Number plate machine

[Peter Cassidy]

i think the lack of info available is the fact the new law was introduced and all signmakers stopped making them or suffer a heavy fine. i have a mate that makes plates in his car garage and he has a small thermal printer that does the flags at the side and also the plate licenced manufacturer number and name at the bottom. which is all part of the regulations i think. i just don’t bother with them these days for these reasons.

i was surprised when the 3d ones started to surface, they just oozed “show plate”, yet again and was just a matter of time before the law stepped in.

[Karen White]

i have seen the sort of 3D plates and i have been asked if i do them, which i don’t. but i thought that regardless to how the plate looks, the only way you can supply a plate is by being an authorised plate manufacturer, which has an annual fee also. I understand why a car garage would benefit from the machine investment and licence costs, but not a sign company as the margins must be so small and we don’t have the demand, or am i being very naive?

[Mark Johnston]

there are lots of number plate machines out there but you do need to be a registered supplier of plates which has a yearly cost I’m sure. we used to make the old show plates with the dodgy fonts and spacing but stopped a number of years ago when laws were introduced.

[Jason Howard]

Thanks

I am registered with the dvla and by the sounds of it the basic print machine is best to get as it seems anything g else comes with a heavy fine, no doubt for one offs for car shows I can just add a vinyl print to it.

There is not much profit in it just thought it may be worth having, although having second thoughts now reading the replies

[Allister wells]

we are dvla registered ..1 off cost of £40

we use an oki laser printer ..setting need modifying very easy to do

we dont rent any software and theres no stipulation to do so

we have templates made in corel draw and print direct from that

we made our own jig from a pice of mdf and dowels and use our manual laminator to apply ..ok at 750mm wide its overkill but it was already here and does the job perfect

not the biggest of earners but easy £15 here n there by the end of the month it soon adds up the cost of the wet plate blanks and plastics is cheap as …in the last 3 months we will have done at least a hundred …amazing how many customers need a set when they see you can do them

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Allister wells.

[Jason Howard]

Hi Allister

that sounds interesting.

we use corel draw and signlab so this could work for us too.

would you be willing to share any info especially the Oki printer

I was under the impression I had to use there software/printer etc

we were going to buy and printer jig etc never thought of using our laminator which is 1600 but no doubt will do the same job.

so it may not be such a bad thing for us especially as my friend owns a garage but doesnt make plates himself.