Number plate spacing?

[clk320x]

I know this is an iffy topic, but how strict are the rules on this?

I'm looking at buying another plate, its structure is: A1 BCD, which if spaced A1BC D would be much more relevant/ look better. (the final letter has no relevance but is simply the only plate left for sale)

I have noticed a few members on here have also altered the spacings.

Have the rules become relaxed?

Thanks

 

[Alfie]

No they havnt relaxed so you run the risk of being picked up for it. There are special rules for the number '1'. In that it can be closer to other letters/numbers (11mm) I believe, but you are best to look on the DVLA website for the current rules. Remember also that you can easily fail an MOT for having incorrect spacing.

 

[KennyN]

I wouldnt bother , i had S44 BKN on my previous car and i spaced it to be S44B KN which was hardly the crime of the century but it was a complete PITA as i was constantly being pull by plod and was told if i was pulled again then they could confiscate the plate so i just left it the way it should be , MOT friendly.

There were no other alterations , plate was the correct size as was the text in the correct font and colour.

Kenny

 

[clk320x]

I wouldnt bother , i had S44 BKN on my previous car and i spaced it to be S44B KN which was hardly the crime of the century but it was a complete PITA as i was constantly being pull by plod and was told if i was pulled again then they could confiscate the plate so i just left it the way it should be , MOT friendly.

There were no other alterations , plate was the correct size as was the text in the correct font and colour.

Kenny

I wonder if its stricter in Scotland Kenny? ANPR can still pick them up so I am confused why it is so strict

Every other private plate I see over here seems to be spaced differently.

 

[clk320x]

No they havnt relaxed so you run the risk of being picked up for it.

I assume a £60 penalty? No points though?

 

[KennyN]

I wonder if its stricter in Scotland Kenny? Every other private plate I see over here seems to be spaced differently.

This was around seven years ago when there were actually some police around , maybe now it would be different but not worth the grief IMHO.

You would need to swap them over for the MOT anyway.

Having said that there are loads of , mainly Audi`s , driving around here with no front plates at all. They leave them on the dash and no doubt tell the plod they have just fallen off , plus it is easier to hide them from cameras etc.

Kenny

 

[Eddy77]

My sister in law had a badly spaced plate C1 xxxx and it (a) failed MOT and (b) got pulled by the police.

 

[Darrell]

A work colleague of mine has RU55ET M on an Audi and hasn’t been stopped yet but I told him to stick a correctly spaced set in the boot which he has.

His name is Mihai Russet so for him it’s a good plate.

 

[Stratman]

I assume a £60 penalty? No points though?

The police may also inform the DVLA, who operate a (I think) 'three strikes and you're out' policy, in that they can withdraw your vanity plate and issue an age related on instead.

 

[Abb]

I wouldn't do it Abs, you run the risk of a roof top sniper taking you out while you are on your way to work, a laser guided missile locking on to your crime and blowing you to smithereens, oh and it's an MOT failure!

On a serious note, you are running the gauntlet, like KennyN says, he had nothing but grief, however I (well the boss) has been driving around for at least 4 years with hers mis spaced. Its 6 ECA with no spaces, so 6ECA. The colour, font, measurements etc are all correct. IIRC the digits are supposed to be 11mm apart and 33mm between the groups of digits.

The DVLA can also revoke the number under certain circumstances, however I believe you are given warnings prior to doing so. As long as the ANPR camera can read it, as in it's not in italics, cartoon writing etc, personally I would do it, BUT it is a personal choice.

 

[BTB 500]

Yup a friend of mine had a plate with changed spacing (all totally legal apart from that, no attempt to make letters look different) and he gave up after being stopped stopped twice.

 

[BTB 500]

Having said that there are loads of , mainly Audi`s , driving around here with no front plates at all. They leave them on the dash and no doubt tell the plod they have just fallen off , plus it is easier to hide them from cameras etc.

Funnily enough I saw two BMW 3-series like that yesterday, I assume they'd been at some kind of event as they were only 30 secs or so apart. They were driving in the opposite direction so the lack of front plate was really obvious.

 

[AltonAnt]

A work colleague of mine has RU55ET M on an Audi and hasn’t been stopped yet but I told him to stick a correctly spaced set in the boot which he has.

His name is ******** so for him it’s a good plate.

Is he OK with you posting his name on the web? Sorry, still in GDPR mode.

 

[Darrell]

Is he OK with you posting his name on the web? Sorry, still in GDPR mode.

Doubt if cares seeing that he drives around with his name on his plate.

 

[Benzowner]

One of my pet peeves. My plate is G***S which I space G *** S. Fails the MoT each time although with those spacings have been caught speeding on M4 Severn Bridge and spotted on the London congestion charge cameras. I use correct size letters with correct font, unlike many car registrations with "Italisized" letters and numbers. It is said the cameras cannot pick up the altered spacing, I think it's a nonsense. Look at the plates over the years, numbers first then letters then letters followed by numbers, them letters followed by numbers followed by another letter now letters, numbers then letters, not forgetting the many single numbers registrations.

 

[lfckeeper]

One of my pet peeves. My plate is G***S which I space G *** S. Fails the MoT each time although with those spacings have been caught speeding on M4 Severn Bridge and spotted on the London congestion charge cameras. I use correct size letters with correct font, unlike many car registrations with "Italisized" letters and numbers. It is said the cameras cannot pick up the altered spacing, I think it's a nonsense. Look at the plates over the years, numbers first then letters then letters followed by numbers, them letters followed by numbers followed by another letter now letters, numbers then letters, not forgetting the many single numbers registrations.

Maybe people should space their plate how they wish - but inform the DVLA of how it'll be presented for a small admin fee (similar to the retention costs)

 

[oldguy57]

Bit hypocritical of DVLA anyway, deliberately selling personal plates which often only mean something if mis spaced.

 

[bob6600]

I see so many mis-spaced plates when driving around so can't be that bad. However if I did it (and I probably will on my next car) then I'm sure I will get pulled!

 

[Petrol Pete]

I assume a £60 penalty? No points though?

No. you can go directly to jail for 'attempting to pervert the course of justice' I kid you not. In law, if applied 100% as written (as it hardly is) Driving without number plates is less of a crime than changing the numbers and letterers around or altering the font or size.
If you knowing ride or drive with altered or incorrect number plates your vehicle can be taken off you and destroyed. as I said this has probably yet to happen for just a number plate infringement but it can happen by law.

The feds are soon going to rely almost 100% on ANPR for just about every form of persecution...sorry motoring law enforcement, so it is very important to them.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Is he OK with you posting his name on the web? Sorry, still in GDPR mode.

Well by all accounts his name is on his number plate, but you actually have to know the guys (unusual) first and last name to even begin to understand what his 'personalised' plate might even mean. So its personal to him, his mates and his close family only. But to him its worth getting a pull from plod. Each to their own and good luck to him.