Information

Method of Inspection

Reason for rejection

Registration Plates

Unregistered vehicles need not be fitted with registration plates.

This inspection does not apply to foreign registered, diplomatic or military vehicles.

Vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1973 may have registration plates displaying white, grey or silver characters on a black background.

Three-dimensional characters are permitted to use grey edging in order to achieve the 3D effect on any age of vehicle.

Quadricycles must be fitted with a front number plate.

A three-wheeled vehicle with motorcycle derived steering and suspension does not require a front number plate.

1. Check that there is a registration plate both at the front and the rear of the vehicle, and check each one for security and condition.

2. On Vehicles first Registered on or after 1 January 1973, Check

. the colour of the characters and background

. that the registration plates are fixed vertically, or as close to vertical as is reasonably practical

3. On vehicles first registered on or after 1 September 2001, check that the registration plates do not display a honeycomb or similar effect background

4. Refer to pages 4 - 6 and check visually that the characters are correctly formed, spaced, and are not obviously likely to be misread due to, for example, badly positioned or uncovered retaining bolts etc.

1. A registration plate:
a. missing or incorrect

b. so insecure that it is likely to fall off

c. letter or figure missing or incomplete

d. faded, dirty, deteriorated or obscured, (for example by a towbar so that it is likely to be misread or is not easily legible by a person standing approximately 20 metres to the front/rear of the vehicle)

e. background overprinted or shadowed with text e.g. vehicle manufacturer name.

2.

a. A front registration plate does not have black characters on a white background

b. a rear registration plate does not have black characters on a yellow background

c. a registration plate not fixed vertically, or as close to vertical as is reasonably practial.



3.

a.A registration plate obviously displaying a honeycomb or similar effect background.

4. A registration plate with

a. characters which are obviously not the correct height, character width, stroke width, not of equal width along their entire length or incorrectly spaced

b. a character not correctly formed, sloping, or
likely to be misread

c. any feature that has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters, so that the
true identity of the vehicle is less
easily established

d. characters formed using a font which is not substantially similar to
the prescribed font

e. characters formed using broken or multiple strokes

f. characters laid out in an incorrect format

g. a margin obviously less than the minimum requirement

h. a non-reflective border obviously wider than permitted or positioned
too close to the characters (see page 5).

Vehicle Identification Number

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN or chassis number) is required on all vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1980. except those which are
. kit cars
. amateur built vehicles

If a VIN cannot be found the vehicle presenter should be advised of the likely location of the VIN and to thoroughly search for the number with the aid of the registration certificate. If following this action the VIN cannot be found the vehicle presenter should contact the nearest Vehicle Registration Office.

5. Check that the vehicle is permanently displaying a legible Vehicle Identification Number (this can either be
. on a VIN plate secured to the vehicle. or
. stamped or etched on the vehicle
body or chassis).

5.
a.
A Vehicle Identification Number not permanently displayed, incomplete or not legible

Note: Only one VIN is required to be complete and legible.

b.
more than one different Vehicle Identification Number displayed.

Note: It is acceptable for a vehicle that has been manufactured as part of a multistage build, (a modification taken place to a vehicle at the manufacture stage before sold as new) to show more than one VIN.

The second and subsequent stage VINs will also be a 17 digit VIN and will be displayed on an additional plate.

When a multistage built vehicle is presented for test the last stage VIN must be used for MOT documentation.

Registration Plates- Additional Information

Prescribed Font

Format

Note: 3D and some other style characters are permissible, providing the font style is adhered to

New Style (From 1 September 2001) registrations must be set out in either one, or two line formats, as illustrated below.

Vehicles registered before 1 September 2001, can be set out in either one, two or three line formats, as illustrated below.

Cherished Plates
Older style registrations must meet the registration plate requirements according to the date of first registration of the vehicle, with a format style similar to that illustrated below e.g. letters on one line, figures on another, or a larger space between the two groups of characters.

Northern Ireland Registration Plates
These are not age related and usually consist of three letters followed by four numbers. They must conform to the same standards as other UK registration plates, depending on the date of first registration. This includes the optional display of the distinguishing sign of the UK.

Borders
Registration plates can optionally display a non-reflective border with a maximum width of 6mm and not closer than 5mm to the characters.

Size of Characters

Testers are not requred to physically measure the characters or their spacing and the following information is provided for guidance only. Registration plates should only be rejected for character dimensions or spacing if they are clearly incorrect

Note1: Some Vehicles Registered before 1 September 2001 may be fitted with larger plates that have characters 89mm high and other relevant dimensions that subsequently larger.

Note 2: Imported vehicles whose construction/design cannot accomodate standardize number plates are permitted to display registration plates with smaller characters, in line with those for tricycles and quadricycles detailed in the table. Their Margins and vertical space between groups may also be reduced to 5mm.

Note 3: The space permitted between a "1" or an "I" and another character is proportionately greater than the below dimensions.

Issue Date: 01 January 2012