Chris_B Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 PART 1 VEHICLES REGISTERED AND NEW REGISTRATION PLATES FITTED ON OR AFTER 1ST SEPTEMBER 2001 (MANDATORY SPECIFICATION) 1. The plate must be made of retroreflecting material which, as regards its construction, colour and other qualities, complies with the requirements of - (a) the British Standard specification for retroreflecting number plates published on 15 January 1998 under number BS AU 145d[13], or (b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification, and which, in either case, is marked with the number (or such other information as is necessary to permit identification) of that standard or specification. 2. Where the registration mark is displayed on the front of the vehicle, it must have black characters on a white background. 3. Where the registration mark is displayed on the back of the vehicle, it must have black characters on a yellow background. [/ QUOTE ] So, this section of the legislation specifies that the material must comply with the relevant BS or EEA standard, not the entire plate. [ QUOTE ] "I can confirm that your assumption is mostly correct and European number plates may be used legally on vehicles manufactured between these dates (1973 and 2001). Schedule 2 Part 1 also extends the 'European' facility to number plates fitted on vehicles manufactured after September 2001. However, the equivalence test would be carried out against the latest issued British Standard" [/ QUOTE ] And that BS standard specifies criteria for the visibility, strength and reflectivity of the plate material, identification of the "supplying outlet", non-reflective border and "no other markings or material contained on the number plate" (so no Plakettes). So, a plate made of the material the Germans use in their TUV-approved plates would be OK, as it's approved in an EEA territory. However, here's the sting: "From 1 September 2001 all new number plates must display the new mandatory font", so the German font would not be allowed, although I note it fails to specify which legislation makes this a mandatory requirement... I think this is evidence of yet another hastily drafted, re-drafted, amended, botched and patched legislation, probably designed to hurriedly and ham-fistedly make sure that registration plates are all readable by ANPR systems, and are clear on speed camera pictures (it's odd that such minor legislation would otherwise specify that it applies retospectively). It's no wonder it's confusing, and I bet two different cases in two different courts could easily return two different verdicts. Now, if you can't put German plates on your UK car, now I want to know why it's not possible to buy a car in Germany and register it to a UK address, and have a German number plate on it. We are supposed to be one gloroius harmonised Europe, after all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] P.S. I think German plates look great [/ QUOTE ] Me too, I wish I could have kept IN 700 X... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Re: the R32 That's not a German plate, its evidentally a British one with German spacing and the plakettes. So, he has plakettes, a funny border and has mispaced the letters, yeah, I should imagine he will get a £30 fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] We are supposed to be one gloroius harmonised Europe, after all... [/ QUOTE ] Sometimes I wish we were, you know we are not signed up to the Schengen Treaty. Most of the rest of Europe are: Membership * June 14, 1985 Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands * November 27, 1990 - Italy * June 25, 1992 - Portugal, Spain * November 6, 1992 - Greece * April 28, 1995 - Austria * December 19, 1996 - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden * May 1, 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia (not yet implemented) * October 16, 2004 - Switzerland (ratified by referendum on June 5, 2005) It would make getting on a plane, or doing a beer run to France a whole lot easier!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I want to know why it's not possible to buy a car in Germany and register it to a UK address, and have a German number plate on it [/ QUOTE ] Because if you are normally resident in the UK, and your car doesn't return to Germany for at least 90 days a year, then customs make you personally import it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Isn't it a requirement that if you display a euro symbol then it's from the country of registration, so displaying a 'D' isn't exactly correct? So at the rear of the vehicle we've got a yellow plate, with a GB euro flag which is sort of styled with a funny 'germanesque' font, in italics maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Isn't it a requirement that if you display a euro symbol then it's from the country of registration, [/ QUOTE ] No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Isn't it a requirement that if you display a euro symbol then it's from the country of registration, [/ QUOTE ] No. [/ QUOTE ] I quote from the DVLA website Vehicles displaying this symbol no longer have to use the traditional oval shaped national identifier (GB) sticker when travelling within the European Union. All vehicles registered in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have, by international convention, the distinguishing sign GB. so they must be talking tosh then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 No, it's just convention. Not a requirement. As I mentioned way back when, the English people are pretty easily led when it comes to the law, we do exactly what we are told, when we are told to do it. Its the same in the very socialist countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Iceland etc. However, there is no reason to follow 'convention' if you don't really want to. It's all about knowing what you can and can't do, and increasingly, the UK is turning into another Socialist state with it's taxation policies, the recent laws passed which are an infringement on human rights, and here we are, with people actually thinking ID cards is a good idea. Anyway, back on topic.... EDIT - I'm raging against the machine today, time for bed methinks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] This whole subject is getting somewhat anal imo. Unless you are a German national with a German registered car, why on earth would you want a German plate anyway? [/ QUOTE ] Because they are pressed metal and of a far higher quality than the crap plastic ones that you get in the UK. [/ QUOTE ] ....If you go to a specialist I think you can get pressed metal plates. I much prefer the plastic plates anyway. The metal ones are too old fashioned and fussy and overkill in their design. I guess they suit some cars more than others. Those tiny Italian plates were the best in the world anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 [ QUOTE ] It would make getting on a plane, or doing a beer run to France a whole lot easier!! [/ QUOTE ] And would damage our government's ability to charge import duties on EU-sourced goods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 [ QUOTE ] No, it's just convention. Not a requirement. [/ QUOTE ] There you go, you just admitted that they might not be legal. Seeing as the English system of justice is built upon the common law, and the system of convention, a judge could easily rule that your german plates violate convention, and are therefore ilegal. I think your interpretation of the DVLA's regulations is pretty ropey, and I think that in a court of law, you'd lose the case. [ QUOTE ] However, there is no reason to follow 'convention' if you don't really want to [/ QUOTE ] Convention is one of the paramount features of the English constitution, and the English legal system. There is a reason to follow convention, as, due to the common law system, conventions become laws. I'm sure you'll now quote some rubbish off the DVLA website, but to do that misses the nuances of the English legal system - laws arn't allways written down, mearly interpreted by judges past & present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossG Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 [ QUOTE ] the nuances of the English legal [/ QUOTE ] Hey mister - where is it you live again Anyway - I was talking to my policeman friend last night as I was reading this thread. His response - 'wriggle around with wording all you want, but, at the side of the road, if I decide I don't like it, then you are getting a producer. it's called my judgement and it's what the police are paid to do. I know the law, and the rules regarding UK registration marks, on UK registered cars are fairly explicit.' Personally, its just not worth the risk, and I don't see the appeal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Hey mister - where is it you live again [/ QUOTE ] I was really talking about 'time immimorial', when England was differant to Scotland. But fair enough.. [ QUOTE ] Personally, its just not worth the risk, and I don't see the appeal... [/ QUOTE ] Agree 100% The other thing I don't get bout German plates, is what happens if you get stopped speeding? They've allways radioed my car in to see if i've got insurance etc, so wtf do they do if you've got german plates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 So, I just got stopped on my German plates tonight, about half an hour ago. They were doing a routine stop looking for drunk drivers (which i dont agree with as where is there 'reasonable suspicion') but anyway, he asked if I owned the car, where it was registered. It should be pointed out at this point, I did have my set of plates on which are illegal, as they have the German tax stickers. He asked if I had the UK ones in the boot and I said yes, he said can you please change them, I said yes and I was sent on my way, no fine, no checks, just a chat to establish I had not been drinking. Professional policing at it's best (even if stopping people because you feel like it isn't good enough reason, I wasn't in a position to argue). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] They were doing a routine stop looking for drunk drivers (which i dont agree with as where is there 'reasonable suspicion') [/ QUOTE ] Excellent - I wish they did this more often! Was that in Reading - where? I might be tempted to go drive past! Always good fun replying to the question 'When did you last have a drink?'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elucidate Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Ascot. I agree 100% with taking drunk drivers off the road, but it was in the middle of Ascot high street, there isn't any pubs there!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Ah. Perhaps they'll be out again next Wednesday for the Windsor meet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobberjob Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Came across this site recently: Mis-spaced Number Plate Site - most amusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 That'll be your website then - don't come on here and try to promote your site unless you've paid for the advertising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
247John Posted September 10, 2022 Report Share Posted September 10, 2022 Well, how about this. No good banging on about German plates being made in Germany TUV etc, none of this is anything to do with the topic under discussion. 1. Pressed aluminium plated (similar to those used in Germany are readily available here in UK and have been for the past ten years. eBay has loads of manufacturers advertising them. They plates are excellent, spacing and lettering complies in every way UK law and I have had some on my car for the past seven years without any attention. 3. Pressed 3D plates are far more secure, as they can't be copied without great difficulty and the machines to make them. In Germany there is no such thing as having your own plates made as they are issued to you by your insurance company. The plates are stamped showing that the vehicle is insured, result, unlike the UK its impossible to have an uninsured vehicle on the road! Pressed aluminium plates look good and as you will see if you look them up on line are perfectly legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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