Hawkcliffe Vinyl Graphics  BD20 6QR  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawkcliffe Vinyl Graphics are registered with the D.V.L.A. to manufacture and supply Road legal Registration plates

Please contact us for details:      tel: 01535 653316   or  email: 

1000's of different styles of number plates are available by mixing and matching number plate components. This page highlights the Number plate Law and current legislation and some of the examples of Plate Styles that can be made by interchanging, Digit styles, Reflective Backgrounds, Borders, Personalisation, Euroflag & Acrylic whilst conforming to the latest Number Plate Standards.

What Documents Do I need?

Emblem Flags?

Import Cars?

Number Plate Styles ?

Proposed changes to the regulation for number plate supply - 2007

 

British Standard - BSAU145d
The current legislation on number plates came into force on September 1st 2001. A new British Standard (BSAU 145d) was introduced which requires number plate components to meet higher standards of quality.
The DVLA also introduced new laws which necessitates all number plates supplied from September 1st 2001 to display the suppliers or manufacturers name and postcode in the bottom centre of the plate, as well as the new British Standard number (BSAU 145d) in the bottom right hand corner.
Legislation - Plate
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DVLA Legislation
A number plate must be displayed at the front and rear of motor vehicles, must be easy to read and meet the British Standard. Lettering should be black on a white plate at the front and black on yellow at the rear. The background surface should be retro-reflecting but the characters must not and spacing must be of a set size.
Number plates fitted after the 1st September 2001 must display characters that meet the following dimensions:
Height
Width
Space between Characters
Space between Groups		 79mm
50mm
11mm
33mm
IMPORTED VEHICLES
Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if:
The vehicle does not have European Community whole vehicle type approval AND the vehicles construction / design cannot accommodate standard size number plates.
MOTORCYCLES AND TRICYCLES
All motorcycles and tricycles must display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. If you have a two or three wheeled motorcycle or tricycle that has a body type of a four-wheeled vehicle, you MUST display a number plate at the front and rear. The characters may be smaller:
Height
Width
Space between Characters
Space between Groups		 64mm
44mm
10mm
30mm
Motorcycles registered on or after 1st September 2001 must display a two-line number plate. Motorcycles registered prior to this may display a three-line number plate, but one-line number plates are illegal, irrespective of the date of registration.
MANDATORY CHARACTER FONT
From 1st September 2001 all new number plates must display the mandatory font:
Mandatory Character Set
Number plates fitted before this date need not be changed provided the font used is substantially the same as the one above. Number plates need to be replaced if they have been customised with: Stylised letters such as italics Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters / numbers.
THE LAW
The law states that you must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers. Characters must not be moved from one group to the other (e.g A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC).
Offences may result in any or all of the following:
A fine of up to £1000
The registration mark may be withdrawn
The vehicle may fail the MOT test
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DVLA Requirements for the sale of Number Plates
In order to obtain number plates, customers have to confirm their identity, address and entitlement to the requested registration number. One document from both of the following must be provided:
Proof of Identity
DVLA Requirements 1
Proof of Entitlement
DVLA Requirements 2

Age Identifiers
 

 

Date Range

Identifier

Date Range

Identifier

Sept 06-Feb 07

56

Mar 07 - Aug 07

07

Sept 07-Feb 08

57

Mar 08 - Aug 08

08

Sept 08-Feb 09

58

Mar 09 - Aug 09

09

Sept 09-Feb 10

59

Mar 10 - Aug 10

10

Sept 10 - Feb 11

60

Mar 11 - Aug 11

11
 

Area Identifiers

Where LMT means "Local Memory Tag"

 

LMT

DVLA Office

Local Identifier

LMT

DVLA Office

Local Identifier

A

Peterborough

A B C D E F G H J K L M N

L

Sidcup

U V W X Y

A

Norwich

O P R S T U

M

Manchester

A - Y

A

Ipswich

V  W X  Y

N

Newcastle

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

B

Birmingham

A - Y

N

Stockton

P R S T U V W X  Y

C

Cardiff

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

O

Oxford

A - Y

C

Swansea

P R S T U V

P

Preston

A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T

C

Bangor

W X  Y

P

Carlisle

U V W X  Y

D

Chester

A B C D E F G H J K

R

Reading

A - Y

D

Shrewsbury

L M N O P R S T U V W X  Y

S

Glasglow

A B C D E F G H J

E

Chelmsford

A - Y

S

Edinburgh

K L M N O

F

Nottingham

A B C D E F G H J K L M N P

S

Dundee

P R S T

F

Lincoln

R S T U V W X  Y

S

Aberdeen

P R S T

G

Maidstone

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O

S

Inverness

X  Y

G

Brighton

P R S T U V W X  Y

V

Worcester

A - Y

H

Bournemouth

A B C D E F G H J

W

Exeter

A B C D E F G H J

H

Portsmouth

K L M N O P R S T U V W X  Y

W

Truro

K L

K

Luton

A B C D E F G H J K L

W

Bristol

M N O P R S T U V W X  Y

K

Northampton

M N O P R S T U V W X Y

Y

Leeds

A B C D E F G H J K

L

Wimbledon

A B C D E F G H J 

Y

Sheffield

L M N O P R S T U

L

Stanmore

K L M N O P R S T

Y

Beverley

V W X  Y

 

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What Documents Do I need?

On 1st of December 2005 the DVLA changed the documentation required to buy a Number Plate. The following now applies - In order to obtain a Number Plate you will have to provide verification of your current personal details and proof of entitlement to the registration mark quoted.

At least one original document from each of the lists below is required. The combination of the documents must be sufficient to check your name, address and the entitlement.

Proof of Identity:

Proof of Entitlement:

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Emblem Flags

On the 28 December 2001 the Department of Transport released this press release

"Motorists in Great Britain will be able to display national flags and symbols on their number-plates, Minister for Transport John Spellar announced today.

Mr Spellar said:

"The Government has decided to legislate to allow the voluntary display of national flags and symbols on vehicle number plates. It is what the people of England, Scotland and Wales have asked for and strengthens their feeling of national identity.

"We did have initial concerns about the ability of enforcement cameras to read the plates but these concerns have been overcome through enhanced camera technology. I am pleased to be able to make this announcement today."

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 will be amended to allow national flags to be displayed on the left hand side of the number plate, in the area currently set aside for the voluntary display of the Euro symbol and GB national identifier.

Vehicle owners will be provided with the option of displaying either the Union Jack, Cross of St George, Scottish Saltire or Welsh Dragon accompanied, if they wish, by identifiers such as GB, ENG, SCO, CYM, UK etc.Those who choose to display a national flag or symbol on their number plates in preference to the European circle of stars and GB identifier will be required to continue to display a separate GB sticker when travelling outside the United Kingdom.

Additional  Information
There has never been provision in law for the display of flags or symbols on vehicle number plates. However the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, which took effect on1 September 2001, provided for the voluntary display of the Euro symbol and GB national identifier.

Under EC Council Regulation 2411/98 Member States are required to recognise number plates that conform with this Regulation (i.e. display the European circle of stars and distinguishing sign of the Member of State of registration on the extreme left of the registration plate). This enables motorists to circulate freely within the European Community without the need for a separate national identity sticker.

Representations have been made for the inclusion of national flags, in preference to the European circle of stars. When the legislation is changed to accommodate national flags, motorists who wish to take advantage of the facility will be required to display a separate GB decal when travelling abroad.

The police and enforcement agencies have advised that this easement will not have an adverse effect on law enforcement. Advances in camera technology mean that number plates will continue to be capable of being effectively read by roadside cameras.

Motorists will be permitted to display any combination of the following flags and literals:

Flags: Union Flag, Cross of St George, Cross of St Andrew (Saltire), Red Dragon

Literals: England, ENG, Great Britain, GB, United Kingdom, UK, Cymru, CYM, Wales, Scotland, SCO 

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Special Concession for Owners of Imported Vehicles

A concession which will permit some vehicles to continue to display motorcycle size number plates was announced on July 31st 2001 by Minister for Transport John Spellar.This will apply to certain imported cars, mainly from America and the Far East. It follows concerns about the cost of modifying vehicles which are designed for foreign markets and unable to display UK size number plates.

Minister for Transport John Spellar. said

"The introduction of this concession demonstrates that the Government listens and responds to the concerns of motorists.

"We have taken into account the views of enthusiasts, vehicle importers and the police. We have been assured that law enforcement agencies will be able to recognise and record the smaller character size.

"We are clear that the cost of modifying some of these vehicles, in particular those which originate from the USA, to take standard size plates would be costly and unfair. We intend therefore to allow them to display motorcycle size number plates."

Harry Tune, Chairman of the American Auto Club UK, welcomed the announcement:

"This really is a milestone in the history of the American car enthusiast in Britain. We so appreciate that a Government department has listened to us and been sympathetic to our needs.

"Over 90% of American cars, whether classic or modern, are manufactured with a motorcycle size number plate indent so this concession will benefit thousands of enthusiasts.

"I am absolutely delighted at today's news."

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will commence a short consultation exercise prior to amendment of the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.

Information courtesy of dtlr.gov.uk

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Number Plate Styles

1000's of different styles of number plates are available by mixing and matching number plate components.These are explained more fully in the Plates Components section. This page shows some of the examples of Plate Styles that can be made by interchanging, Digit styles, Reflective Backgrounds, Borders, Personalisation, Euroflag & Acrylic. Signam Number plates conform to the current legislation BS AU 145d.