17 replies to this topic

[Remylebleu]

Ive seen a fair few minis with the number plate on the bonnet......i want mine like that too!

Is it legal?

Is this something i can do myself?

Or is it best done by the professionals?

Is it sprayed on?

Or just a sticker?

Any help/guidance/advice will be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[Bungle]

topic on here already

[Cooperman]

The law says that the number plate must be on a vertical and flat surface. On the front of the bonnet with the badge removed is usually considered flat enough. Now, that is OK for black & white plates. Since a certain date (can't remember what, but search on Google) all plates must have the supplier's details on so it's difficult to have 'stick-on' ones.
If your car is before the cut-off date for having the supplier's details, you could buy a piece of yellow reflective 'Fablon' and a set of black stick-on numbers of the right shape and size and make up a reflective stick-on plate. If it's a black & white plate, you could do what I do and spray a black rectangle on the bonnet and add white stick on letters, or get a piece of black Fablon and make up a stick-on plate.

[Remylebleu]

Ok thanks, so it is perfectly legal providing i place it as you said. I only want to do the front plate and my mini is a 82, so there white background, black letters. You think i could find a place that makes them? Or a website where i can find the legal requirements of the size and letter spacings?

Bungles...i did search but couldnt find anything...could you point me n he right direction please?

[Remylebleu]

Also, what did you mean by it has to have details on the plate? Like where the car was registered?

[thehelstonian]

he probably means the place that produced the stick on plate as you see there always some companies details on every plate in small print at the bottom of the plate

[Cooperman]

Ok thanks, so it is perfectly legal providing i place it as you said. I only want to do the front plate and my mini is a 82, so there white background, black letters. You think i could find a place that makes them? Or a website where i can find the legal requirements of the size and letter spacings?

[Bungles...i did search but couldnt find anything...could you point me n he right direction please?

i]Yes, it it's '82 it white background on the front with black letters. I said yellow earlier, but I was not thinking straight due to watching TV at the same time! I think the size, shape and spacing is on a DVLA website.[/i]

Also, what did you mean by it has to have details on the plate? Like where the car was registered?

After a certain date, about 1997 I think, all number plates MUST have the name and post code of the maker of the plate along the bottom edge. Take a look at the plates on a fairly new car and you'll see. Before the required date for this, it was OK to just have the background and numbers, so long as the size, shape & spacing was OK.

Edited by Cooperman, 14 January 2011 - 08:34 PM.

[Remylebleu]

Is that a legal requrement? Cus mine havnt got anything on (just checked) is it incase there illegally produced?

[Sleepy Stu]

Nope not legal im afraid.

There is a thread here for you to read

http://www.theminifo...et number plate

But the crux of the matter is that if your car has the usual white and yellow plates the DVLA state this on their website

'The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is not aware of any self-adhesive number plates that meet the British Standard requirements.'

If you are on black and white plates then its a different kettle of fish as they never had a reflective background any way.


Also is the problem of whether you consider the bonnet a mini a vertical surface?

Edited by Sleepy Stu, 14 January 2011 - 08:45 PM.

[Remylebleu]

I know what you mean. Ive just googled it and found on an mx5 forum the legal requirements and your right about the manufacture, postcode of where its made...etc. There loads on ebay, they the use legal size lettering but i doubt they have there details etc on the plate aswell....so me thinks will have to do some searching to find a legitimate platemaker

Thanks for your help

[Remylebleu]

It says that there unaware of a Stick on pate that meets there requirements but it doesnt say that you cant....so lets say i produced one myself, put my post code, "company name" etc on and it was reflective would this work or do you need a licence or something to produce plates?

[Cooperman]

It only applies to cars first registered after a certain date. There is no requirement for the manufacturer's name, etc, to be retro-fitted to earlier cars needing reflective plates. If, for example, a 1988 Mini was supplied with the correct plartes at that time and they don't have the manufacturer's data, they are still legal. Actually, so long as the spacing and size/shape of the letters is correct, I've not heard of the Old Bill bothering. If you have plates with wrong spacing or illegal letters, then they will be interested. I have plates for my trailers which don't have the manufacturer's name, etc, for a 2006 reg'd car, and have never had any problems.

[Remylebleu]

I read the other thread, everyone seems abit angry on there lol so technically i could put one on the bonnet (as flat as possible) and the police would not be aware of whether i put this on or the previous owner fitted post 1991 thus making it "technically" legal, correct?

Well i think it looks cool, so im going to do it as i dont drive like a plonker, i dont drive head on at police cars for them to take "proper" notice of it. I dont park my car in public places ( except carparks late at night ) so ill take the chance

[valve bounce]

i had a stick on one on my number plate and it was very difficult to fit and i had sevral creases in it so i taped off the bonnet, sprayed it white and bought some stick on letters and job done. it most proberly not legal but ive never had any bother with it yet.

[Remylebleu]

Just thought....MAZDA MX5.....stick on plate on the bonnet, im sure minis bonnets are far more vertical than an mx5????