The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

[Architex_mA8tey]

Been having an interesting look at these regulations (yawn) in relation to fitting my bumper filler from the states and whether or not i can drive all the time with the filler in place and display my number plate elsewhere, for example hanging from the passenger sun visor.







Ive noticed an interesting variation for pre and post 2001 cars (mine is 1999) -

Pre 2001 -
Fixing of registration plates: vehicles registered before the relevant date

7.—(1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered before the relevant date.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4), a registration plate must be fixed in the manner required by paragraph (3) on—

(a)the front of the vehicle, and

(b)the rear of—

(i)the vehicle or,

(ii)where the vehicle is towing a trailer, the trailer or,

(iii)where the vehicle is towing more than one trailer, the rearmost trailer.

(3) This paragraph requires each plate to be fixed—

(a)in a vertical position or, where that is not possible, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable, and

(b)in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable, in the case of a plate fixed on the front of the vehicle, from in front of the vehicle and, in the case of a plate fixed on the rear of the vehicle or trailer, from behind the vehicle or trailer.

(4) In the case of a motor cycle and a motor tricycle which does not have a body of a type which is characteristic of the body of a four-wheeled vehicle, a registration plate need not be fixed on the front of the vehicle.

and Post 2001 -
Fixing of front registration plates: vehicles registered on or after the relevant date

6.—(1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered on or after the relevant date.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (5), a registration plate must be fixed on the front of the vehicle in the manner required by paragraph (3).

(3) This paragraph requires the plate to be fixed—

(a)vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable,

(b)in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The diagonal length of the relevant area is—

(a)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is at least 57 millimetres, 22 metres,

(b)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 50 millimetres, 21.5 metres,

(c)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 44 millimetres, 18 metres.

(5) In the case of a motor cycle or a motor tricycle which does not have a body of a type which is characteristic of the body of a four-wheeled vehicle—

(a)a registration plate must not be fixed on the front of a vehicle if it was first registered on or after 1st September 2001,

(b)a plate need not be fixed on the front of the vehicle if it was first registered before 1st September 2001.

Hmm. . . .
so the thing that changed was the introduction of a requirement to actually see the plate from a specific distance which didn't apply before 2001

So what is everyone's view - can I display my front plate anywhere facing frontwards on the vehicle including my sun visor or will I have to restrict my "Bumper Filler use" to shows only ? answers on a postcard please. . .

[IT]

I got as far as <yawn> ....


suck it and see ?...

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by IT

I got as far as <yawn> ....

suck it and see ?...

LOL cant you come up with some "James Bond" style electronic rotating ones for me?

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey

LOL cant you come up with some "James Bond" style electronic rotating ones for me?

Oh dear I am buggered then!!!!!

[gninnam]

Like Ian says - suck it and see.......

I have seen plenty if cars (and bikes) with what I would class as dodgy plates and placement of so try it - bet you don't get pulled

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by Mingblue

Oh dear I am buggered then!!!!!

Whys that then? I dont think we've seen your car yet have we? post some pics then

[Adrian E]

think the difference ref 2001 relates to the requirements of the plates themselves, rather than their visibility on the vehicle so much.

I suspect if you put it on the sun visor you would run into issues because of the top tint making the plate less conspicuous. Any police officer pulling you over could quite legitimately point out that there's a perfectly sensible spot for the plate to be mounted on the bumper and that having it somewhere less obvious is in breach of the legislation.

HOWEVER, they're mainly interested in the rear plate for ID'ing the vehicle, sending you nice letters with points in etc. Only issue is ANPR and average speed cameras, which would likely struggle to read the plate.

I doubt you would get pulled solely for that but they may use it as an excuse for pulling you for another reason.

I've had a car fail its MOT because the plate could only be read by squirrels committing their last act as I ran them over (it was a stick on plate on the underside of the valence of a Mk2 Cortina) so that may be more likely, but given you can just take the cover off for MOT I guess not an issue.

A

[Architex_mA8tey]

Thanks Adrian, interesting stuff hmm... and I suppose if the plate was displayed at the bottom of the windscreen they would say it obscures the swept area of the wipers?

[Conan_the_Librarian]

There are no rules that say it has to be central or the maximum height. As long as it can be seen from the front and is correctly designed......

[tonupkid]

I'm prepared to bet that you'll get pulled.

I'd say why ask for trouble, but in the interest of entertainment go ahead