Numberplate designs

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Fri 9 Jan 2004 13:41
Numberplate designs - patently
I've just seen a BMW Z3 on the A40 through Oxford with a numberplate that has a black background and white lettering - just like cars from the 60s and before. The Z3 was black, so the overall effect was stunning.

Does anyone know if this is legal? I have a vague memory that the "white on black" plates are a concession to owners of antiques to let them keep their car in its authentic appearance but are illegal for newer cars. I'm not certain though.
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 13:46
Numberplate designs - AR-CoolC
If I remember rightly cars after 1970 must have the white and yellow plates, I had black plate on a 1973 beetle I owned but because of the type of car it was it was never queried, even the time I was stopped for not having a front plate (I honestly had just popped out whilst putting some new bumpers on).
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 13:53
Numberplate designs - Welliesorter
Could it have been a personal plate that dated from before the design changed?

According to the DVLA site cars 'constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style "black and white" plate'. It doesn't say whether you can use these on a more recent car if you transfer the registration number but I would take the wording to mean the answer is no.

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Fri 9 Jan 2004 15:11
Numberplate designs - Mapmaker
> According to the DVLA site cars 'constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style "black and white" plate'. It doesn't say whether you can use these on a more recent car if you transfer the registration number but I would take the wording to mean the answer is no.


Yes it does say! 'constructed' not 'when the registration number was first thought of'.
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 15:17
Numberplate designs - Welliesorter
Yes it does say! 'constructed' not 'when the registration number
was first thought of'.


True, and that's how I interpreted it. On the other hand, you'd expect it to say more to exclude the use of old plates on newer cars.
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 13:54
Numberplate designs - Dwight Van Driver
If registered before 1.1.73 can have plate with white characters on black background and must appear so when illuminated at night.

R.V (Display of Reg Marks) Regs 2001 Sch 2.

DVD
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 13:59
Numberplate designs - Brill {P}
...maybe it wasn't a UK plate?
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 15:47
Numberplate designs - Sooty Tailpipes
In a similar vein.....
Can I have plates made in any EU country as long as the characters are correct?

You can get German ones from sites like www.grtpl8s.com/, which are pressed from metal, and you can have fake round stickers you stick after the first or second character....eg....

I fancy Isle of Man ones myself.
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Fri 9 Jan 2004 18:22
Numberplate designs - Pugugly {P}
If it was an UK reg. car he can expect his collar to be felt, especially if he foolish enough to drive past a ANPR.
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