Private reg - format

Kemik

Kemik

Kemik

Soldato
Joined
7 Nov 2005
Posts
4,961
Location
Widnes
Hi guys,

I've been gifted a registration plate for my new car (1st March) which is in the format "AB15 EAN".

Can I get it printed as AB1 5EAN or is that against the rules? I'm struggling to find anything other than font requirements, height, and size.

I'm thinking I might be better going with a prefix plate instead so it's L11 ABC with the initials instead of spelling out my first name...
Thanks
 
Get it done by someone doing "show plates" and they'll do it. It's not legal to display it, but if the coppers are fairly lenient in your area you'll get away with it. You might need a proper one for your MOT though.
 
Barry Smalley said:
Get it done by someone doing "show plates" and they'll do it. It's not legal to display it, but if the coppers are fairly lenient in your area you'll get away with it. You might need a proper one for your MOT though.
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Thanks. I'd probably prefer to keep things legal though knowing my luck!

Might switch for a prefix instead. I'm not big on private plates, they're just a bunch of letters in my eyes, but they are a gift so I'm happy to pick :)
 
You will have to have it as AB15 EAN which means it won't look any different to any other plate :( If you can switch for a prefix, do that - go for the shortest one you can get.
 
As Fox says stay legal and go for a prefix plate with a single number if poss. Plates with the spacing altered to spell out names are illegal and look incredibly chavvy!
 
All the best plates are spaced and "fonted" legally without using the wrong coloured screw tips etc and still look good.
If you need to use illegal spacing, fonts or misrepresent using extra marks from screwholes just stick with your original plate.
 
stoofa said:
All the best plates are spaced and "fonted" legally without using the wrong coloured screw tips etc and still look good.
If you need to use illegal spacing, fonts or misrepresent using extra marks from screwholes just stick with your original plate.
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This. Otherwise you look like a PEN 15 ;)

(hope I can put that!)
 
Kemik said:
Can I get it printed as AB1 5EAN or is that against the rules?
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This is exactly what I did 8 years ago and I've not been pulled once for it (15k per year on a mix of city and motorway roads). Got the plates done online on a showplates site and they are identical to the proper legal ones (which live in the boot) except the middle space is shifted one character over.

Once got chased down on the motorway for speeding but the cop issuing the fixed penalty (which I deserved) didn't mention it. I've a hunch that ANPR doesn't see spaces. What about those square plates with 2 rows of characters? They must be lagal.

I swap them over on MOT day, but once forgot to do this after dropping the car off at the garage :eek:

The guys swapped them over for me and put it straight through without even mentioning it! (must've seen them in the back when checking the spare).

I'd do it Sean :D
 
Really the OP should decide what he wants from the private plate. If he wants a lot of drivers who see it to go "what a knob" then I'd go for the illegally spaced or dodgy font option.
If however it's just a plate that hides car age and means something to him, then stick to what's legal.
It's not really a matter of "will he get away with it" - he might, he might also be stopped after driving 100m down the road after fitting it and get fined. But really the overall look. Mis-spaced to make a poor plate look better always fails and you just end up with something that looks silly.
 
Agreed. Mis-spaced and name plates look tacky. Something clean like 3 numbers and 3 letters looks far more classy IMO.
 
Space the plate how you want it to look, don't worry about other people's opinions. There are consequences if you get stopped but I certainly wouldn't be concerned about the opinion of the general public.
 
ironman said:
Space the plate how you want it to look, don't worry about other people's opinions. There are consequences if you get stopped but I certainly wouldn't be concerned about the opinion of the general public.
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+1

Each to their own, get it done how you want but always keep a legal set in the boot. Also be aware of the consequences
 
So you guys would all go with

A11 SDH over AB15 EAN?

Spaced legally, etc? Same price, give or take. The prefix one seems to be selling at a pretty good price as the rest are all selling for around double that. Obviously down to personal preference.
 
Kemik said:
So you guys would all go with

A11 SDH over AB15 EAN?

Spaced legally, etc? Same price, give or take. The prefix one seems to be selling at a pretty good price as the rest are all selling for around double that. Obviously down to personal preference.
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The first looks better IMO.
 
3 by 3 is a nice spread and looks smarter than more characters on one side. The exception is properly cherished plates that you often see on high end marque or old money cars :p

If you're the kind of person who prefers not to have the GB flag bit on the left then a plain plate looks really elegant in my eyes and sets off the symmetry even better.
 
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