Leagallity of german plates

[billgatese30]

as title really



is this strictly legal or should it have the GB on it, as all it is is to replace the GB sticker on your car when you go abroad?

anyone able to shed any light on it, maybe point me in the direction of the correct government document etc regarding legislation

cheers

[d6dph]

Should have the GB badge on it, The materials should conform as we are part of the eu. But the badge needs to indicate the country of origin (as in registration not build) of the vehicle.

Start practising your german accent and change your name to helmut schumacher!

Edit: Touch wood, i have had no issues with mine as of yet.

[Tarmac-Terrorist]

My mate has German plates on his V-dub, He's had a few tugs but they've never mentioned it yet, all down to the officer i geuss.

Will they pass an MOT though? I need new plates and would like some german ones

[billgatese30]

ah bollox, i might just swing it and get em any way, not sure but it might look better without them anyway?

[miniblob]

Right then, not 100% sure on the GB/D thing - i'm pretty sure the euro stars with any initials are allowed here, however, for a uk registered car, the font is illegal, the materials are wrong and they will not have the required kite marks, makers post code, etc that are now required by law.

No idea if they will pass a genuine MOT either!! Suppose it depends on the tester!

All the documentation is on the dvla website http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/number_ ... marks.aspx

Having said all that, i've got them on mine, and illegally spaced - been spoken to by old bill 3 times now and they've never mentioned the plates or spacing!!
They're fixed on with velcro though and there's a proper set in the boot just in case!!

[Simon]

Keep a standard set in the boot just in case.

I haven't had a problem with mine yet, and they've been fitted for well over a year, and passed an MOT for the 2nd time with them fitted.

If you drive like a tosser in a chavved up car, you will get grief, but if you don't pull attention to yourself, I wouldn't worry about it, the people to look out for these days are the VOSA inspectors!

I've also got smoked plates on my touring, and I've never had a problem with those either.

[buster]

Ive got them on mine but i left the GB part off.

[iDreamBeemer]

Yes they are illegal, most obvious is a. Wrong Font b. non-reflective c. Country is wrong if you show the Euro flag bit it must have GB and not D.

There are more rules like showing the postcode of the place you got them from but this can be so small that you need to be right next to it (like 3 inches from your face) before you could see it. All down to response from MOT guys and your local polis as to how much trouble you get in...

[E30Mark]

I'm sure there used to be a statement on the DVLA site where it said the plates have to meet a certain BS standard, IE colour / font / reflective, but then it went onto say that if your plates meet any European standard then they would also be OK....

[Steviec]

I just realised that my car passed the MOT with them on aswell, it wasnt even mentioned.

[d6dph]

Font b. non-reflective

Mine are reflective mate, and have the german kite mark on them.

[Sharabi]

Illegal simple as.
but so long as you dont take the piss the police seem to let it slide.

[ad318i]

Yes they are illegal, most obvious is a. Wrong Font b. non-reflective c. Country is wrong if you show the Euro flag bit it must have GB and not D

a) european standard so is officially legal
b)yes they are reflactive
c)your right on that one lol... but if you look lots of cars have novelty us plates on next to the uk ones and there fine


I had to take mine off this week and put the GB's on cos at the mo im sitting in a cafe in the middle of berlin (2 mins from reichstag so lots of police about).... the polizei would deffo get you for having them over here!

[gooner1]

Keep a standard set in the boot just in case.

I haven't had a problem with mine yet, and they've been fitted for well over a year, and passed an MOT for the 2nd time with them fitted.

If you drive like a tosser in a chavved up car, you will get grief, but if you don't pull attention to yourself, I wouldn't worry about it, the people to look out for these days are the VOSA inspectors!

I've also got smoked plates on my touring, and I've never had a problem with those either.

Simon wtf are smoked plates.

[Simon]

Simon wtf are smoked plates.

[gooner1]

Got you,dont think ive ever noticed them before.

[maxfield]

Si black grill would set that front off big time

[thebigone]

Guys, a view fromthin blue line. Most of us like cars and look at them and admire all the hard work that goes into getting them the way thay are and keeping them.
If you drive it like a twat in front of us then regardless of the type of plate you have you will be tugged
Most and yes there are some right ass's that are in the police, but most will give you notification to get the offending item replaced at a garage or do it your self and get the form stamped and show to your local police station.
We would not realy be bothered about any embelishment that is on the side's it just the size and spaceing that counts.

[billgatese30]

thanks bigone, its nice to hear form someone who is in our police force and goes out and does things others wouldn't want to or aren't able to bring themselves to doing.

its also nice to hear it from someone in the know about the legality issues and the view that is generally taken (obviously excluding the "jobsworth" / fussy arse which we get in all works of life, i should know, i work for a few)

thanks for the input

and thanks everyone else too, much appreciated, if i go for the strip then it will be a D i think, but i'm still in two minds wheter or not to go for plain or banded?????