Number plate letter sizing help

HI all,

Ok, i need a definitive answer to this question. I recall someone on here being very knowledgeable about the subject.

Just recieved a letter from the police stating "REGISTRATION MARK DOES NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD FORMAT".

BASTARDS!!!

This has boiled my blood considering on Friday night i was pulled over on the A19 for driving "Too Slow" (going 50 at the time) and the plate spacing was never mentioned.

My car is a Jap import and i know the spacings allowed are different. I really want to fight this and i'd appreciate it if someone could give me the exact size and spacings that i'm allowed.

I've attached a pic of the car to show the plate's i'm using.

Cheers

Peter

Here is my post at the end of that thread.

• Character Height - 79mm
  
• Character Width - 50mm
  
• Character Stroke - 14mm
  
• Space Between Characters - 11mm
  
• Space Between Groups - 33mm
  
• Top, Bottom & Side Margins (minimum) - 11mm
  
• Space Between Vertical Lines - 19mm
  

 

Right, with regards to dimensions of the rear plate I have taken some measurements:-

 

 

Over 2 lines, the minimum height of a UK square plate is 191mm:

 

11mm margin + 79mm letter height + 11mm space between characters of top and bottom row + 79mm letter height + 11mm margin.

 

 

For a 5 digit plate e.g. "A1 AAA", the minimum width of a UK oblong plate is 338mm:

 

11mm margin + 50mm character width + 11mm space between characters + 50mm character width + 33mm space between groups + 50mm character width + + 11mm space between characters + 50mm character width + 11mm space between characters + 50mm character width + 11mm margin.

 

So yeah, UK square minimum height = 191mm and UK oblong minimum width = 338mm.

 

 

If you have the rear number plate surrounds fitted, this makes the recess only able to accomodate the dimensions:

 

maximum height = 185mm

maximum width = 330mm

 

In other words - if you have the number plate surrounds fitted - a UK plate of the layout 'A1 AAA' CANNOT be fitted to the rear of the car!

 

I do not have the surrounds fitted, yet - given they are a factory option on the car - will argue my case.

 

Hope this helps people

Thanks for that, appreciate it. I'm goona measure my plate as soon as i get a chance and send the information to the DVLA.

Cheers

Peter

I posted that on the thread because I was getting hassle for having a regular import plate on the rear.

That big post explains why it is the ONLY option (on the rear, the front can accomodate a UK plate so must have one)!

See here for the regs;

Statutory Instrument 2002 No.doc

Also looking at your pictures, your letter style may be a problem. Although they are clearly readable they are not the legal style.

The Style is standard 3D effect, which is perfectly legal. I checked that out before i had the plates made up.

The Style is standard 3D effect, which is perfectly legal. I checked that out before i had the plates made up.

My bad, I thought any shading etc was a no-no. I stand corrected.

I may be wrong (often am) but I didn't think you could have slogans on plates, thought it was just country flag, nothing else.

Good luck, but i suspect you will need it if you take on police / dvla etc.

Cheers

G

I wasn't too sure about the slogan thing, but as far as i can tell, as long as the spacing between the top of the letter and the bottom of the slogan (as it would be if it were to the edge of the plate) it's ok? Not 100% on that mind.

fast and furious is illigal mate! thats what the problem is! the only thing u can have at the bottom of the plate is were the car was bought from or the name and post code of the poeple that make the plate!

What i did with my corrado when i have new pates mate up as the old ones were just tatty, i hade the name and postcode of the plate maker the same colour as the plate as it does not state what colour that needs to me ..... so that was all hidden

Also it needed to have a BS stamp on it! i had that the same colour aswell....but import or not you can not have "slogans" at the bottom of the plate!

As for the front plate its legal if its a Jap import to have smaller characters as it says in the e-mail i got from the DVLA also my local plate maker "ant graphics" said so (for the front) also http://www.craigsplates.co.uk/import-number-plates.html have a look there aswell mate.

Ah, ok. i'll bear that in mind when i try to contest their decision. Cheers.