Loophole closed for black & silver number plates

[earthman]

https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/news/article/changes-to-black-silver-number-plates-from-01012021

Just an heads up for anyone who's got a vehicle that will become historic next year.

 

[Barking Mat]

EU symbol bit, too.

 

[8ob]

Why do they.refer to this as a loophole? Is there some underlying problem with a classic car having a black/silver plate? ANPR not working on them or something

Bob

 

[colnerov]

Why do they.refer to this as a loophole? Is there some underlying problem with a classic car having a black/silver plate? ANPR not working on them or something

Bob

Hi, Yes absolutely, it's not a loophole. It was clearly defined as 1973 but they didn't enforce any transgressions and so people started pushing the envelope and fitted them where ever they wanted. They have now redefined it to pre 1980 so unless they enforce it it will start all over again, That's not to say some won't bleat about if they get a tug for it. As I understand it there was some problems with ANPR having trouble reading B&W's in the early days of the technology but that was sorted long ago, but the rumour persists.

Colin

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Why do they.refer to this as a loophole? Is there some underlying problem with a classic car having a black/silver plate? ANPR not working on them or something

Bob

The loophole was that cars post-1973 had to have white/yellow and black number plates, but vehicles over 40 years old and registered as classics for road tax were allowed black and silver plates. So cars registered from 1973-1980 could (retrospectively) run black and silver plates despite them being not being allowed to before they hit 40 years old.

At least, i think that's it.

 

[Ali]

‘...to avoid any undue costs of replacement.’

Top of my list when buying a classic, that will help massively.

 

[8ob]

Our chair polishers have struck again, a man driving a 1979 SDI Rover with a B/W plate is a saint and the man driving a 1981 SDI Rover with a B/W plate is a common criminal. With all that’s wrong with law and enforcement in this country someone sees fit to look into this utter garbage. Please stop this planet I want to get off.

Bob

 

[mangocrazy]

My 350LC will be eligible for historic vehicle status from April 2021, but as it has always had a yellow/black numberplate I woud never have considered fitting a B/W plate. Not quite sure who or what was being harmed or inconvenienced by a B/W plate being fitted in place of a yellow/black one, but still. I guess DVLA have to look like they are being vigilant against the hordes of B/W number plate users threatening civilisation as we know it.

 

[julianf]

My 101 forward control is an odd one.

The plate says 1982. But it's got tax exemption as I proved it to have an earlier build date. However the DVLA won't give it a plate displaying it's true age... Which I thought was illegal (having a plate that makes a vehical seem younger than it is)

As for colour...

It would have had a black plate when new (millitary). It's now got a yellow plate. But an 82 plate... On a 78 build.

So, what do you think? Can I fit a black plate or not? (I'd like to)

 

[Barking Mat]

‘...to avoid any undue costs of replacement.’

Top of my list when buying a classic, that will help massively.

Very good point.

 

[Barking Mat]

My 101 forward control is an odd one.

The plate says 1982. But it's got tax exemption as I proved it to have an earlier build date. However the DVLA won't give it a plate displaying it's true age... Which I thought was illegal (having a plate that makes a vehical seem younger than it is)

As for colour...

It would have had a black plate when new (millitary). It's now got a yellow plate. But an 82 plate... On a 78 build.

So, what do you think? Can I fit a black plate or not? (I'd like to)

Chances of getting pulled up on that?

 

[julianf]

Chances of getting pulled up on that?

Skim, considering I did 20 miles between its last two mots....

And most of that was probably to the mot station!

 

[colnerov]

Hi, The issue of B&W plates was not the primary goal of this, The primary cause was the matter of the Euro symbol on the plate which is all about tidying up legislation post B*****. The B&W issue was a "While your there, can you just sort that"

Colin

 

[a111r]

There's a DVLA twilight zone.
An 11 year old Vauxhall near me has a seemingly valid yet untenable plate, CV77UFC

 

[rikrobson]

A 2009 diesel insignia 150000+ miles on the clock and 6 month's mot

I was under the impression you could not make the car newer but that's 9 years plus an extra 7. I have there is only 3 mots recorded so it probably got the plat 4 years ag

Maybe there was an odd number plate around 1986 in Oxford where the v was added to c77ufc

Of e has a timw machine and got one 7 years from now in Swansea

 

[zzr1200]

It would have had a black plate when new (millitary). It's now got a yellow plate. But an 82 plate... On a 78 build.

It may have been built in 78, but it was "first" registered for the road in 82....

 

[4String.]

But here's a thought to consider.

If you fit the incorrect style of number plate to your vehicle or fit one that's had the characters moved to spell your name, your vehicle does not conform to Construction and Use regulations. Therefore your insurance is invalid and you're also guilty of fraud for falsely declaring that your vehicle is legal and above board.

Interesting thought, imo.

 

[Burdekin]

I need to get some for my cars, apparently new style number plates look off on classic cars. Being foreign and all that I never realised until someone said. :-)

 

[Nick DV]

It also states "We will also be introducing a new British Standard for number plates produced from 1 September 2021" It will be interesting to see what that standard is, but no doubt it will result in a few moans and groans

 

[Rannsachair]

;i find the number plate rules quite black and white....

I think its great how I can legally fit a bacon slicer to my bike to disembowel pedestrians brave enough (or deaf enough) to cross my path.....

I have silver plates on my Beemer, it is a 1972 bike but nor registered til 1974, which I understood was legal as the rule went by manufacture date from 2015, if a vehicle is over 40 years old it can use black/silver plates: