All number plates including those purchased through a sales scheme must be displayed in accordance with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (obtainable from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office).
Rules for the display of number plates are set out in law, briefly these are: –
- A number plate must be displayed at the front and rear of motor vehicles (with some exceptions).
- Number Plates must be easy to read and meet the British Standard BS AU 145d.
- Lettering should be black on a white plate at the front and a yellow at the rear.
- The background surface should be reflex-reflecting but the characters must not. There are separate requirements for traditional number plates displayed on vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973.
- Lettering and spacing must be of a set size & must conform to the appropriate specification
- Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001
- Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001.
The law states that:
- You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers
- Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC)
- Offences may result in any or all of the following:
- A fine of up to £1,000
- The registration mark may be withdrawn
- The vehicle may fail the MOT test
- Full details of the requirements are included in The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001