The government has announced a new roads-policing coordination centre to help identify illegal number plates and support enforcement across England. For ordinary drivers, the sensible response is a quick plate check.
What makes a plate illegal?
A plate can be a problem if its characters are incorrectly spaced, difficult to read, displayed in the wrong style, covered by a tinted film or altered to make a registration look like a different word or number. It also needs to meet the relevant rules for markings and visibility.
Five-minute check
- Both plates are present and securely attached.
- The characters are clean, clear and evenly spaced.
- No cover, tint, dirt or accessory is obscuring the registration.
- The plate has not cracked, faded or been damaged.
- The registration shown is the one assigned to the vehicle.
Why this matters at MOT time
Plate condition is easy to ignore until it becomes a failure or an avoidable expense. Check again after a minor bump, a plate swap or the installation of a bike rack that may obscure the view.
Motorbook tip: Add a recurring car walk-around reminder alongside your MOT reminder. A monthly check of tyres, lights, plates and fluids gives you time to fix small problems.
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