Car Race Systems

Archive for the ‘Number Plates’ Category

Customised number plates are a great way of personalising your car and they can really make it stand out from other cars on the road. While generally quite expensive, there are many people who feel that the attention and individualism they get out of them makes the cost worthwhile.

Why Do It?

Many car owners do not like their number plates, as they are simply a random collection of numbers and letters. The option of personalising them is bound to appeal, even more so when the process is quite straightforward. If you are proud of your car it is a good way to make it stand out and enhance the feeling of ownership. Of course, another reason is that by replacing the number plate, the actual age of the car is less obvious.

The Process

First of all you need to decide on the actual combination of letters and numbers you would like. It could be related to names or initials, set of numbers, the car itself, practically anything. Once this is decided, the registration process takes over.  This is somewhat time consuming, as there are a number of forms to be filled out and sent to the DVLA. There are specialist companies that will do it all for you though, if you do not mind paying a fee.

The Price

This can be an expensive way of personalising your car, depending on the number plate you require. While less interesting plates can be bought for under £100, some personalised number plates can cost many thousands of pounds, depending on their desirability.

Registration plates for UK-licensed vehicles must be of a particular size, have a valid plate registration number on them and the typeface must be of the correct font and size.  Officials are trained to observe the specifics of a valid plate, and are able to spot inconsistencies quickly.  Although it was the practice in the past for criminals to make up their own fake plate for a vehicle used in a crime, this is much harder to do now that the requirements have become much stricter.

The Charles Wright font is used, with the letter I and the number identical in appearance, as are the letter O and the number 0.  It is illegal to alter a legal plate, for example, by the addition of black insulating tape to change a C to a G.  However, sometimes the use of black “fixing screws” in specific locations in the plate can achieve a desired result, and this is not illegal.

The registration plate must match the number listed on the form V5 C, also known as the log book.  This log book must show the name of the person liable for paying the taxes on it or who would be contacted by police in the event of theft of the vehicle or motoring or parking infractions.  The log book will also show the prior owner of the vehicle, in the case of the sale of a used vehicle.

The tax registration disc must be displayed on the left-hand side of the vehicle windscreen, or on the passenger side of vehicles without windscreens.  The display of a valid number plate and tax registration disc ensures your vehicle is legal for the UK roadway system and can be traced and (hopefully) returned to you in the event it is stolen.

The number plate displayed on your car in the UK can be anything from a standard, current style plate issued by the DVLA, to a “dateless” plate of older origin inherited or purchased from someone. 

As the plate numbers have grown, so have the possibilities of creating a private number plate or personalised plate.  With these you can often create a combination of letters and numbers that “spell” a word or phrase, or have the initials or birth date of you or someone you love.  Since the current font uses a letter ‘I’ and the numeral ‘1’ that are interchangeable, as well as the letter ‘O’ identical to the number ‘0’, the possibilities are more exciting than ever.

The older, shorter number plates are highly sought after and command much higher prices, but many are still available.  Should you wish to have a single-number, single-letter plate for your car, and you have the money available, there are several websites which can show you which ones are available.  1×1 dateless plates as well as 1×1 reverse dateless plates (number first, then letter) are available for sale.

If using the current scheme with a two-digit year identifier to create your personalised plates, just remember that you cannot select a year that makes your car appear newer than it actually is.  Older, however, is acceptable to the DVLA. 

Once you’ve created or selected your number plate, simply pay the plate registration and your plates will be shipped to you.  Affix them to your car and drive off knowing that you have a unique plate that reflects your lifestyle.

The legal requirements for the display of car registration plates are typically defined by national governments. The initial introduction of car registration plates in the early twentieth century saw them displayed in a prominent place on the vehicle, but this was not a strictly pre-defined location.

Later, when the rising popularity of motorised transport meant a surge in car ownership that has continued to this day, the display of registration plates became more standardised. Plates had to be displayed typically around the bumper area. This was so that cars could be recognised more easily and quickly, aiding the policing authorities in tracking down road offenders and stolen vehicles.

In contrast to such vehicles as motorbikes and scooters, which only require a single registration plate, in most countries cars have to have two plates: at the front and the back of the vehicle. Mostly, the original registration number stays with the car throughout its roadworthy lifetime. Once a new car is bought, a new registration plate is assigned to it. This definite lifetime of a registration plate, as well as the general rise in the total numbers of cars over the decades, has meant an increasing complexity in the number and / or letters displayed.

In some countries, including the UK, a car owner can legally buy a personalised number plate to replace the originally assigned plate. Though this is a niche market, it is a lively one, with keen interest in the possible number / letter variations.

DVLA issues number plates as a means of identifying the vehicles on the road and also for taxing them for revenue purposes.  While many things can now be done online these days, registering your vehicle for the first time with the DVLA is not one of those activities.  That’s because the DVLA wants to ensure that the name and address of the vehicle keeper as filled out on the certificates is a genuine person.  You’ll be required to present both the completed certificates and your identification together when registering a vehicle for the first time.  Name and address checks are performed at that time, ensuring compliance with the law.

After successful registration, a number plate is ordered with the registration mark on it.  If you purchase a used vehicle, the seller is responsible for notifying the DVLA of the sale details, including the date and the identification information for the purchaser.  The seller remains liable for that vehicle until the DVLA is notified of the new owner.

In most cases the number plate remains with the automobile, however you can also apply to the DVLA at the time of purchase for a personalised or cherished plate number.  Do not remove the current plate until you receive your new plates – the DVLA works with the authorities to ensure licensing compliance, and driving an unregistered car is a good way to start dealing with both parties very quickly!

The DVLA has made quite a few improvements to the way they do business, and most people today find the necessary processes much quicker and easier than they were in the past.

One of the more commonly asked questions is, “how do I display my registration number correctly?” You can obtain a copy of the document that explains this by contacting Her Majesty’s Stationery Office which clearly outlines how registration marks have to be displayed in accordance to the 2001 Road Vehicles Regulations.  Here are the key points regarding displaying registration numbers in the UK.

- You must own the registration mark in order to display the related number plates on the vehicle

- Lettering on the rear number plate should be black on a yellow background while black lettering on a white background number plate is required at the front.

- All number plates, be they cherished number plates (personalised) or standard number plates must conform to UK standards and be easy to read.

- The lettering and the spacing of the number plate must conform to a set measurement

- Altering, misrepresenting, or rearranging the letters and/or numbers on your UK number plates is strictly prohibited

- The following chart displays the proper measurements for the spacing of letters and numbers on your registration plates (see http://www.numberplates.com):

Characters Height 79mm
Characters Width (except for the number 1 or the letter I) 50mm
Character Stroke 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between any groups 33mm
Bottom, side, and top margins 11mm (minimum)
Space between vertical lines 19mm

If you have any further questions regarding the proper measurements listed above, you should contact your local DVLA office either in person, on the phone, or at their website.

There are many reasons for buying a private number plate; some people see it as an expression of their individuality, while others believe it to be a great gift, a gift that keeps on giving. There’s even an investment incentive, as long as the plate is purchased soon after its release. No matter what the reason is for buying the plate, private registration plates are becoming ever more popular, and can make for a booming business. The DVLA says it expects to raise £80 million, from the 2010 plate series alone.

For many the problem with car ownership is that it is difficult to make a unique statement on the road, because even the most expensive cars have hundreds of copies on the road. That’s why number plates are a popular way of customising cars, without making any physical changes to the car. In fact a number plate can assure you of one thing; there’s only one car with that number plate, and it is the plate of your choice, something truly personal.

While some plates can only be afforded by the rich and famous – think ‘F 1’ and ‘L 0 V E’ – number plates for sale by dealers are not necessarily as expensive as you may think. Obviously the rarer the plate the heavier the price tag, but with 30 million to choose from, starting at £50 each, there’s something for every taste and budget. Some are even willing to pay up to £500,000 for a sought after plate.

As a hoped-for answer to the growing practice of “car cloning” which involves the theft of car registration plates, the DVLA has begun selling anti-theft car registration plates.  Currently, many people are experiencing the theft of their legitimate registration plates by people who wish to pass their car off as someone else’s in order to commit crimes, drive away from petrol stations without paying, or sell stolen vehicles to unsuspecting buyers.  Vehicle cloning has also been found to be a problem in mailing citations for speeding or running red lights.

The new plates are designed to break into pieces and become unusable when prised off a car.  Not only that, but removing them from the car is designed to take at least three minutes, much longer than the average thief wants to spend committing such a crime.  That alone should deter most incidents if the pilot scheme runs well and the plates come into wider circulation.

The cost of the plates will be slightly higher, by about £10, but authorities predict they will still be very popular, especially in congested areas or locations with high car crime.  One prime reason for number plate theft is to avoid the London Congestion Charge, and so these new plates should sell quite well in that area. 

With more than 33,000 cases per year of registration plate theft reported, the new anti-theft plates should help the police catch criminals as well as keep unsuspecting and innocent vehicle owners from receiving surprise fines in the mail.  As many Brits can attest, the time and aggravation they spend dealing with a false charge is worth the extra £10 for an anti-theft plate. 

The DLVA will announce when the plates are available for general purchase.

Car registrations for new imported vehicles can be applied for at your local area DVLA office.  It takes two to three working days for this as no “over-the-counter” service is offered.  When registering your new imported vehicle, you will need to present the following original (not photocopied) documents to your DVLA office:

- A completed V55/4 application for new vehicles (V55/5 if it is used)
- If applicable, you will need to pay the £55 registration fee and all applicable tax fees
- A current British insurance certificate
- All foreign registration documents as well as other documents that relate to the vehicle
- Collection date evidence such as the supplier’s invoice
- Type approval evidence
- If applicable, you will need to provide a British MOT test certificate
- All appropriate HM Customs and Revenue forms
- If applicable, you will need to provide a Form V267 or a “Declaration that a vehicle is new.”  This can be downloaded online or you can acquire one at your local DVLA office.
- Documents which prove your name and address to be correct

Unless you have all the necessary and proper documentation, you will not be able to register the vehicle, nor can it be taxed.  There is the possibility that the DVLA will want to physically see the vehicle in order to confirm its identity.  If you have any further questions or need more information regarding registering and taxing an imported vehicle you can speak with your local area DVLA office or visit their website.

Theft of number plates is a cause for concern as many stolen plates are used for serious criminal activities. Theft resistant number plates are designed to be difficult to remove, or at least more difficult than normal plates.

There are a number of reasons why number plates are stolen. Stolen plates are put on vehicles when drivers don’t want to be traced under certain circumstances, such as speeding, illegal parking, not paying congestion charges, parking tickets or speeding fines. Worse still, sometimes number plates are often used to disguise a stolen vehicle.

The DVLA works with plate manufacturers and others to develop standards for theft resistant plates, and aims to reduce the number of car owners who face motoring related fines for something they didn’t do, and also to prevent the serious problem of vehicle cloning. The DVLA standard states that theft resistant plates need to withstand at least three minutes of tampering, and even if they are removed, they are supposed to break into at least four different pieces, which makes them useless for attachment to a different vehicle.

It can be difficult to find a number plate printer that can manufacture a theft resistant plate, as these are not yet widely available, but the DVLA has a list of number plate printers that are able to print the regulated anti-theft plates. Plates that resist tampering are more expensive than standard plates; be prepared to pay up to double the price of a standard number plate.