Question about the legal requirements of ‘L’ plates.

[Matty Goodwin]

Hi Liam

When the wife was learning I did the ‘L’ plates.

I made them to fit the boot area, not to any ‘laws’.

If the police pull the car over, well, what can I say!

Can’t honestly see a problem, but I’m no lawyer!!

Matt

[Liam Pattison]

quote Matty Goodwin:

Hi Liam

When the wife was learning I did the ‘L’ plates.

I made them to fit the boot area, not to any ‘laws’.

If the police pull the car over, well, what can I say!

Can’t honestly see a problem, but I’m no lawyer!!

Matt

Thanks Matt,

as this is for an instructors car, they have to be done strictly to the rules, i trained to be an instructor (i hated it so i quit) and i know the examiners can be well fussy. Instructors must have stick on plates, not magnetic.

you can get points if they are the wrong size believe it or not, just wondered if anyone know the rules as to whether i could cut through them if they overlapped the boot.

I’ll ask the customer as he’s the instructor, then if he gets into trouble it’s his own fault!

Liam

[Lynn Normington]

Liam most of the instructors cars we do use magnetic’s they don’t think it’s not legal, but they are to the specified size.

Lynn

[Liam Pattison]

quote Lynn Normington:

Liam most of the instructors cars we do use magnetic’s they don’t think it’s not legal, but they are to the specified size.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn,
well this instructor said he got asked to stick them down with sellotape because the examiner did not like them being magnetic

But from memory i swear i was told by my instructor you’re not supposed to display them unless there is a learner in the car or you was on your way to teach your next learner and you could not display them on a motorway, something like that, hence why they had to be removable. Bit confused now. I can’t remember, this is why i gave up trying to be an instructor, because i couldn’t be bothered to remember all this stuff!

I’m going to ask someone official tomorrow.

thanks again

Liam

[Peter Normington]

Liam I am sure you are correct about not showing L plates when not instructing,
But like mobile phones the law is just ignored by many!
A lot of our customers use top boxes, with the "L" on them. could you not sell your customer one?

Peter

[Liam Pattison]

quote Peter Normington:

Liam I am sure you are correct about not showing L plates when not instructing,
But like mobile phones the law is just ignored by many!
A lot of our customers use top boxes, with the “L” on them. could you not sell your customer one?

Peter

Thanks Peter,
i will ask someone about this when i get a minute and post what i find out.

I have got him lined up for a top box in the future but he can’t afford it right now, so thanks for the tip. Just hope he doesn’t go looking on fleebay in the meantimee.

thanks again

Liam

[Peter Mindham]

Hi Liam,
Our local test centre doesnt have problems with mags so I dont think it is a legal issue. The size however, is very much a legal issue. From my experience as a motorcycle instructor I know the examiners want every part of the vehicle to be legal otherwise they will not go out on test. I might suggest that the mag problem is just one examiner being a little too officious. I might be wrong though 🙄

Peter

[John Harding]

Liam I had one to do the other day and made the guy a clear pocket to slide the L plate in and out

John 😀

[Liam Pattison]

quote Peter Mindham:

Hi Liam,
Our local test centre doesnt have problems with mags so I dont think it is a legal issue. The size however, is very much a legal issue. From my experience as a motorcycle instructor I know the examiners want every part of the vehicle to be legal otherwise they will not go out on test. I might suggest that the mag problem is just one examiner being a little too officious. I might be wrong though 🙄

Peter

I think you are right about it being down to the examiner as i know there is one particularly notorious one at this test center.

John, that’s a good idea thanks, but too technical for me!

From what i found out, they should be removable and should only be used if you’re taking someone on a lesson, or on your way to a lesson (or a test).

The permanent stick on ones are for learners who own their car and are the only user or they are for mopeds and the like which have to display L plates all the time.

So what i ended up doing was making the plates out of vinyl, i stuck them on his car and sold him some body coloured magnetics so he could cover them up when he needed to.

Thank you all for your help on this one.

Liam