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, but most of it will be backed up with links to proper resources, read them and make up your own mind as to whether I am right or wrong, and be aware law evolves and changes, I make no promises 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, as long as there is no band or the band is UK only, and the font is similar to the new UK font. Also you cannot display anything on the plate other than the registration, country of issue and manufacturers name and postcode.

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 visible in the photo this makes these plates 100% legal. These are my plates and I have been stopped with them and the plates have never even been an issue.

Any deviations and you take your chances.

What If I Get a Stopped?

If you have legal plates nothing will happen, but if they aren't then expect a £40 fine and a ticket that instructs you to get them sorted and checked by an approved MOT station before returning to a local police station to submit the form. In my opinion far too much arse ache to bother running round with the plates. Be warned the DVLA have the right to remove the registration of your vehicle if you are a persistant offender. If this happens you will likely have to apply to register your vehicle again (this will involve a fee, some forms and possibly even a check at the local SVA test centre if they really want to make your life difficult), if you have a private plate you will loose it. They may also issue a new plate to your car with the Q plate prefix which will devalue the vehicle too. Worst of all whilst all the paper work is being done you cannot drive your vehicle as it is not registered, taxed or insured. You will also be required to get it MOT'd too after it is re-registered. This is all subject to the discretion of the police officer/s and the DVLA. So if you act like a t*** don't expect any favours.

If you were sold the plates as legal contact the manufacturer and request written proof as soon as you can, you have 28 days to pay the fine or apply to go to court, however you will still need to rectify the situation in the meantime if you are instructed to by the police. So don't throw the old legal plastic plates away.

If you have your day in court (and lets behonest you'd have to be pig headed to bother!) contact a solicitor for advice but the written proof from the manufacturer and your plates that got you stopped will most definatly be required.

If at any time you pay the fine and send the ticket back you are also giving up the right to challenge this case in the future or if you are stopped again with the same plates any subsequent case too, since paying the fine is the equivelent of pleading guilty to the offence with which you have been fined.

And most importantly don't moan, you make your choices you take your chances.

More Legal Info

The Full legal stance can be found in the following DVLA supplied PDF's DVLA Number Plate Resource

Links

I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies

Dubmeister.co.uk - Supplier of UK legal presssed steel plates and show plates.
ThePlateMan.com - Supplier of authentic German style plates and show plates.
Wikipedia article on UK number plates

Questions/Comments to March109

--March109 21:03, 20 July 2008 (UTC)