MOT Number Plate Rules Have Been Suspended Temporarily

On October 1st, 2007, the M.O.T. test was updated to accommodate the new laws governing the display of number plates on UK cars and motorcycles. However, due to an oversight that resulted in certain changes not being properly documented, Exhaust service maidstone  has decided to postpone these until further notice.

The following M.O.T. failing points have been suspended:

The background of the number plate must be plain yellow or white; no honeycomb backgrounds or logos are permitted.

The front license plate must have a white background with black text.

The rear license plate must have a yellow backdrop with black text.

The name and postcode of the supplier must be displayed on the number plates.

Number plates must be BSAU 145d-compliant and feature a BSAU 145d designation.

Non-reflective borders that are wider than allowed or too close to characters.

i.e.,Europlates with an undesirable emblem, i.e. one that is not a recognized flag (Union Jack, Saltire, George Cross, and Welsh dragon)

Presumably, the aforementioned restrictions remain in effect, and a motorist might still be stopped by police for any of the above, but they would not result in a fail during an M.O.T. test until further notice.

The laws applied largely to number plates manufactured after September 1st, 2001, and vehicles first registered after that date, while vehicles and plates prior to that date were subject to less stringent requirements.

Vehicles registered before January 1973 are subject to a separate set of laws entirely, which means black metal plates with silver or white characters are permitted.

This "about turn" must have been embarrassing for everyone involved, but it was necessary since motorists impacted could have successfully challenged the constitutionality of the new restrictions. The situation is expected to be rectified in early 2008, and the new guidelines will once again be part of the yearly M.O.T. exam.