Number plates size

[MickyGixer]

It has been subject to many threads and with no prejudice to anyone, here are the legal requirements of a bike number plate. :reading

Therefore as already mentioned in other threads if you decide to adjust your plate outside of the guidelines then you do so at your own risk...:grin3


Letter height - 64mm
Letter Width - 44mm
Letter thickness 10mm
Spacing - 10mm
Group Space - 30mm
Top Margin - 25mm
Side Margin - 25mm
Font should comply with BS AU 145d (these templates are held by dealerships and most sign makers)

Group Spacing refers to the blocks of letters and numbers within the first and second part of your registration. Top and side Margin is the space between the outside of the plate and the start of the letters/numbers.

I personally think sticking people on for registration plates is a waste of resource:shooter , however it is there for a reason. And that is identification. ANPR cameras are situated all over London and the country, not only do they detect motorists from everything from speeding fines and no insurance, lost or stolen or en route from crime scenes etc but for terrorism and intelligence purposes.:reading

If your car/bike gets stolen and your plate is 'too' small as opposed to shaving a few mm off the standard limits to make it less of a windsail then ANPR and officers on patrol cannot read it. This then in theory just lessens the chance of you getting your vehicle detected more quickly.:grin2

I know there may be some replies along the lines of 'well I had my bike nicked with a standard plate and they never found that'.:rolleyes:

But that is not the point of the thread, the point is that this is a principle in 'theory' and the regs were created for many reasons. :)
I hope this will be helpful to use as a comparison for any adjustments that you feel you need to make.

[SDM]

Thank You................:grin2

[The Guvnor]

Make this a sticky latey. Usefull info.......well done mickey g !!!:grin2

[Lateshift]

why we disregard it anyway dont we? :D

i wouldnt put something that resembles a sail on the back of my bike :D






















but if we want a sticky on it then so be it :)

[kasandrich]

I've got a sail on the back of mine. :) :) :)

Usefull info Mickey, but surely the group spacing does not apply to bikes, as the number must not be on a single line, therefore group spacing is not applicable??

I would just add that further to the regulations on dimensions a number plate should be supplied from a proper authorised number plate supplier and have the proper BSI or whatever it is stamp on it.

[MickyGixer]

but surely the group spacing does not apply to bikes, as the number must not be on a single line, therefore group spacing is not applicable??

I would just add that further to the regulations on dimensions a number plate should be supplied from a proper authorised number plate supplier and have the proper BSI or whatever it is stamp on it.


Yes group spacing does apply to motorcycles including the golden oldies that have front index plates in the old imperial style. Unless of course KAS you wish to argue with the Road traffic regs?:reading Even on a split level number plate the letters are grouped together hence the standard still applies.

And NO a BSI stamp does not need to be stamped onto a plate, because if you have ever seen a number plate put together in a dealership you will appreciate that the BSI cant give it a quality mark because the creation of the plate is either done by computer or manually. The letters/numbers have to comply with the correct font size as outlined by the BSI.:grin2 I certainly have never come across the expression 'authorised number plate supplier', unless of course you are refering to the registration of number plate 'machines' within dealerships/garages etc.(as opposed to the manual way of creating a plate many garages still use with the good old metal ruler and a steady hand). That is a completely different issue. :skip

The plate itself can be made of various components and all of them slighlty vary in their colouration and reflective ability to be seen. There is no one sole supplier of plain index plates. And in any case that means all the sign writers at the bike fairs and advertising would be in breach of a whole host of regs and would endlessly get reported. Ive never heard of a case yet soley based on the creators & creation of index plates.:reading

I cannot find any ruling/law that states anyone has been prosecuted under BSI regs for creating a plate which does not conform. Please find the information for me as I would be most interested to read it.:reading

And you are also probably aware that you can buy number plate making kits yourself. Someone has fed you a right load of old cobblers.:rolleyes:

I can assure you that I wouldn't post the info if it was not correct at time of press. And should it become out of date Im sure that someone would point that out and it would be changed.:jumping2


OOOOOOOHHHHHHHH YYYYYYYYYESSSSSSSS.:grin3

[Becky B]

Any way where can i get a plate made up? Any ideas people

[MickyGixer]

Becky I popped a reply on your other thread...:grin2

http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=101442&postcount=32

[Becky B]

Cant find it, what was it?

[DJMCJERICO]

There you go:

For a standard number plate Becky you should be able to go to any bike dealership with your log book and get them to make you a standard plate up. http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/extended/action-smiley-033.gif Some dealerships if they don't know you may also request another form of ID.http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/extended/grinning-smiley-018.gif I take it the pink slip you have been issued is something along the lines of a 'VDRS'. http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/extended/action-smiley-036.gif You may find if you have the bike serviced or MOT'd at a dealership they can make you a new plate up and stamp your pink slip at the same time and job done.http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/extended/grinning-smiley-018.gif http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/extended/grinning-smiley-018.gif

[Becky B]

I went every where tuesday looking for a number plate. No dealer ships done it because of the new law its not worth their while and they have to then keep my records for 3years. I eventually got one at bits n pieces and yes it looks stupid

[milleuks]

Becky ,Try these really quick turnround ,http://www.myshowplates.com/
or failing that there`s a couple of peeps @ Nth Weald market that make "show plates" while you wait:grin2 .........Dave

[Becky B]

cool, i want to get a smaller plate i might just pop up north weild on saturday:jumping2 :jumping2 :jumping2

[mitch]

can you let me know how much they are from north wield, I'm thinking of getting a 7" x 5"

the guy there did my show plates for my car last year, 30 mins.

[SDM]

can you let me know how much they are from north wield, I'm thinking of getting a 7" x 5"

the guy there did my show plates for my car last year, 30 mins.

The last one I got from North Weald was about £25 for a 7"x5", this also included a border, St George Cross, 3 Lions and GSXR in the background, paid for it there and he sent it to my 3 days later.

[rembrandt]

got mine done at colchester radiators for £10 cash (7x5):clap :clap

[2wheelgreg]

was lookin at gettin a smaller plate but dont want the hassle of being pulled every other minute im on the road. is a 7x5 ok. i know its probly not legal, but the big big ones look so ugly

[Gixxer-TeZ]

I normally use a 7 x 5 and have been pulled by the plod a few times and they have never said anything. I think they just look for out and out **** takers and plates on one line.


Also, Micky ...... are these regs new or did they come in before ANPR cameras etc ? I was under the impression the lettering, plate sizes have been that way for a while but they revised it to stop one line plates and a few other revisions !!

Correct me if I'm misinformed :grin2

[a3cyl]

put it back to legal size as its one less thing the police can use to pull me over

[Red Crow Firestarter No 1]

i have a small plate but numbers are right size been pulled by plod never said any thing about plate

[Dogbot's Dad]

my blade which basher has got at the mo looks standard !! its been played with where it counts standard number paltes the lot only thing giving it away is is the full yoshi system on it sounds like a WSB when its at full tilt. never been pulled on it yet but cops love loud pipes they can hear ya comming
:shooter

[Becky B]

I remeber when i got pulled for my nuber plate on my firestorm it was single index like a car plate but smaller and the police officer said yea it looks great but its illegal and if ur bike gets stolen its harder to come up on the number plate regonition system, which i replied yeah true but what bike theife nicks a bike n rides it (they put it in a van)and two i brought my bike from a copper!
Then i had to get a mouge number plate on it!

[kasandrich]

Just revisited this and found some more information

Plates should display the British standard they adhere to.

Any person selling number plates OR materials for making number plates must be registered with DVLA as a number plate supplier, and keep full records for 3 years.

see

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayofnumberplates.pdf

[troutslayer]

Dont forget i'm a DVLA registered numberplate supplier - you can search DVLA's list of RNPS and i'm on there as VaultGraffix. I can supply legal plates and i can also supply show plates :)

[Haroldhornet]

7 by 5 is best on my ride exactly the right size! It only cost 17 quid from Tippers in Southend Purdys Ind Est.

[jon K1 gsxr]

Just put 1 on my gsxr (7 x 5) had traffic police behind me a few times never been stopped. They look good but without a rear hugger the back of the bike gets covered in muck.

[rs_nifty_50]

i need a new number plate as mine sorta broke in a crash ad i was thinkin ofgettin a 7x5 is it worth iton a 50?

[Lateshift]

On a 50 you are likely to attract the attention of the police by default, due to the fact that as a learner they are expecting you to ride badly anyway.

Admittedly it might look good, but you have to weigh up whether or not you want the aggrevation of wondering if every Police car you see if going to pull you.

Each to their own i suppose, but if they check the plate, they normally check other stuff :D

[Stokesy]

I'm with lateshift on this 1 mate your asking for trouble as your on a 50cc the police are going to be over you like a rash. Mainly for your safety though

[rs_nifty_50]

it'll go with the new street fighter look im giving it

[Stokesy]

it'll go with the new street fighter look im giving it


Well I've seen 50cc choppers so why not:laugh1

[terry10r]

one of the first things i did was ruduce the size of my plate for the coper to use the theif excuse is a bit strong. as the real reason is that it mite be harder for them too nick us for siily things

[(WICK)fluidthegreat]

i have never been pulled with a small plate but my brother did and he got a £30 fine. i think that was just there police being funny and trying to make a quick buck

[troutslayer]

just so you're all aware...

it'll be ILLEGAL for suppliers to sell 'show plates' or 'show signs' or whatever else we like to call them to avoid calling them number plates, as from november 1st 2008...

[Haroldhornet]

So Id better keep the invoice for it eh? Or is tradition gonna be made illegal as well like freedom or say drinking the rain f me is life worth living anymore under the legal money parranoid RTNR machine happy :reading Still Guns are ILEGAL but people still get shot :shooter

[rovens]

So are you saying that form the 1st of Nov i cant buy a smaller plate off you?

[2E]

I just found this info from here : http://www.numberoneshowplates.co.uk/number-plates.php


The spacing and lettering on a set of number plates must conform to a particular set of dimensional criteria, which fall in to one of three groups, those being number plates for vehicles fitted after 1st September 2001 or number plates fitted to vehicles before 1st September 2001 and finally for vehicles constructed prior to 1st January 1973, separate requirements exist for these traditional number plates.
Number plates fitted after 1st September 2001 use a slightly narrower version of Charles Wright’s original 1935 font which has been condensed in width to allow for the Euro symbol and the inclusion of a country identifier logo “GB” and an extra letter. The width of the lettering was reduced from 57mm to 50mm (for standard cases).
If a vehicle was constructed and registered before the date of 1st January 1973 the characters displayed on these number plates must be easy to read but are not required to display the mandatory font. Additionally number plates for this period are able to display the traditional style black and white plates, that is a black background with white, silver or grey lettering. There are additional requirements if the vehicle is either a motorcycle or tricycle.
For cases of imported vehicles that do not have the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval, and for vehicles whose design and construction can’t accommodate the standard size number plates, the use of smaller characters is permitted as given in column F from the above table of sizes.
For motor cycles and tricycles certain other dictates exist. Tricycles and motorcycles fall in to two categories, those manufactured prior to 1st September 2001 and those manufactured on or after that date. For these type of vehicles those manufactured prior to the date of 1st September 2001, number plates can be displayed on both the front and the rear of the vehicle, however these vehicles by law are only obligated to display the rear number plate, the front number plate being optional. For these types of vehicles manufactured on or after this date only the rear number plate may be displayed.
For tricycles, if they were derived from four wheeled donor vehicles the normal requirements for cars exist and any number plates displayed must conform to these standards. For tricycles derived from motorcycles however, the normal rules applying to motorcycles must apply the sizes for which are detailed in column G of the above table.
Additionally motorcycles if manufactured before 1st September 2001 can display three-line number plates; however one-line number plates are illegal. One-line number plates are illegal for motorbikes or tricycles irrespective of the date of manufacture. For motorcycles manufactured after 1st September 2001 only the two line style of number plates may be displayed.


The tables its referring to i believe are the ones here:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20010561.htm

[Haroldhornet]

Rules Rules Rules made to be broken If my 7/5 can be recognised by NRT then eat my shorts.....:jumping2 If it cant then I will change it so there lol

[RaceMeNSee]

Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!

[lap_time]

I've got a legal visor and plate and have just put the baffles back in to make my can legal. I'm hoping that with those three they might let me off the speeding!!

[Becky B]

I got pulled over last year on my firestorm for my number plate, they told me that is was not legal to have a single line index number plate on my bike because it is harder to read, then was told if we cant read your number plate how are we suppose to catch motorbike theives. More like how are the speed cameras going to read it.

Whats even funnier is that the number plate was already on the bike when i brought it and i also brought it from a police officer too.
Wasn't given a fine just 7 days to get a new plate a get an mot tester to stamp my ticket.
:grin2

[Jetski]

Becky - your sig fills 3/4 of my page LOL Lovely banners, but is it possible to put them side by side at all!? :grin2

[rsvrMICK]

I think it just depends what the plod feel like on that day.

[troutslayer]

So are you saying that form the 1st of Nov i cant buy a smaller plate off you?

well from the 1st november, i wont be saying on a public forum that you can buy a small plate from me... ;)

[Erebus1197]

Just revisited this and found some more information

Plates should display the British standard they adhere to.

Any person selling number plates OR materials for making number plates must be registered with DVLA as a number plate supplier, and keep full records for 3 years.

see

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/displayofnumberplates.pdf




What about bikes that are slightly older than this BS standard? My bike is a 25 yr old GPX900 and there is nothing on the number plate except a little red reflector. No makers mark, no BS number.

As this is an old number plate am I now breaking the law as it does not contain information that was made mandatory after the plate was manufactured???

[troutslayer]

What about bikes that are slightly older than this BS standard? My bike is a 25 yr old GPX900 and there is nothing on the number plate except a little red reflector. No makers mark, no BS number.

As this is an old number plate am I now breaking the law as it does not contain information that was made mandatory after the plate was manufactured???

Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 need not be changed provided the character font used is substantially the same as the one shown above.
Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with:
Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics
Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers

hope that helps? :)

[brens7501]

hello fella i would like a plate with GB on it so i can go acorss the water all legit. all standard size please. how much?

[Erebus1197]

hello fella i would like a plate with GB on it so i can go acorss the water all legit. all standard size please. how much?


You have a few options here. Halfords do this (I think all their stores) and prices start at £12.99 per plate. Although you will need some ID and proof of ownership of the vehicle

Or

Go onto the interweb and google 'motorcycle number-plates' and see the plethora of companies that provide this service. Prices on the web start at about £7 for a standard plate, and all modifications add a small amount more to it, and then you have postage, so it might be xheaper to go to Halfords or the like and get one from there.

Someone on this thread said they went to a place on Colchester Hythe and paid £10 for a plate. Might be worthwhile scanning through the resonces on here ot dig that one out...

[troutslayer]

well, my website is under 're-development' at the moment, so soon, you'll be able to order standard plates, and GB plates. Once the order is placed, the plate won't be made or sent UNTIL the correct paperwork has been received. Naturally, it'd be sent via recorded.

you'd be looking at roughly a 4 day turnaround, and price, including p+p, is probably gunna be around £8.50 per plate.

i'll also be offering visor stickers and 'screenies' as well.