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Another number plate thread


jackso11
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I am going to trim my number plate as my number is pretty short so there is loads of space on the front plate either side of the numnbers. From what I have read this seems to be legal as all the info I can find relates to the legal spacing and character size rather than the plate size itself, such as here....

 

http://www.plates4less.co.uk/FAQ/FAQ-New-AboutREG3.asp

 

can anyone on here in the know, maybe the police members of the club, clarify if this is correct?

 

Ta

 

 

Also found this on Wiki -

 

'The industry standard size front number plate is 520 mm × 111 mm (20½" × 4⅜"). Rear plates are either the same size, or 285 mm × 203 mm or 533 mm × 152 mm. There is no specified legal size for a number plate. For example, the rear number plate of a Rover 75 is 635 mm x 175 mm. However, all number plates must adhere to British Standard BS AU 145d,[2] which must be marked on the plate, along with the name and postcode of the manufacturer and the supplier of the plates.'

 

Waiting for the law to clarify :D

Edited by jackso11 (see edit history)
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All you need to consider is the measurements with regards to character height, spacing and borders. By adding them all up relevant to your plate (number of characters) you can calculate the minimum plate dimensions.

 

I've had trouble before with regards to having import plates on my J-Spec (like many) so did some calculations:-

 

  • 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 :)

 

:)

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In that case, adhere to this bit:

 

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. "A2 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.

 

*UNLESS YOUR NUMBER IS '1', IN WHICH CASE:

 

11mm margin + 50mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 33mm space + 50mm character stroke + 11mm space + 50mm character stroke + 11mm space + 50mm character stroke + 11mm margin

 

A total of 302mm.

 

:D

 

That's what I'll be doing with my front plate. That means that you have UK size lettering so police can't give you any trouble whilst the plate is cut right down. :)

Edited by James (see edit history)
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Surely the minimum width varies depending on what numbers/letters you have in your registration number?

 

In your example "A1 AAA", you've allowed a 50mm character width for the digit "1" which, in fact, is only as wide as a single character stroke, 14mm. This would also vary if you have "I" anywhere in your registration number.

 

Therefore, surely the shortest (hypothetical) minimum length UK oblong plate is "I1 III":

 

11mm margin + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 33mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm margin

 

A total of 158mm.

 

This is clearly narrower than anyone's plate (unless someone actually has "I1 III"!), but it's just to make the point that "I" and "1" vary the width :)

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Surely the minimum width varies depending on what numbers/letters you have in your registration number?

 

In your example "A1 AAA", you've allowed a 50mm character width for the digit "1" which, in fact, is only as wide as a single character stroke, 14mm. This would also vary if you have "I" anywhere in your registration number.

 

Therefore, surely the shortest (hypothetical) minimum length UK oblong plate is "I1 III":

 

11mm margin + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 33mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm space + 14mm character stroke + 11mm margin

 

A total of 158mm.

 

This is clearly narrower than anyone's plate (unless someone actually has "I1 III"!), but it's just to make the point that "I" and "1" vary the width :)

 

Im prety sure you cant have an I in a number plate.

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Im prety sure you cant have an I in a number plate.

 

I was waiting for someone to say that... I wasn't sure, but I think you're right actually. Although I think if you look on the DVLA website, it makes allowances for "I" when it talks about the 14mm character stroke.

 

*Goes to look for an example*

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