Why is our numberplate system so rubbish?

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

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GK52 ABC. V453 STW etc etc.

Seriously, what a load of rubbish. Why do we have the most ridiculously complicated and stupidly anal number plate laws in the entire planet?

Why do we insist on showing the cars registration date as part of the plate itself? Why do we have so many ridiculous laws pertaining to registration plates? Why is it so bad for a Ford dealer to put a small Ford logo on the base of the plate that its now outlawed?

Seriously, the one that struck me when I got back to the UK was quite how ridiculous or enormous, complicated numberplates look.

What reason do we have for not adopting the American and Australian system of simply being given a number which you then put on your car, with the state/county on it, different colours for different places, nice small compact size with no age identifier?

It would stop people with stupid fonts. It would stop cloning of plates. It would stop the ridiculous scheme of things that if you own an August 31st Nissan Micra its worth 500 quid less than a September 1st Nissan Micra. It would stop people getting themselves into huge amounts of debt to hide the embarrasment of having '56' on the back of their Peugeot instead of '59' like the neighbours.

It would also get rid of stupid plastic plates that delaminate and generally look scabby.

So yea. Our plates suck.

Who is with me on that?
 
Couldnt agree more, they do suck, the US plate system is better, I also think that disabled "blue badges" should be part of the number plate and no a piece of paper left in the window.

That would put a stop to bob or sally borrowing mum or dads blue badge so they can park where ever they want.
 
Ive not really got a problem with the way UK number plates look, but you make some good points, especially regarding the way plates are dated. So, to the revolution, brother.

Unfortunately though, this isn't really a surprise; our government seems to be incredibly anal about most things like this. 'The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the ever expanding bureaucracy.'
 
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I totally agree also, I for one dont mind driving a car that is a T reg, however if we had a different system like the yanks it would stop my mates driving a 59 plate bog standard pov spec Ford KA saying they have a far better car than a T reg ST24!
 
I quite like the Irish system. For example, 05-G-1337.
Car new in 2005, registered in Galway and is the 1337th car to be registered that year. Simple and to the point.
 
But how does this work when it comes to stolen cars? Genuine question, as I have no idea how the police could easily/quickly tell if a car is stolen/no insurance/no tax through ANPR.

Or is the plate of the person always registered to a particular car and then it is that transferred?
 
Wasn't it just a case of giving them time between having to decide on new systems? so they didn't have to worry about it a guess..
 
Scuzi said:
I quite like the Irish system. For example, 05-G-1337.
Car new in 2005, registered in Galway and is the 1337th car to be registered that year. Simple and to the point.
Click to expand...

The Southern Irish system highlights my point about car values.

Over there, a January 1st car is worth more or less the same as a December 31st car despite one being more or less a year newer. Over here, one would be say a 55 plate the other a 56 plate and the difference in value would be noticeable.

For the SAME two cars..
 
Clear as mud, isn't it?

'Yea it's a 60 plate'

'Great...'

Had they gone with the current system but got rid of the daft concept of twice yearly plate changes it would have been better. 09 = 09, 10 = 10, etc.
 
I agree it's daft - and they look rubbish. I rather like the US number plate system - I also feel we shouldn't have to have a front number plate - furthermore like in the states you should be able to have whatever you want on the front number plate.
 
Freefaller said:
I agree it's daft - and they look rubbish. I rather like the US number plate system - I also feel we shouldn't have to have a front number plate - furthermore like in the states you should be able to have whatever you want on the front number plate.
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Yea, no front plate would be cool.

But then they couldnt do us for 31 in a 30 from a mobile camera and that would never do.
 
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