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and the MOT TestYour Questions Answered

Saving lives, safer roads, cutting crime, protecting the environment

Registration plates fitted to vehicles or motorcycles are

required to be correctly displayed as below:

Wrong colour

Font incorrect and too small

X

X

X

X

Vehicles first registered on or after1st January 1973 must be the correctcolour - white on the front and yellowon the rear with black characters.

Examples of unacceptable formats that will fail the

MOT test:

Damaged or deteriorated

Sloping characters

Motorcycles are not allowed to use a single line plate; however,vehicles and motorcycles first registered before 1st September 2001are permitted to display registration plates in a three line format.

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Registration plates are checked at the MOT test to make sure theycomply with certain aspects of the Road Vehicles (Display ofRegistration Marks) Regulations 2001 as amended. It is essentialthat all vehicles carry the correct registered number and that theplates are secure and clearly visible.

For accurate eye witness accounts and to ensure traffic enforcementcameras and road user charging systems work as intended. It is clearlynecessary that registration plates conform to the required standard.

Why are registration plates checked during an MOT test?

What vehicles are affected?

Registration plate checks apply to vehicles in all MOT test classeswhich include motorcycles, cars, light goods vehicles and privatebuses. However, the test does not apply to foreign registered,diplomatic or in-service military vehicles.

What are the MOT requirements?

MOT testers will carry out a complete visual inspection in respectof the condition of the plates and that the required dimensions arenot obviously incorrect.

They will also be checking that the plates are present, secure,showing the correct registration and are not likely to be misreaddue to damage, deterioration or because they are obscured (by atow ball for example). Additionally, any feature that has the effect

of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters,so that the true identity of the vehicle is less easily established willbe unacceptable.

It is not part of the MOT test to check that the registration platessupplied on or after 1st September 2001display the BS AU 145dmarking, or the name and postcode of the registration platesupplier. However, these markings are a legal requirement andyou will be committing an offence if they are not displayed.

Yes they do. The Road Safety Act 2006 extended the Register ofNumber Plate Suppliers scheme to Scotland and Northern Irelandfrom 1 November 2008, in addition to England and Wales. Fromthis date it will be an offence to supply number plates that do notcomply with the law.

Are there any additional checks on dual purpose plates?

Many vehicles are fitted with dual purpose plates which show thevehicles international identifying symbol as well as the registrationnumber. Such markings are not part of the MOT test, but legally,only the permitted international symbol or flag can be displayed.Other emblems, such as football team crests etc are not allowed.

What if I have a cherished registration number from an older vehicle?

The MOT requirements are dependent on the date that the vehiclewas first registered. Therefore, old style black and silver typeregistration plates which are permitted on pre1973 vehicles are notpermitted to be fitted to a vehicle first registered on or after 1stJanuary 1973.

Although not part of the MOT test, it is important to remember thatcherished plates from older vehicles fitted to a vehicle firstregistered on or after 1st September 2001 will also be required todisplay the BS AU 145d marking and the name and postcode ofthe plate supplier.

Do these requirements apply to all vehicles registered in the UK?

VOSA/ENF/1891/March 09

For more information, visit our website:

www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

Contact us:

0300 123 9000*

enquiries@vosa.gov.uk

* Calls provided by BT are charged at a low rate.

Charges from other providers may vary.