How to Identify Illegal Number Plates in 2023

 

Want to know how to identify an illegal number plate? This is the guide for you. 

 

A survey from Halfords back in 2021 found that young drivers were six times more likely to buy an illegal number plate than those over 45.

 

But do you have the know-how to spot an illegal number plate? This blog post will show 9 ways a number plate can be illegal in 2023. 

 

Other topics on this page include:

• What is an illegal number plate?
• Examples of illegal number plates in the UK
• What’s the penalty for an illegal number plate?

 

What is an Illegal Number Plate?

 

An illegal number plate is a plate that is incorrectly displayed as per the British Standard. Examples of an illegal number plate include incorrect spacing, colours, fonts, materials, and markings.

 

New vehicles also have additional rules in place. For instance, motor vehicles with plates fitted after 1st September 2021 must be marked with the new British Standard number, BS AU 145e.

 

Number Plate Rules Summary - What Makes Them Illegal

 

There are several common ways a number plate may be breaking the law. For a comprehensive list of the latest number plate rules, click the link and check out our detailed guide.

 

Alternatively, keep reading below to see 9 common ways a number plate could be illegal in 2023:

 

Illegal Number Plate Spacing

 

Incorrect spacing of characters on number plates is perhaps one of the biggest causes of illegal number plates in the UK.

 

There is strict legislation surrounding number plate spacing and character sizes on motor vehicles, and these rules can differ between cars and motorbikes.

 

For instance, the space between characters on a number plate must be 11mm with a character height of 79mm on cars and vans. Meanwhile, character spacing must be 10mm on motorbike reg plates, with a height of 64mm. 

 

Proper number plate spacing is important as it assists Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras. Number plates unable to be scanned by ANPR cameras are a criminal offence.

 

You can learn more about plate spacing by reading the government-issued leaflet INF104

 

Incorrect Fonts

 

Characters on number plates must be written in a specific font, the “Charles Wright 2001” typeface. Failure to display the correct font is a criminal offence.

 

You can still use raised acrylic lettering to create a 3D or 4D effect, but the typing must be “Charles Wright 2001” and be displayed in a solid black colour (more on this next).

 

Wrong Colour Used

 

Colours are also an important legal requirement for number plates. 

 

Cars, vans, and trucks must have two registration plates at the front and rear of the vehicle. The front must have a white background with solid black lettering, while the rear must have a yellow background with solid black lettering.

 

Solid black lettering means no two-tone plates, typically used to create the appearance of shades and enhance a 3D or 4D effect.

 

If your vehicle is zero emission, you may also have a green border on the left-hand side of the number plate. But this green colour should be reflective and have the colour Pantone 7481c. 

 

The only exception to this rule is for historic vehicles before 1st January 1980, which are usually permitted the old style of number plates that used black and white/silver colours. 

 

Improper Screw and Bolt Placement

 

Adhesive tapes are the official recommendations for attaching a number plate to a motor vehicle. However, screws and bolts are perfectly legal as long as they don’t impact the appearance of the number plates.

 

Some users have been known to add screws or bolts near certain letters to create the illusion of another letter. For instance, placing a screw near the letter C creates an E.

 

Added Badges and Invalid Flags

 

Currently, the only imagery allowed on UK vehicle registration plates is flags and national identifiers, such as “UK” or “GB.”

 

This means any plates that use football club badges or religious symbols are illegal.

 

Currently, the following flags are permitted for UK cars:

 

• The Union Jack.
• The Cross of St George.
• The red dragon of Wales.
• The Saltire/ the Cross of St Andrew.

 

Things can get slightly more complicated if you plan on travelling abroad, as you may need to add an accompanying sticker. Be sure to read our number plate rules guide to learn more.

 

Non-reflective Background

 

By law, number plates must have a reflective background in the UK.

 

Not only does this help vehicles stand out on the road for driver visibility, but it also means the characters on the number plate can be easily identified.

 

The background should also be yellow on the rear plate and white on the front. This means an illegal number plate is any plate with different colours, stickers, or custom backgrounds. 

 

Wrong Non-Registration Markings and Spacings

 

Aside from the registration number, there are other legal requirements surrounding non-registration markings.

 

For number plates fitted after 1st September 2021, each must feature the name or identifier of the manufacturer who made it and the British Standard number in the bottom right corner. 

 

They should also include the name and postcode of the number plate supplier in the bottom centre. 

 

Markings should be 7mm below the bottom of the registration number and should be around 3mm and 10mm high in a non-reflective colour. 

Removable and Reflective Characters

 

Some criminals use plates with removable characters to avoid detection. However, this is illegal.

 

All characters on a reg plate should be permanent and non-reflective. 

 

Incorrect Number of Plates

 

The number of plates required on your vehicle can depend on your vehicle type.

 

Motorbikes or tricycles registered after 1st September 2001 must only display rear number plates. Bikes before this date can display reg plates at the front, but it isn’t a legal requirement. Meanwhile, cars and vans should have a rear plate and a front plate. 

 

Things can get slightly more complicated if you’re towing a trailer domestically or abroad.

 

Domestic trailers must display an identical plate to the car towing it. But you may need to register a trailer when travelling abroad. If you do, you will need to display a trailer registration plate and the towing vehicle’s number plate, ideally as far apart as possible.

 

Learn more about this in this government-issued leaflet INF291. 

 

 

Examples of Illegal Number Plates UK

 

So, what does an illegal number plate look like in practice? Well, if a plate has any non-standard lettering, sizes, or colours, it is illegal.

 

Many outlets still sell illegal number plates for display purposes, but they cannot be legally put onto a car.

 

Examples of illegal number plates still commonly sold in the UK include:

 

• Neon letters
• 3D printed letters that use two-tone colours.
• Any letters that don’t use solid black. 

 

If you’re asking, “Are 4D plates illegal?” you can still use acrylic and raised lettering so long as they’re the right size and solid black colour.

 

 

Examples of Legal Number Plates

 

At SwiftReg, we offer two forms of number plate printing.

 

You can opt for the traditional standard reflective acrylic or our 4d laser cut, which uses raised lettering to boldly stand out. Both of these are completely legal and match the British Standard.

 

Any number plates that have the right typing, sizing, and colour will be completely legal. 

 

 

What’s the Penalty for an Illegal Number Plate?

 

Using an illegal number plate is a criminal offence and can result in serious consequences. 

 

The most common penalties are:

• A fine of up to £1,000
• MOT failure
• Your registration number could be withdrawn.

 

SwiftReg highly advises against the use of illegal number plates. To avoid non-compliant number plates, we recommended buying from trustworthy sources such as ourselves.