have been informed that it was publised in some car magazine, dont know which one, that number plates for imports are now less restrictive allowing a small sized plate at the front.

Is this true?

 

Confirmed in latest issues of Banzai and Jap Performance

 

I've just changed my plates on my scoob and had a leaflet from the dvla confirming this! It does state that it is for cars that have a number plate space smaller than normal size plate so I don't expect it to change anything for scoobs

 

I'd be inclined to confirm it with the police before getting on....On what grounds do banzai say that Imports are exempt for the rules of all other cars on the roads?

 

I have also read this, and its true!

 

Its on the DVLA website - trouble is I dont like the motorbike lettering on the plates, so I got proper car lettering. Looks way better.

I think its strictly for imports from reading the site.

 

All well and good but try explaining to your average traffic plod about your car being an import and most won't realise that there is any difference. Anyway, I thought it was only applicable if the car has a small plate mount at the front, ie Evo 6?

 

I have a reduced size square rear plate so it fits in the import bracket. It has the motorcycle lettering. Doesnt look to bad as its a PP and its two levels ** and *** underneath. Standard front plate though.

 

My Impreza is imported into the UK by IM - does this count? Just happens that they are official importers rather than grey imports or others?

 

For the front yes for the rear plates no. I brought a UK square rear plate and it wouldnt fit. Had to have a custom one made

 

Funny that, I got a carbon effect plate surround and standard plate that fitted straight onto my 93 WRX!

 

Probably changed later as my 2000 model as it has a big mounting bracket which the plate slides into and screwes to. UK square rear plates are about 1 inch too much in height and not enough in width to cover the hole cut out in the bumper.

 

I asked about this on the RX list last week and got told:

 

so this is legal then ???????
and its just been imported from northern ireland.

 

I would say that plate is illegal. Mine was that size and I got pulled and told to put the proper size one back on.

 

well all i can say is if the police cant see it they need there eyes testing hehe

 

are you allowed your number plate to be a sticker ??? ive seen a few cars with this like caterams etc

just wondered

 

That is one of the questions on the dvla.gov site and it states that all plates must meet a certain british standard and that stick on types would probably not meet it and therefore be illegal I thought these type would be ok

 

Well got pulled for mine last night which is slightly smaller than the one pictured earlier.

Bearing in mind I'd just paid £30.00 for the same offence less than 4 weeks ago, I thought I'd try and mention this new legal ruling after reading it in Jap Performance.

Result. Was told that they would need to check the correct legal definitions before they could hand me a fine, but advised me I would be best changing it to avoid hassle.

Guess I'm still no wiser.

 

on imports from outside the uk it is now leagal to fit numberplates with lettering the same size as on motorbike plates.....chris

 

wrrjones - I'd read the statement I posted earlie carefully, it is straight from the dvla site. Just coz it's an import (like mine) doesn't mean you automatically qualify for smaller plates. Give the DVLA a ring if you want to be sure. In the mean time I'll leave my standard plates on my WRX as I can't be doing with getting pulled every week by the feds.

 

All I can say is that Ive been running 'motorbike' plates for about a year now, havent been pulled once (fingers firmly crossed ) & the info on the DVLA site is actually different to the ammendment ...Ive got a url of the actual bill that was passed somewhere, ill try & dig it out ... & at the end of the day Ill do exactly what RLE did

DazW

 

What the regulation is saying is that if your vehicle comes with normal European Type Approval then you must conform to normal plate size and lettering reg 14(ie a normal sized plate), if your vehicle doesn't have ETA. (ie its been subjected to the SVA procedure) AND there is no suitable area to mount a normal sized plate, then you may make use of the provisions under reg 14(a)

The only vehicles that are covered by 14(a) are those manufactured for domestic consumption in N. America or Japan, subsequently imported directly to the UK, AND don't have the facility to attach a normal number plate in the normal way.

Clear as mud, and should keep you and the traffic officer at the side of the road for a least an hour before he reports you, and lets the court decide the validity of your assetions!

 

cool! any indications on how small the plate can be?
i assume motorbike size?

small enough to fit into front lip like the mro one's?

this is certainly good news

[Edited by black knight - 2/4/2003 3:35:58 PM]

 

This is from the dvla leaflet -


Display of Vehicle Registration Marks on Imported Vehicles
(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)
The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 SI No. 2687 came into force on the 22 November 2002.

These amendment regulations introduce a new regulation 14A, making special provision in relation to the size and spacing of characters in the registration mark of some imported vehicles. This provision only applies to vehicles imported into the United Kingdom which do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval; and are so constructed that the area available for the fixing of the registration plate precludes the display on the plate of a registration mark in conformity with the requirements of regulation 14.

Therefore, the new regulations permits Imported Vehicles (Which have a restricted space for a standard sized plate - as described above) the provision to display smaller plates.


I basically see this as meaning if you can display a standard size plate then you still have too, if it won't fit i.e Evo6 then you can use a smaller plate. I can't see how you could argue this point with a scoob as the bumper spaces for the plates are the same for uk models.



[Edited by Charlie H - 2/4/2003 4:46:09 PM]

 

My front is a standard square plate. The rear is a motorcycle with car lettering. So it looks fine. I have an in built foglight and weird mounting frame that I couldnt get a square car plate onto.

I think the car lettering limited the chances of being pulled (just alittle ).

[Edited by Marky-San - 2/4/2003 10:16:37 PM]