German Style Number Plates

Introduction

Most of us love them, some people don't care and a few hate them - German style plates. In the truest sence they are illegal unless you are driving a vehicle registered in Germany. However certain 'styles' can be legal.

Below is how the German plate looks and how it is made up (in German of course)!

I am by no means a legal expert, all of the information contained within is personal opinion ONLY, butmostofitwill bebacked up with links to proper resources, read them and make up your own mind as to wether I am right or wrong, and be aware law evolves and changes, I make nopromises that the information contained within is upto date or correct. At the time of writing I believe it all to be factoid.

Simple Legal Info

What makes the truest form of German plates illegal in the UK?

UK registered vehicles must not have any country other then the UK in the blue band (Except NI).
UK registered vehicles must be made from an approved material.
UK registered vehicles must display the registration in the approved fromat (ie. prefix-number-space-postfix).
UK registered vehicles must not display ANY logo or picture not relating to the registration or manufacturer details.
UK registered vehicles with plates manufactured after 2001 must display on the plate the manufacturer name and post code.

Because German have the stadt and TUV stickers, the reg is in the wrong format, and manufacturer name and post code is not printed they are not UK legal.

What Can You Do?

Well if you like the pressed steel plates you can still have those, aslong as there is no Band or the band is UK only, and the font is similar to the new UK font.

They look something like these:

What isn't clear is the laser etched name and postcode of the manufacturer is on the plate but not visiblein the photo this makes these plates 100% legal.

Any deviations and you take your chances.

Finish after pub