number plate fonts

[Richard Urquhart]

to supply number plates you need to be a DVLA number plate supplier and you must only supply number plate using the correct font and spacing, letter height etc
the correct font is Charles wright
Rich

[Kieran Nolan]

yes Richard, i know that, i have said i know its not regulation, but you know these car guys want something a little different, and over here things are a little different, local motor factors still making plates to what ever spec a customer wants.. cheers …

[JonnyAnnett]

Kieran,

I’ve been looking into the number plate side of things lately. From what I understand is that to supply ‘Number Plates’ you need to be registered with the DVLA and can only produce your plates in the correct font, size etc. as Richard has mentioned.

But I looked a bit deeper, if you sell the plates as ‘Show Plates’ you can use any size, fonts etc that you want. But you must state that they are ‘Show Plates’ and not for road use. If the client decides to use them on the road then its their decision as you have covered you back saying that they are for show and not road use.

Just state in the paper work / invoice that they are not for road use and then your back is covered.

Correct me if I’m wrong though.

Jonny

[Kevin Flowers]

Jonny
don’t expect that argument to stand up if you supply a set of plates which end up being used in a Robbery or maybe a stolen car they will come after you with both guns blazing. Check out earlier posts on this subject theres plenty of them.

Kev

[Robert Lambie]

the government has caught onto all this showplate, custom plates stuff and are clamping down hard. like kev says, excuses will not stand-up in a court these days. far too many warnings been given. "you will be made an example of"
personally, i think, if you are willing to risk your business for £10 or £20 for selling dodgy/tacky plates. You only have yourself to blame if caught.
showplates should be just that, showplates… with a red angled band with the wording "showplate" going through it, where all can see/read.

[Craig Smith]

I actually supply plates, both "legal" and "show plates".

Legals need to be of certain height (79mm for cars), spaced correctly & have the company name & postcode on the plate. This allows DVLA / Police to trace the manufacturer of the plate. They also, need to have the BS no in the right hand corner, and made of the BS components. The DVLA "will" check you purchase the correct materials.
We are always asked to make showplates, and if you change, let’s say, the GB badge to a Playboy, then this is illegal……

This is sold as a showplate, and a disclaimer is signed by the customer to say they have purchased a reflective "sign" from us. In no way is it to be used upon a vehicle being used on the highway…….but all in legal jibberish. This does protect me.

When i spoke with the DVLA recently, then what Robert was on about may be coming into force, i.e. " NOT FOR ROAD USE" or similar effect which has to be clearly eligible…..but the rule was coming into force in ’08 possibly….

craig

mod-edit

[Kevin Flowers]

Hi
just took this of the DVLA website, you get away with show plates because DVLA lets you no disclaimers legally worded or otherwise will protect you if they decide otherwise.

Although the term ‘show plate’ was not recognised in law, there was clearly some
confusion as to the position. Since the introduction of RNPS, nearly a third of all
enquiries received by DVLA about the Scheme have related to the question of ‘show
plates’. Any doubts about the position have been removed by the Road Safety Act.
As the law stands, a registration plate cannot be marked as a “show plate” or “ not for
road use” simply as a means of circumventing the legal requirements.
The Road Safety Act makes it an offence to supply any plate bearing a vehicle
registration mark and designed to be fitted to a vehicle or trailer that does not comply
fully with the display requirements and British Standard as contained in the Road
Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. The offence is not yet in
force but is likely to commence early 2008. DVLA will notify all registered suppliers
prior to the date of commencement. This aids the process of vehicle identification by
ensuring that registration numbers are clear and easy to read. Whether the supplier
intends to sell the plate for road use or for some other purpose is not relevant. It is the
supplier’s responsibility to ensure that the products they sell meet legal requirements.
However, the Agency recognises that there is a demand for the provision of ‘show
plates’ for legitimate reasons and therefore proposes the following exemption. The
Road Safety Act contains powers to make regulations prescribing exemptions to the
offence under Section 45. These Regulations could allow the sale of plates clearly
marked as “show plates”. This will facilitate a legitimate trade in “show plates” and
clarify the distinction between number plates and “show plates” in the minds of the
industry, enforcement authorities and the public. The alternative to making this or
other exemptions is to simply ban the sale of plates that do not conform to the display
regulations and British Standard in all circumstances.
The exemption would allow the sale of plates that do not meet the display regulations
and British Standard provided that the disclaimer is clearly printed on the face of the
plate. The lettering should be an integral part of the plate, self adhesive lettering will
not be acceptable. The precise wording, its location on the plate and the size and
colour of the characters will be contained in legislation. We are proposing to use the
wording “NOT FOR ROAD USE”. This wording could be located along the top and
bottom of the plate in black type (see Annex C example 1). Or alternatively the
wording could be contained in the background of the plate (see Annex C example 2).
In saying this, DVLA acknowledges that plates that do not show a vehicle registration
mark/number are not registration/number plates and so are not regulated. An example
of this might be a plate displayed by a lorry driver in the cab window with the driver’s
name on it.
Your comments and suggestions are sought on this issue.

Kev

[Craig Smith]

quote Kevin Flowers:

Hi
just took this of the DVLA website, you get away with show plates because DVLA lets you no disclaimers legally worded or otherwise will protect you if they decide otherwise.

Although the term ‘show plate’ was not recognised in law, there was clearly some
confusion as to the position. Since the introduction of RNPS, nearly a third of all
enquiries received by DVLA about the Scheme have related to the question of ‘show
plates’. Any doubts about the position have been removed by the Road Safety Act.
As the law stands, a registration plate cannot be marked as a “show plate” or “ not for
road use” simply as a means of circumventing the legal requirements.
The Road Safety Act makes it an offence to supply any plate bearing a vehicle
registration mark and designed to be fitted to a vehicle or trailer that does not comply
fully with the display requirements and British Standard as contained in the Road
Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. The offence is not yet in
force but is likely to commence early 2008. DVLA will notify all registered suppliers
prior to the date of commencement. This aids the process of vehicle identification by
ensuring that registration numbers are clear and easy to read. Whether the supplier
intends to sell the plate for road use or for some other purpose is not relevant. It is the
supplier’s responsibility to ensure that the products they sell meet legal requirements.
However, the Agency recognises that there is a demand for the provision of ‘show
plates’ for legitimate reasons and therefore proposes the following exemption. The
Road Safety Act contains powers to make regulations prescribing exemptions to the
offence under Section 45. These Regulations could allow the sale of plates clearly
marked as “show plates”. This will facilitate a legitimate trade in “show plates” and
clarify the distinction between number plates and “show plates” in the minds of the
industry, enforcement authorities and the public. The alternative to making this or
other exemptions is to simply ban the sale of plates that do not conform to the display
regulations and British Standard in all circumstances.
The exemption would allow the sale of plates that do not meet the display regulations
and British Standard provided that the disclaimer is clearly printed on the face of the
plate. The lettering should be an integral part of the plate, self adhesive lettering will
not be acceptable. The precise wording, its location on the plate and the size and
colour of the characters will be contained in legislation. We are proposing to use the
wording “NOT FOR ROAD USE”. This wording could be located along the top and
bottom of the plate in black type (see Annex C example 1). Or alternatively the
wording could be contained in the background of the plate (see Annex C example 2).
In saying this, DVLA acknowledges that plates that do not show a vehicle registration
mark/number are not registration/number plates and so are not regulated. An example
of this might be a plate displayed by a lorry driver in the cab window with the driver’s
name on it.
Your comments and suggestions are sought on this issue.

Kev

What i said ? ? ?

[JonnyAnnett]

quote marketdrayton:

I actually supply plates, both “legal” and “show plates”.

Legals need to be of certain height (79mm for cars), spaced correctly & have the company name & postcode on the plate. This allows DVLA / Police to trace the manufacturer of the plate. They also, need to have the BS no in the right hand corner, and made of the BS components. The DVLA “will” check you purchase the correct materials.
We are always asked to make showplates, and if you change, let’s say, the GB badge to a Playboy, then this is illegal……

This is sold as a showplate, and a disclaimer is signed by the customer to say they have purchased a reflective “sign” from us. In no way is it to be used upon a vehicle being used on the highway…….but all in legal jibberish. This does protect me.

When i spoke with the DVLA recently, then what Robert was on about may be coming into force, i.e. ” NOT FOR ROAD USE” or similar effect which has to be clearly eligible…..but the rule was coming into force in ’08 possibly….

craig

Hi Craig,

Thanks for that information. I’ve emailed the DVLA for some further information.
Cheers
Jonny

mod-edit

[Kieran Nolan]

hi again folks, thanks for your efforts, seems to be a can of worms i have opened, but didnt get an answer to my question, i pointed out that iam in IRELAND and different laws apply both north and south, it was only a font question i asked, but thanks again, i enjoyed your comments, keep up goood work.. kieran

[Kenny Ramsey]

You don’t have to be registered with the DVLA in Northern Ireland yet. I assume the South is the same. It is being brought in shortly though but for now, there isn’t a big deal made about plates over here.

The problem is that so many people are doing them now there is no market for them.

[Kenny Ramsey]

Regarding the font Kieran, a few popular ones round here are Handel Gothic, Angela Bold and Squashed Metro which is like a heavy Eurotile/Micrgramme type font.

[Kieran Nolan]

cheers kenny, seems its the squashed metro i have been asked for… must look it up ,, cheers again.

[Darryl Seager]

big clamp downs on number plates by Leicestershires finest..

maybe i ought to name and shame ??

a well known supplier sells me the wet faced acryilics and the reflectives..

on 3 now i have sent the acrylics back because they are not marked BS145d!!! When i mentioned this, coupled with the fact that i have to be DVLA register, the young lady said print it on yourself…
Makes a mockery of it all really 😮 😮

[Andrew Bennett]

quote Kenny Ramsey:

You don’t have to be registered with the DVLA in Northern Ireland yet. I assume the South is the same.

I know what you meant but on re reading it I thought that I had to point out that I doubt if Eire will ever be doing anything the UK DVLA tell them to do

[Kieran Nolan]

Well Eire will never come in line with uk, there way in front because they are using euro regulation, and have been for years..