‘RI5KY DR1VER5’ illegal number plate warning

UK motorists are being warned they risk fines of up to £1,000, a failed MOT test, and potentially invalidated insurance if they are found to have non-compliant number plates. 

Car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk are reminding drivers of the legal requirements as the new ‘26’ registration plates launched on the 1st of March. 

Number plates are issued twice a year in the UK and normally see a surge of buyers in the hunt for the most recent plate – to help personalise their vehicle or as an investment, to potentially increase the resale value of the car.

For those looking to be more creative with their registered number plate, they need to be wary of the many restrictions. Number plates in the UK must be made from reflective material, cannot have a background pattern, and the characters must be solid black, non-reflective, and not removable.

The characters also need to be a certain height and size with a standard font, spacing and no italics – in a bid to help make number plates more readable.*

The DVLA does allow 3D characters and the display of certain flags, symbols and identifiers – while zero-emission vehicles can legally display a green flash.**

Insurers require vehicles to remain road legal at all times, and if found to have a number plate in violation of these restrictions, it may invalidate the car insurance, leaving drivers unprotected.

In the event of an accident, this could give insurers grounds to deny the claim or even cancel the policy.***

As well as the strict regulations, motorists are warned that driving with a number plate obscured by dirt or mud could also lead to fines of up to £1000.****

Recent data analysis on incidents involving illegal number plates revealed over 20,000 incidents across the UK, with Humberside reported as one of the UK’s worst regions, with 122 incidents per 100,000 people and a total of 1161 offences.*****

The sharp rise in such offences has triggered renewed calls for stricter regulation and enforcement, with thousands of reported incidents involving illegal number plates – including ‘ghost plates’, which use reflective coatings to evade detection by speed and ANPR cameras.

A pilot scheme using new technology to catch these invisible plates is currently being trialled in the West Midlands, reportedly catching over 4000 offenders in two weeks.******

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It can be exciting for drivers when the new number plates are issued in the spring, a chance for a new car with a brand-new plate can be an investment and increase the resale value plus first dibs on any interesting, personalised combinations.

“However, it’s important that vehicles are kept legal and roadworthy. Number plate regulations are set by the DVLA so that vehicles can be easily identified by the police and ANPR cameras – to help monitor and improve road safety.

“Drivers are warned they face costly fines and a failed MOT test plus the risk of voiding their car insurance if their licence plate is dirty, obscured or not up to code.

“We’re issuing drivers a timely reminder to check their number plates are clean and comply with all DVLA regulations, especially those who have reprinted their plates in a bid to personalise the vehicle.

“The police are clamping down on offenders who are actively trying to evade ANPR cameras so it’s worth double-checking plates, especially if drivers have recently bought a new car, and speak to a professional if anything seems suspicious.”

As a price comparison site, Quotezone helps over 4 million people every year to compare and find savings on their car insurance.

References:
*https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694e379fc8e12ac3edafc60/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf
**https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/rules-number-plates
***https://numberplateclinic.co.uk/the-impact-of-illegal-plates-on-insurance-what-you-need-to-know/
****https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/news/north-yorkshire/news/news/2023/02-february/motorists-urged-to-wipe-the-plate-clean-and-stay-on-the-right-side-of-the-law/
*****https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-insurance/guides/worst-regions-for-number-plate-offences
****** https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wmopcc_west-midlands-police-and-crime-commissioner-activity-7404514214813306880-oG-z/

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.