I dont know if this is any use but I emailed europl8 who claim to make uk legal pressed plates, informing of issues others have had etc.

Here's how it went..

Hi Nick

 

Nobody will give you a cert to say the plates are legal, Halfords don`t do it....

 

While the police do a good job, they do not know the laws 100%.

 

Number plates can be made from any material as long as they meet the BS standards. So in theory if cardboard met the requirments, you could make them out of that.... ( but of course they wouldn`t meet the requirments)

 

Plates have to go throught approx 12 tests, including

 

Reflectiveness

bending

impact

corrosion

weathering

etc etc

 

We have spent £12K to get the plates passed by BS, we did not get a cert, though we did get a 20 page document...

 

I dare say, those who got a fine, just paid up, you do not get 3 points. If they were to contest the fine, along with photo evidence the matter would not go to court, as they are indeed legal.

 

 

regards Kevin Beck

 

Cottage Promotions Ltd

59 Newcastle Street.

Burslem.

Stoke on Trent.

Staffs.

ST6 3QB

 

01782 817007

 

Signs & Graphics, Screen Printing & Embroidery.

www.cott-promo.co.uk

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Nick

To: info@europl8.net

Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 7:16 AM

Subject: Few quieries on UK legal pressed plates.

Hi there,

 

I am after a pair of UK legal pressed plates for my 1998 VW Polo.

 

I have done some research and as far as I can tell the only legalities are the sizes and spacing of letters and a reflective background etc.

 

I know there is another company who also sell ''UK legal pressed plates'' however, I know several people who have been stopped by the police and given points for them not being legal, even after pointing out to them them BS markings and the fact they were sold as legal.

 

Now I cant afford to have any points, and I dont want fines etc.

 

So do I receive any documentation with the plates to support their legalities? Would you be prepared to stand up in court to fight the fact they are legal if I ended up in a situation of being penilised for something you have sold as legal?

 

Sorry to sound like I'm worrying or being stupid, I just value my driving license and dont want to have points or fines for something which I was told was legal.

 

I'm sure youll understand this.

 

Have you had any issues in the past with things like this?

 

Many thanks in advanced,

 

Nick.

So yes you can get uk legal plates, just depends if the police knows all the rules, but I woulnt wanna argue with the policeman lol.

Well I've ran "illegal" pressed plates for over a year now and they've never even caught a coppers eye because they look completely normal.

Oh yeah I know that, lots of people do and are fine, depends on area etc!

Oh yeah I know that, lots of people do and are fine, depends on area etc!

Well done you for asking! Stand up for your consumer rights, if you're being sold something under the grounds as legal then its best to be sure!

well theres countless threads of people asking, everyone seems unsure, pulling up random links on number plates. contact supplier, they know about what their selling!

I ran 'illegal' pressed plates for a year and never got any hassle. Think it depends on the area and the police

from what a copper told me if they are legal pressed plates then they are only legal on cars pre 1999 or 2000 cant remember exactly

That would only be dependent on the letter sizes. Cars from 2001 onwards must have then skinnier characters, but cars pre 2001 can have the older fatter ones or the ones the same as 2001 onwards

those who got a fine, just paid up, that's nit a very good sales pitch if what's the point in spending extra money on legal plates if your going to get fined anyway

pressed plates arent cool anymore anyway haha,

it does depend on the area, and the police at the time and there mood.

they can attract unwanted attention and give bord policeman a reason to pull you over. i took mine off as i didnt want to get pulled by a grumpy policeman because of the plates. even though i know there legal - supposedly, and once you are pulled the police will check you are whole car and if they're in a bad mood could start picking away at things like its to low,you are wheels stick out, you are exhaust it too loud and you are tyres have been fouled by you arch etc....

imo you'd probably be less likely to get pulled if u have the basic pressed plates with no logos or anything on an older polo like a mk1 or mk2 as they are old school looking and plates used to be steel back in the day.

peace.

well if u have issues like that either fix them or pay the consequences anyway lol.

my cars low but its not illegal is it ha,

my wheels stick out a tiny amount but no ones sure if its illegal,

these pressed plates are sold as legal but no ones sure if there legal.

its all down to the policeman on the day.

i wouldnt call a low car an issue.

i personally think any vw not lowered should fail an MOT ha x

nah i mean having your tyres ripped to shreads with your arches etc, things which are clearly gonna cause u a problem, wheras if your being sold something as legal, and you get done, you could sue them anyway

yeh my point was more that pressed plates are easily spotted (whereas tyre wear isnt, especially whilst driving). the whole sueing route would be a good year of unwanted hassle, fees and paper work no doubt aswell. yawn.

cba to respond. only put this up to demonstrate what the manufacturer themselves said as apposed to peoples past experiences or loads more threads asking about them

what the hell is the point in changing plates like it matters, just keep standard ones what gives!

Edited 13 November, 201015 yr by LOGiCALX