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They do look nice Louis but sad to say that metal pressed number plates are in effect illegal as they do not conform to BSAU145D standards. I would consider changing them back come MOT time.
 
They do look nice Louis but sad to say that metal pressed number plates are in effect illegal as they do not conform to BSAU145D standards. I would consider changing them back come MOT time.
Every day is a school day...
Are pressed number plates legal for modern vehicles?
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard.

Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.

These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.

Thankfully, my MoT tester doesn't seem to know this(or maybe does though has no issue with them as he's passed two of our A2s with pressed aluminium plates fitted).
 
Guidelines for the display of number plates for vehicles registered from March 21st2001 are detailed under British Standard BS AU 145d. As per these guidelines number plates must be made of reflective material (not retroactively made reflective by treatment). Aluminium, which traditionally makes up pressed number plates, does not meet this standard.
Another standard requires the material to be flexible, and must be able to spring back to its original shape if bent. Metal plates cannot do this.
These two requirements means that pressed metal number plates are effectively illegal for any modern vehicle.

The current UK law relating to number plates is an absolute mess, and if it were applied strictly, no current number plates either plastic or aluminium would meet its criteria.
Plastic number plates are of laminated construction and rely on the outer (non-reflective) laminates to provide rigidity and a modicum of spring.
Aluminium number plates, when mounted in a plastic holder, provide similar rigidity and if anything a degree more flex than plastic plates.
Everyone should clean their number plates ahead of their MOT. Those of us with pressed aluminium plates are also well advised to have plastic replacements to hand in case the examiner proves overly fussy on the day.
 
Today I plugged Boris in to make sure no codes have come up. After all he’s a 1.6 FSI normally there chucking codes up here and there and emptying your bank account every month but Boris for 3 months has kept he’s EML OFF and there’s no codes on the OBD

YAY?

Now no one can take the pee out of 1.6 FSI’s saying there unreliable there just as reliable as the 1.4’s :):p

51941
 
Also the number plate is supposed to display the post code and name of the supplier and the BS mark. As below in this article

Before you MOT your car, make sure you are aware of the requirements for Number plates.

For cars registered after Sept 1st 2001 Your plate must have

* The new font (79mm high) there are a few exceptions motorbikes and some imported cars.

* The name and postcode of the plate supplier

* It must say "BS AU 145d" on it bottom right corner (not necessarily bottom right but that's where it usually is) - It must also have next to this a small company name or logo (it is the name of the manufacturer of the plate) There are many different types,
mine say HHSP BS AU 145d. The HHSP bit is the manufacturer.
Other examples
"Gould BS AU 145d"
"UP BS AU 145d
" etc etc etc

* For the new longer plates with a space on the left for the EU flag symbol, the space can be blank but it must not have anything else there except 1 of the following:
Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack)
Scottish flag (saltaire)
English flag (george cross)
Welsh flag (dragon)
Euro union flag and "GB" symbol

Any other symbol in that space will fail the MOT, the letters must be black on a yellow (reflective) background for the rear...some plates have a large ford logo on the background (for show use only) this will fail MOT.

Pre Sep 1 2001 cars do not need the info on the plate.


BTW you have just jinxed all 1.4 owners with your statement..
 
Thanks for letting me know about the number plate rules for MOT

I have a 1.4 too so hopefully I’ve not jinxed 1.4’s ?
 
Not all MOT testers check, but the pressed ones are illegal on 2 counts. more chance "Old Bill" will give the car a pull for no other reason.
 
Not all MOT testers check, but the pressed ones are illegal on 2 counts. more chance "Old Bill" will give the car a pull for no other reason.
Yes they probably would if they want to “scratch their pad” because they have nothing to do :mad:?
 
Not all MOT testers check, but the pressed ones are illegal on 2 counts. more chance "Old Bill" will give the car a pull for no other reason.
I got pulled over on my way to work at midnight last year, immediately I thought it was to do with my pressed plates but it turned out he wanted to talk about my A2...
I’ve used pressed plates since I learned to drive, my choice I know the rules but I don’t care to be honest I like the look. Doesn’t harm to be a rebel sometimes

Ross
 
* It must say "BS AU 145d" on it bottom right corner (not necessarily bottom right but that's where it usually is) - It must also have next to this a small company name or logo (it is the name of the manufacturer of the plate)
It's difficult to know what you're on about. Where the manufacturer of the plate is also the supplier (as is the case here), there is no need for their name or logo to appear a second time

Pre Sep 1 2001 cars do not need the info on the plate.
All plates fitted from 1st Sep 2001 are required to have the information, regardless of the age of the vehicle (there's an exemption for vehicles registered in the historic tax class)

Not all MOT testers check, but the pressed ones are illegal on 2 counts.
As I've pointed out earlier in the thread, the over-prescriptive law on number plates in the UK is a mess. The counts that (theoretically) make pressed plates illegal also invalidate laminated acrylic plates. Louis' plates are fine (but would be better still in a holder).
 
Not my quotes but from MOT testers book. Yes it is a mess. That is why you see lots of illegal plates especially italics, spacing and bunny symbols. but it only takes one over worked plod or MOT tester to ruin your day...
 
Not my quotes but from MOT testers book. Yes it is a mess. That is why you see lots of illegal plates especially italics, spacing and bunny symbols. but it only takes one over worked plod or MOT tester to ruin your day...
And this is the relevant law: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/pdfs/uksi_20010561_en.pdf
DVLA guide to registration numbers and number plates: https://assets.publishing.service.g...stration-numbers-and_number-plates-inf104.pdf
The DVLA specifically state that "characters on a number plate can be 3D": https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates
 
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