Number plate position query...

[Paul99]

After a lot of hours welding on my brothers Classic Subaru WRX it's finally getting sprayed up before all the bits go back on over the weekend. Once it's all finished I'll get a thread up on here with a few photos of before / during / after if there's any interest.

Problem is whilst the bumper was off he took the opportunity to fit a ridiculous oversized front mount intercooler which involves trimming out the original bumper grill where the number plate was sat i.e. going from this:

to this:

Problem is of course it limits the places you can mount the numberplate... his current plan is to mount the number plate like this:

but I'm really not so sure this would pass an mot / be road legal or not so your experience would be most welcome...

 

[Seadog]

It should be vertical or as near as is practical. I would expect a fail.

 

[Paul.]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/part/II/made

This explains it, that position would be illegal

 

[Ton-up]

Hinge it on light springs, faster you go it will lay down!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

They'll want them to be readable by the ANPR cameras.......

 

[Paul99]

It should be vertical or as near as is practical. I would expect a fail.

Exactly what I thought too hence the question

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/part/II/made

This explains it, that position would be illegal

That was what I thought would be the case but reading that link the wording "vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable" to me suggests that it might not be that clear cut as first thought? ...as poor as that position is, it is perhaps, the most "practicable" given the lack of places where it could be mounted vertically without compromising airflow to the engine / obstructing fog lights etc (which would be a fail in itself)

Hinge it on light springs, faster you go it will lay down!

To me that would be a clear cut fail simply as it would fall foul of the wording "requires the plate to be fixed"

 

[pedrobedro]

Just stick it in the front windscreen like they do round here Some don't even seem to bother with one I've noticed three running round with no front plate, all Subarus. E types and a lot of Minis used to have vinyl stick on plates on the bonnet. I think if he put it a bit further forward he might get away with it.

 

[Rannsachair]

I have used a stick on one on my Landy bonnet since I fitted a winch 10 years ago, no problem's with the law, but i live in the sticks...

 

[123hotchef]

the stick on bonnet ones are not strictly legal either but most traffic officers turn a blind eye

 

[pedrobedro]

I have used a stick on one on my Landy bonnet since I fitted a winch 10 years ago, no problem's with the law, but i live in the sticks...

I'd be more concerned about the one behind you's number plate. It's obviously a ringer The Subaru plate is mounted inside the bumper confines which is a fail as it should be at the front of the vehicle strictly speaking. It could be screwed to the front lip of the air dam or further forward on the sloping section but as I said before, I've seen a lot worse just try it. You should get a warning and told to rectify it and produce proof you have complied if the authorities are bothered.

 

[hotrodder]

Get caught with a hinged plate and plod will likely throw the book at you followed by the book case and the rest of the library for perverting the course of justice. At least a few bikers have got that added to the list of charges when caught riding like idiots

FWIW the front numberplate for my speedster spent years stuffed in one of the door pockets after i ripped the mangled remains of it off on a steep drive. Never got tugged for it and the one time i did get tugged in that car plod didn't even mention that the numberplate was virtually unreadable as it was so mangled with the bottom half bent back under the bumper. Old/unusual stuff doesn't attract as much attention for the wrong reasons though and when you do get their attention plod are often confused by/interested in it making it easier to bs your way out of whatever you did wrong

Unless somethings changed then no plate, broken/illegible plate etc is a non endorsable fixed penalty fine if you fail the legendary attitude test and i'd have thought you're more likely to pass if illegally mounted plate (or the one in the boot 'cause it "fell off") is at least legal size/font

 

[cumbriasteve]

Considering the intercooler is as you say oversized and restricting a small percentage should have no impact, before spraying I would have done a bit of body design in the lower part of the bumper with some nice flowing lines to a newly formed flat area to mount the plate.

Convinced he won't get away with it where he plans to have it.

 

[bricol]

I've always worked on the theory the less reason I give the Police to take a second look and perhaps stop me, and having a front plate mounted correctly is one less reason.

Intercooler on a road car very rarely acts as an air/air heat exchanger, more of a heatsink for seconds it's needed - so stick it back where it was - I bet you won't notice any difference - well other than a bit more lag from the new massive intercooler ;-)

I use Lancia integrale as my towcar - and that can stay on boost a long time if you're not careful with the right foot, especially up hill, with the weight of a loaded car trailer behind, so my intercooler can actually work as a proper heat exchanger on occasion.

 

[brightspark]

stick it back in the middle of the grill. the bumpers well tapered on bottom and sides so will direct and force the air in round it

 

[Paul99]

I've always worked on the theory the less reason I give the Police to take a second look and perhaps stop me, and having a front plate mounted correctly is one less reason.

Intercooler on a road car very rarely acts as an air/air heat exchanger, more of a heatsink for seconds it's needed - so stick it back where it was - I bet you won't notice any difference - well other than a bit more lag from the new massive intercooler ;-)

I use Lancia integrale as my towcar - and that can stay on boost a long time if you're not careful with the right foot, especially up hill, with the weight of a loaded car trailer behind, so my intercooler can actually work as a proper heat exchanger on occasion.

Yep couldn't agree more with all you said. I think it's clear that mounting it flat is a stupid idea, looks stupid and invites hassle - my brother said the same and would rather it be 100% correct. What isn't so clear though is a perfect solution - I think it will likely be a case of just mounting it lower on the bumper so not to overlap the intercooler too much - it's a job for the weekend so a bit more time to work it out yet.

He reckons that he can account for the lag with a remap - he went on a re-mapping course, has all the software and kit for mapping and reckons he has all that worked out already - all this electric nonsense is all foreign to me so he may be right. My interest in the project ended with the bodywork / welding / rust repairs really and think it's dull adding such a thing to a road car but whatever it's his money and if nothing else he might actually be learning something along the way.

 

[wristpin]

Presume that is why most Scoobies around here have a square plate mounted to one side?

 

[wookie]

It's a shame you have to spoil the front of the car with a number plate, One thing I don't understand is why motorbikes don't have to display a front numberplate but cars do.

 

[dazza]

I have a little alfa romeo plate on magnets, sometimes i forget to put it back on after cleaning .

 

[wookie]

Used to, seemingly phased out due to danger to pedestrians in the event of a crash, (lengthways down the length of the front mudguard...so like a blade mounted on top)

Oh I know about that, but if bikes don't need them then why do cars ? after all both bikes and cars have to display one at the rear so any cameras that are set to read your number plate should always focus on the rear of the traffic otherwise bikes would not be identified.

 

[GW8IZR]

Being realistic the small reduction in performance would be insignificant on the road, if he was using the extra power it would be on a track anyway so he could remove the plate.