Hi people,
I've always liked the look of pressed metal numberplates like they use in Germany etc but I was always told they are illegal over here. But I've just found these on ebay that say 100% UK Legal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pressed-Metal-GB-number-plates-100-ROAD-LEGAL-/120663306102?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c1817ef76

Do these look legal or is it wrong advertising?

I've googled and loads of sites say different things so does anyone know the truth

Here's The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (http://www.britannia-driving-school.co.uk/highwaycode/pdf/uksi_20010561_en.pdf).

The background doesn't look particularly reflective to me, but I'd suggest that it's difficult to tell exactly what you're buying from a photograph, and I wouldn't rely on a '100% legal' statement unless you're buying from a reputable online dealer.

Here's The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (http://www.britannia-driving-school.co.uk/highwaycode/pdf/uksi_20010561_en.pdf).

The background doesn't look particularly reflective to me, but I'd suggest that it's difficult to tell exactly what you're buying from a photograph, and I wouldn't rely on a '100% legal' statement unless you're buying from a reputable online dealer.

Seller has 100% feedback, 60 positive feedback in the last month, selller states the following,
(Quote)MOT COMPLIENT All Our Plates Come With The Required BSAU145d Number & Manufactures Details And Will Come With The Correct Spacing (ie: BS09 FGH). (End of quote)
MOT complient = legal number plates.

Showing my age now, but in my early years of car ownership the number plates were all pressed metal.
i.e. the numbers were embossed.
I can't imagine that a classic car owner would be required to change from the original.

My guess is that they are perfectly legal.

Anyone know different?

Older British plates (pressed?) with white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972, and is now legal to be carried only on vehicles built prior to 1 January 1973.

Older British plates (pressed?) with white, grey or silver characters on a black background. This style of plate was phased out in 1972, and is now legal to be carried only on vehicles built prior to 1 January 1973.

But this thread is relating to pressed reflective number plates, so they are legal to use on later cars.

But this thread is relating to pressed reflective number plates, so they are legal to use on later cars.

Well actually they are not.

UK plates are required to be manufactured to the correct British Standard. There is no embossed option. There is no letter style option. There is no option to allow for coloured bolts to change letters. There is a requirement for the manufacturer to include their post code on the plate.

Any deviation from these regulations will render the driver of the vehicle open to prosecution.

The only legal way for these sharks to sell plates into the UK that do not comply with the above is to call them show plates. That is plates that you fit at a car show.

The adverts will contain the following usually in minute print..."These plates are for show use only and are not road legal"

I can't see the point. You can't see your numberplate when you're driving, only if you sit in your house and stare at it while its sat on the drive!

Seems very odd....I was under the impression that anyone selling number plates to legal specs had to get the purchaser to prove they were the owner of the car? Is this not the case?

Not on Ebay, it seems anyone can just get them.

Although saying that the last time I bought a plate at a shop I wasn't asked for any ID, same when I had a cracked one replaced on the MOT.

Seems very odd....I was under the impression that anyone selling number plates to legal specs had to get the purchaser to prove they were the owner of the car? Is this not the case?

The whole situation is a minefield, and one that is best avoided. I really don't see why anyone wants to put themselves in a postion where they give the police and excuse to pull them over. Once they have you stopped they will certainly find something else that will get you fined or points.

Just to add to the confusion I have a personalised plate that I've owned for 35 years. I cannot move the old plates from car to car as I change it. The regulations regarding manufacture of LEGAL plates require the plate to conform to regulations at time of manufacture and not those in force when the number was issued. Even moving an old plate to a new vehicle classes as a re-issued number and requires plates to be to current standards.

Seller has 100% feedback, 60 positive feedback in the last month, selller states the following,
(Quote)MOT COMPLIENT All Our Plates Come With The Required BSAU145d Number & Manufactures Details And Will Come With The Correct Spacing (ie: BS09 FGH). (End of quote)
MOT complient = legal number plates.

Having a quick browse on Ebay I've found at least three other sellers with 100% feedback selling number plates as 'UK Road legal' which are easily identifiable from the photographs as definitely not legal.

You also find many Ebay sellers with designer bags, jewellery, watches that state they are 100% genuine. Do you always believe them?

Having a quick browse on Ebay I've found at least three other sellers with 100% feedback selling number plates as 'UK Road legal' which are easily identifiable from the photographs as definitely not legal.

You also find many Ebay sellers with designer bags, jewellery, watches that state they are 100% genuine. Do you always believe them?

The point about ebay is folks place feedback to say the stuff arrived. 3 months later when you get that tug from the boys in blue and its all too late.

Can't understand what all this fuss is about, who cares about the style of the number plate, just so long as it legally conforms. I certainly can't see it impressing anyone if its pressed steel, ha, ha!!

Seems very odd....I was under the impression that anyone selling number plates to legal specs had to get the purchaser to prove they were the owner of the car? Is this not the case?

Even if you are right (and I personally haven't a clue!), that law still could not be enforced against anyone selling these plates abroad. Perhaps the advert seen by the OP is based in some other country.

Seems very odd....I was under the impression that anyone selling number plates to legal specs had to get the purchaser to prove they were the owner of the car? Is this not the case?


I recently had to get new plates for my car as it would have failed its MOT as part of the number was illegible.

I had to produce the logbook to get a new set.

I'm sure one of the police officers who frequent the forum will be along soon to help but failing that, why not nip into your local station next week and take a print out of the page and ask them.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Hi people,
I've always liked the look of pressed metal numberplates like they use in Germany etc but I was always told they are illegal over here. But I've just found these on ebay that say 100% UK Legal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pressed-Metal-GB-number-plates-100-ROAD-LEGAL-/120663306102?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c1817ef76

Do these look legal or is it wrong advertising?

I've googled and loads of sites say different things so does anyone know the truth

If the letters and numbers are correctly spaced then they are legal. If you read his feedback a customer also states that his car went thru mot fine.

If the letters and numbers are correctly spaced then they are legal. If you read his feedback a customer also states that his car went thru mot fine.

There are far more regulations to be met than just the letters and number being correctly spaced.

Just looked at the link, you would have to find the most miserable police man on the planet to give you a ticket for them if there not legal, and even if he does its not points its a £60 fixed fine so run the risk as I would say its about a 4% risk

My old Impreza had a small front plate on it the size of a letter box and I never got any hassle at all, can depend on the car, if its a chaved up corsa with weed smoking youth's in it then you will probably get hassle (if there illegal), if its a newer clean car driven by a respectable person chances of a pull are a hell of a lot lower, its not all black and white policing.

There are far more regulations to be met than just the letters and number being correctly spaced.

Looking at the link in the original post, extract as follows::

GB REFLECTIVE YELLOW & WHITE EMBOSSED ALLUMINIUM

1 Pair NUMBER PLATES

Size 520mm x 110mm

MOT COMPLIENT All Our Plates Come With The Required BSAU145d Number & Manufactures Details And Will Come With The Correct Spacing (ie: BS09 FGH) END.

the only thing that is missing is, do the plates have the correct style of lettering the DVLA requires, looking at the photo of the the plates they look as if they comply with this requirement. The sellers feedback includes a buyer that says his car has just gone through the mot without any problems with plates bought from this seller.
I see you are a mod for SF, are you also a qualified MOT tester aswell, as you seem to dispute this sellers advert when he clearly states the plates conform to B.S. standards.

If your number plates are knackered just go to Halfords and buy a new set, why all the drama about letters being wrongly spaced and whether they are plastic or metal, it doesn't matter? There are legal requirements that should be adhered to for everyones safety, just get over it and move on. If this is paramount in your life you need to get out more!

I have a reduced size plate on the front of my car, from what I remember (this was 10 years ago) you need at least 12mm from the edge of any letter to the edge of the plate (my plate was reduced down from a standard one) I have never been stopped and never even been hinted at an MOT failure. What was also interesting is that the regulations at the time didn't allow you to 'bond' your reg plate on to the car, you had to use screws to fix it it which meant it could be easily removed!!!!!

I have a reduced size plate on the front of my car, from what I remember (this was 10 years ago) you need at least 12mm from the edge of any letter to the edge of the plate (my plate was reduced down from a standard one) I have never been stopped and never even been hinted at an MOT failure. What was also interesting is that the regulations at the time didn't allow you to 'bond' your reg plate on to the car, you had to use screws to fix it it which meant it could be easily removed!!!!!
Christ, are you being serious? ... unbelievable .... you need to get out more!!

Looking at the link in the original post, extract as follows::

GB REFLECTIVE YELLOW & WHITE EMBOSSED ALLUMINIUM

1 Pair NUMBER PLATES

Size 520mm x 110mm

MOT COMPLIENT All Our Plates Come With The Required BSAU145d Number & Manufactures Details And Will Come With The Correct Spacing (ie: BS09 FGH) END.

the only thing that is missing is, do the plates have the correct style of lettering the DVLA requires, looking at the photo of the the plates they look as if they comply with this requirement. The sellers feedback includes a buyer that says his car has just gone through the mot without any problems with plates bought from this seller.
I see you are a mod for SF, are you also a qualified MOT tester aswell, as you seem to dispute this sellers advert when he clearly states the plates conform to B.S. standards.

I'm not disputing the advert. The OP is asking if the advert is reliable. I'm stating it's only as reliable as anything else on ebay that states it's 100% legal/genuine and that if the OP wants to be beyond any doubt when he purchases his number plates he should get them from somewhere he can actually see them and check them against the regulations himself.

Can I use cardboard number plates with the digits written on in felt tip. Just that I'm thinking of changing mine from the normal legal plastic ones as the cardboard ones look really cool and can be easily interchanged from car to car without unscrewing ...?

Can I use cardboard number plates with the digits written on in felt tip. Just that I'm thinking of changing mine from the normal legal plastic ones as the cardboard ones look really cool and can be easily interchanged from car to car without unscrewing ...?

Yes, but you need to make sure they are water-resistant to BSB5950, just paint them with waterproof PVA (available from say B&Q or Wickes) and you will be fine, alternatively you can just write your reg down on a piece of paper and stick it on your dashboard.

Christ, are you being serious? ... unbelievable .... you need to get out more!!

I do, and my cut down plate looks the business! (and never been stopped)

I do, and my cut down plate looks the business! (and never been stopped)
I think this is a cry for help ...?

I think this is a cry for help ...?

No I think it looks great!, I was only 35 when I cut it down and it's lasted me all these years, not like this modern 'pressed' rubbish.

No I think it looks great!, I was only 35 when I cut it down and it's lasted me all these years, not like this modern 'pressed' rubbish.

Love it illuminati, classic stuff!!! .... looks like you and I have hijacked this thread, might be an idea now to pass it over to the Department of Mental Health!

Just been stopped today with one of these press on embossed number plates, they didn't press charges as they couldn't make it stick.

Hi people,
I've always liked the look of pressed metal numberplates like they use in Germany etc but I was always told they are illegal over here. But I've just found these on ebay that say 100% UK Legal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pressed-Metal-GB-number-plates-100-ROAD-LEGAL-/120663306102?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c1817ef76

Do these look legal or is it wrong advertising?

I've googled and loads of sites say different things so does anyone know the truth
Yes they look and sound legal to me. It may be cheaper to get some from Dubmeister, though. http://www.dubmeister.co.uk/webshop/uk-legal-pressed-metal-plates/uk-legal-plates/

They need to be plain or with a blue field containing a 'GB'. Some of the VW guys run with 'D' for Deutschland on their plates blue field which isn't street legal here.


Well actually they are not.

UK plates are required to be manufactured to the correct British Standard. There is no embossed option. There is no letter style option. There is no option to allow for coloured bolts to change letters. There is a requirement for the manufacturer to include their post code on the plate.

Any deviation from these regulations will render the driver of the vehicle open to prosecution.

The only legal way for these sharks to sell plates into the UK that do not comply with the above is to call them show plates. That is plates that you fit at a car show.

The adverts will contain the following usually in minute print..."These plates are for show use only and are not road legal"
My bold.

I don't think you should rush to call this trader a 'shark' since his plates are probably as legal as he claims. The eBay ad states "All Our Plates Come With The Required BSAU145d Number & Manufactures Details And Will Come With The Correct Spacing (ie: BS09 FGH)" I can't make out the suppliers name and postcode but I assume it is the small white writing on the lower (black) edge of the plate which is barely visible in the enlarged version of the photo.

Pressed metal reflective plates are 100% legal in the UK provided they comply with the same set of regulations that the more common and cheaper laminated plates are required to.

Found this:

[Number plates were traditionally made by the motor vehicle's original supplier, and replacement plates could be made by anybody with the correct equipment. (Some people even had street address numbers made up this way for affixing to their houses.) Under the new law, plates can now only be supplied by a registered supplier. The supplier needs to confirm the owner's identity and their ownership of the vehicle.[47] The name and postcode of the supplier must be shown at the bottom of the plate.[1] Number plates in the UK are in general flat and made of plastic, embossed aluminium plates are available from specific suppliers.]

on thisSITE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_the_United_Kingdom# Age_identifiers)

Just been stopped today with one of these press on embossed number plates, they didn't press charges as they couldn't make it stick.

It just boils down to how much of your life you want to waste being stopped. This time they turned a blind eye. Next time they might not, but it is an inescapable fact that whilst you are being given the third degree it increases the chances that they will find something else to charge you with. Perhaps that day when you are coming home from the pub after risking that last half pint will be just such a day.

It just boils down to how much of your life you want to waste being stopped. This time they turned a blind eye. Next time they might not
Err.. I've said it before and I'll say it again - pressed plates are legal in the UK!