Are Import Shape Number Plates Legal in the UK?

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding imported vehicles in the UK concerns the legality of import shape number plates. These plates, measuring 330mm x 178mm, significantly differ from the standard British number plates, raising the question: are they road-legal?

According to The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) (Amendment) Regulations 2002, regulation 5, the answer is yes, under certain conditions.

As per Regulation 14A, import shape number plates can be used on vehicles that were imported into the United Kingdom and do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval. It further states that these vehicles must be constructed in such a way that the area available for fixing the registration plate does not allow for a standard-sized registration mark.

Here's what the regulation specifies regarding size and spacing of characters on such plates:

• Each character in the registration mark must be 64 millimetres high.
• The width of each character of the mark, other than the letter “I” and the figure “1”, must be 44 millimetres.
• The width of every part of the stroke forming a character in a mark must be 10 millimetres.
• The spacing between any two characters within a group must be 10 millimetres.
• The vertical spacing between groups of characters must be 5 millimetres.
• The width of a margin between the mark and the top and lateral sides of the registration plate must be not less than 5 millimetres.
• The space between the bottom of the mark and the bottom of the registration plate must be not less than 13 millimetres; but, within that space, the space between the bottom of the mark and the top of the name and postcode of the person by whom the plate was supplied must be not less than 5 millimetres.

This provision in the regulation allows for vehicles that don't fit the typical mould to be lawfully registered and used on UK roads, provided their number plates meet the specified requirements. It shows the flexibility in the UK's regulations to accommodate the unique characteristics of imported vehicles.

However, it's important to note that these conditions apply to a very specific category of vehicles. Most vehicles used in the UK must still adhere to the standard regulations for number plates.

In summary, while import shape number plates might seem unconventional, they are indeed legal on UK roads, given they are used on a vehicle that meets the criteria outlined in the regulation. This goes to show the complexity and specificity of vehicle regulations, demonstrating that every vehicle – and its number plate – truly has a place on the UK's roads.