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  • Number plate blanks

    Posted by Daniel Warren on 13 March 2012 at 11:21

    I am after some number plate blanks. Not a huge bulk amount though to start with, so if anyone could recommend a supplier that would be great.

    I am not 100% sure what I am after if I am honest :lol1:

    I have seen your traditional plates which appear to be clear acrylic with a reflective piece applied applied from behind with the text sandwiched in between. I have also seen the show plates which appear to be a basic grey plate with what appears to be laminated reflective material applied on the front with the text sandwiched between the reflective and lamination.

    I don’t have the roller machine which is presumably needed to sandwich these together, and I don’t intend to make actual number plates so don’t need to have BS approved blanks.

    What I am looking in to is a few ‘show plates’. Not the loop hole show plates which are online number plates with no need for a V5 and non BS approved, but plates for garages to have the model name, manufacturer, or car clubs to b able to wear blanks when at events and so forth. (pic attached to show what I mean)

    Perhaps reflective, but not really compulsary which I could lay vinyl over on the top, or sandwhich logo’s and what not between vinyl and the acrylic blank. Actually, thinking about it, what I really could be looking at is just white and yellow oblong’s in number plate size, which I would just lay on top of. Or even clear acrylic blanks which I could lay vinyl on from behind.

    I found this company: http://www.uniplate.co.uk/components.htm

    You have the option of wet reflective, and then at the bottom Acrylic Hi Impact (which neithr mean anything to me) Would be helpful if they had pictures :lol1:

    If anyone has any experience with buying this sort of thing in for random sign work and knows of the options/supplier preference I am all ears.


    Attachments:

    Martin Pearson replied 13 years, 9 months ago 10 Members · 18 Replies
  • 18 Replies
  • alex allan

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 12:20

    firstly what method of of making are u looking for
    1 print it then apply
    2 cut it then apply

    secondly wet plates mean the back of the acrylic or the front of the reflective plate is wet ie sticky as in self adhesive

    next there 2 part plates which is the grey backed plastic plate with a refelctive that is stuck to them already for u to add ur reg how ever these are wet faced as in sticky so u need to print on to a film and roll the film on to it usally printed in reverse so the letters are on the reflected ie in the middle so they dont scratch

    then theres 3 part plates an wet faced acrylic sheet and a wet faced reflective sheet u then print the film with reg and sandwhich in between the 2
    this is a nicer looking plate than the 2 part

    u also get the old fashiopned way a dry reflecitive that is thermal printed or the individual letter possitined then a wet acrylic on top and roll

    what we do for garage names ones is get a wet acrylic and cut the garage name in say chrome roll this to the acrylic and then cover the entire back of the acrylic withsay black this will give u a nice gloss acrylic front with a gloss chrome name and black backing

    u will definatly need a roller although a a laminater may work to as a roller is just a smaller version
    i do have a spare one if u want to pm an offer for it
    u could do with a printer either minolta or oki laser or a tec thermal

    we print picture plates on the solvent printer then roll to acrylic
    there are litterally lots of ways and ideas to do plates some not so correct others the corect way theres lots of tuturials ect too

  • Daniel Warren

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 13:10

    It would be cut vinyl being applied.

    "u also get the old fashiopned way a dry reflecitive that is thermal printed or the individual letter possitined then a wet acrylic on top and roll "

    This actually sounds more suited.

    I will have a nosey online to see exacty how they are collated this way.

    For cut vinyl lettering I think the traditional route seems to be the way forwards.

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 14:54

    Have you actually phoned any suppliers Daniel? I didn’t think you could even buy the component parts from most suppliers now unless you were registered to manufacture number plates.

  • Chris Wool

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 15:41

    if applying cut graphics then the dealer will supply you with blank put together plates and you stick whatever on top.
    putting cut graphics in the plate leaves a nasty air edge.

  • Ian Johnston

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 18:37
  • Neil Davey

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 19:14

    Be careful, you have to register with DVLA or you could face fines of up to £5000 for making plates illegally, even show plates are not allowed.

  • David Hammond

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 19:38

    Yes I looked into making plates.

    It is an offence to supply plates without being registered with DVLA, and to supply plates that do not meet standards, plus all the paper work you need to keep.

    Cheap enough to register but sounds more trouble than its worth.

  • Chris Windebank

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 20:01

    Can anyone clarify? Show plates were OK to make as long as they were invoiced as show plates. Do quite a few for dealerships with names on etc…

    Do I have to register now then?

  • Neil Davey

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 20:06
    quote Chris Windebank:

    Can anyone clarify? Show plates were OK to make as long as they were invoiced as show plates. Do quite a few for dealerships with names on etc…

    Do I have to register now then?

    Show plates break the law too Chris according to the latest document I read.

  • Chris Windebank

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 20:10

    whoops, since when, done some in November, has the law changed since then?
    Thanks for coming back so quickly

  • Neil Davey

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 20:16

    I’m pretty sure that things like ‘Not For Road Use’ that you make for a haulier etc are OK but any plate displaying a registration number is illegal if it doesn’t comply with the law on font type and placement.

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 20:32

    Chris, it still seems to be a grey erea and sure people are still exploiting loopholes but from what I was led to believe anything containing a combination of letters and numbers that could possibly be a number plate had to be comply with the regulations, selling as a show plate or marking as such on the back wasn’t an option.
    I am still registered but don’t actually do any plates at all now as I just didn’t want to take any chances.

  • Craig Ross

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 21:15

    You need to be registered with DVLA. Otherwise you can face large fines.

    You can produce show plates or name plaques aslong as they are not for road use. i.e. you can’t print a registration plate if it is intended to be used on the road. BIG "No No".

    You might be better off getting someone else to produce the plates for you who is registered as most suppliers won’t supply you with the components. Plus if they do they could also be fine as you have to give your Supplier DVLA ID.

    Been there done that, complicated stuff!

  • Daniel Warren

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 21:59

    All sounds a bit heavy.

    Perhaps I am best off just getting some white/yellow acrylic rectangles made up then and apply cut vinyl on top of that.

    At no point was I looking at attaching a registration number to the blanks.

  • Martin Oxenham

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 22:16

    We are registered with the DVLA and make a lot of plates and I know the exact law. And have had a few run inns with the DVLA over technicalities.
    You are perfectly entitled to make any form of plate with names, pictures
    garage names or car models as long as it is not a road registration number,
    or it can not be or was not a registration number EG "TOM 1" WILL BE a registration number.
    "PRIVATE PARKING" or "J.P. GARAGE" are not registration numbers so you do not need to be registered and it is not illegal.
    Any way they are closing every DVLA office except Swansea this year.

  • Daniel Warren

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 22:19
    quote Martin Oxenham:

    We are registered with the DVLA and make a lot of plates and I know the exact law. And have had a few run inns with the DVLA over technicalities.
    You are perfectly entitled to make any form of plate with names, pictures
    garage names or car models as long as it is not a road registration number,
    or it can not be or was not a registration number EG “TOM 1” WILL BE a registration number.
    “PRIVATE PARKING” or “J.P. GARAGE” are not registration numbers so you do not need to be registered and it is not illegal.
    Any way they are closing every DVLA office except Swansea this year.

    Martin, useful information – Thanks. Are you aware of any legalities for buying blanks to make picture/name plates without being registered to create ‘registration’ plates?

  • Martin Oxenham

    Member
    13 March 2012 at 23:31

    Some trade suppliers won’t deal with you if your not registered but I know that Grafityp supply blanks just tell them what you want them for.

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    14 March 2012 at 01:49

    So pretty much as I said then Martin :lol1:

    Just out of interest who do you make all these plates for?? I stopped as all I seemed to get were boy racers wanting me to do plates which I knew would get me into trouble. Looked at supplying Garages & MOT stations but motor factors were selling them so cheaply it wasn’t really worth me doing them.

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