C in future.
But, I agree, totally pointless system.
Ted
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Unless I've got this totally wrong, it is perfectly possible these days to
(i) copy the registration number of an existing car
(ii) get registration plates made up for your car and delivered from more or less anywhere in the world
and (iii) drive around to your heart's content with false or illegal or just the "wrong" plates, even with different plates front and rear (has that ever been tried??) with a miniscule chance of ever being caught out. In fact, the whole process is probably not much more difficult than faking, changing or cloning a human identity. And no doubt some individuals have already managed to fake an identity for themselves and their car at the same time and may never get found out.
Whatever can we do?
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Whatever can we do?
Have the reg number painted on the roof in big letters as a condition of registration. That way, it'll be easy to spot a fake plate unless the faker spends lottsa money on a respray.
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How will this work with the latest craze for Panoramic sunfoofs? (or should that be "sunrooves")
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Have the reg number painted on the roof in big letters as a condition of registration. That way it'll be easy to spot a fake plate unless the faker spends lottsa money on a respray.
Erm.... what about private/"cherished" numberplates being transferred on to the next vehicle? Would the seller be expected to foot the bill?
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I've always got mine off the internet. Cheaper, quicker, no forms.
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Same here, always bought off the internet unless you need one 'today'
I've always used www.no1showplates.co.uk [no interest, honest!]
In fact I bought some Tuesday night (putting my private reg on a new purchase) approaching midnight and they turned up in the post today (and that was with standard delivery)
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The market traders seem to sell them without fuss as 'show plates'.
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even with different plates front and rear (has that ever been tried??)
About 20 years ago one of my friends had a 1981 Astra. After a minor bump he had the front bumper replaced complete with new number plate. The car failed its MoT eight months later because the front number plate read "*** 966X" whilst the rear read "*** 996X". He'd been driving it every day and neither he, his friends, work colleagues, traffic wardens nor the police noticed the discrepancy!
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A few years ago one of the contractors in my office had a similar situation.
Two company cars were delivered at the same time, with adjacent registration numbers. They each had one correct plate and one off the other car. This situation was only found out by one of the drivers after at least a year of use.
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>>Same here, always bought off the internet unless you need one 'today'
I've no wish or need to buy plates that don't comply with the law, but it seems that you can order 'legal' plates, with the legal standard font, size, spacing etc and ask the internet supplier to add their name and postcode. In that case, the plates comply with all the regs. But they have not seen the required documents (V5C, photo id etc) before supplying them. They are not breaking the law because they supply them as 'show plates, not for road use'. Am I breaking the law by purchasing them in this way and using them as road plates? If not, it's a heck of a big loophole...
By the way, I've often wondered where people get their plates made up with strange fonts, small lettering, incorrect spacing etc. Doh!
Edited by dieselfitter on 21/09/2009 at 17:11
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