Hefty fines and severe sanctions can easily be avoided by following the criteria set out by our experts, ensuring your number plate meets the UK government’s legal standards
Experts have warned that every year thousands of Brit drivers are fined for non-compliant number plates that fail to meet the legal requirements set out by the UK government.
In some cases motorists not only face fines, but can even fail their MOTs or have their insurance invalidated due to illegal or obscured number plates. Insiders from temporary car insurance provider Cuvva have revealed the strict stipulations UK motorists must meet to avoid falling foul and being stung with substantial sanctions.
Car owners need to be familiar with the stringent standards regarding the materials, font, size, colour and appearance of number plates. It comes after mindless yobs damage 41 cars in vandalism rampage through sleepy market town.
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Number plates must be made of reflective materials and show black characters on a white background at the front, and a yellow background at the rear. Background patterns and colours outside of these regulations are strictly prohibited, with any deviation putting motorists at risk of being fined.
The font prescribed for number plates is Charles Wright. Characters must be 79mm in height and 50mm wide, except for the number 1 and letter I, which have the same height regulations, but a smaller width, typically around 14mm.
Characters must also have an 11mm gap between them. Plates that do not adhere to these font and spacing regulations are illegal — drivers caught using them face serious fines.
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While motorists are allowed some design variations, such as raised 3D characters, certain symbols, flags, or even a green flash for electric vehicles, there are clear limits. Characters must not be removable or reflective in a way that makes them unclear or difficult to read and all new number plates must display characters in a single shade of black.
Using plates with characters in multiple shades or reflective characters can result in penalties. In addition to these technical specifications, motorists should ensure their number plates are kept clean and unobstructed.
Although obscuring a number plate with dirt or damage is not specifically outlined in the law, drivers can still be fined if their plates are not clearly visible.
The consequences of disregarding these rules are severe — a fine of up to £1,000 can be imposed for non-compliant number plates. This penalty is in place to deter drivers from using illegal plates that could hinder identification or affect vehicle safety checks.
Furthermore, failing to use a compliant plate can cause a vehicle to fail its MOT and could invalidate insurance, putting the driver at additional risk both legally and financially.
So it’s crucial for every road user in the UK to understand the detailed legal requirements for number plates and keep their plates clean, clear and compliant to avoid costly fines.
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