Many of us like to be a little loose in our interpretation of the law when it comes to our motorcycle number plates. It seems like a waste of time making our bike plates match up to what the government deems to be acceptable, especially when we’ve got the looks of our machine and our image on the line.
That’s why so many bikers disregard the law and try their utmost to get motorcycle number plates made by a manufacturer who is willing to give us something which might look great but can attract the unwanted attention of your local law enforcement officers. Although the most that will usually happen in the case of illegal plates is a £30 fine and no points added to your license, it’s good to know how bike number plates should be displayed. In that way if we feel the urge we can stay close to what is legally allowed to reduce our chances of getting an on the spot fine by the police.
The DVLA states that to be within the law the registration number plate for a motorcycle should be displayed as follows:
- A number plate should be displayed on the rear of the motorcycle
- Number Plates must be easily read and conform to the British Standard
- Lettering should be black on a yellow background
- The background surface should be reflex-reflecting but the lettering mustn’t be
- Motorcycles registered after 1st September 2001 must display a two-line number plate, while older motorcycles may use a three-line plate. One-line motorcycle number plates are illegal.
- Stylised letters such as italics are prohibited
- Number plate fixing bolts shouldn’t be used to alter the appearance of letters or numbers
Standard Number Plates for motorcycles made after September 2001 must use lettering with the following characteristics:
Height: 64mm
Width: 44mm
Stroke: 10mm
Space between letter: 10mm
Space between groups: 30mm
Margins: 11mm
Space between vertical lines: 13mm
At the end of the day everyone realises that there are much worse crimes than having a motorcycle number plate that doesn’t match up to the governments ideal so make your own choice on the matter. If you really want custom plates its probably worth taking the risk as long as you don’t stray into ridiculous territory and get something that sticks out like a sore thumb.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:25 am
[...] new number plate laws come down hard on any company found to be supplying items that end up in use on the public roads. [...]
October 20th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Are you sure about when the ‘for motorcycles made after 2001′? My advice has been that a motorcycle can be made after 2001, but if private plates are bought with a date of prior than 2001, then the whole matter changes again and your information is wrong.
Ex. 2005 Yam with customised 1968 plates. Your guidlines in the instuctions above are incorrect and new guidlines apply even though the bike was made after 2001!! Am I right?
January 17th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
OMG!!!
What a MESS!!! Can someone help??
I have just bought a private number – it has one letter then one number – space – 3 letters. The bike registered 2008.
This all fits with the prescribed spaces and character sizes on one line on a 9×7 yellow rear bike plate!
Is that legal? To have all on one line on a 2 line plate??
Please help – This is doing my head in!!!
Thanks
April 30th, 2010 at 2:55 am
hi, there is no mention of the makers name and bs number? what are the requirements, sizes of lettering. according to my local mot garage there is no 11mm boarder needed on a bike plate as there is on a car? and a rear reflector is needed if a tail tidy has been fitted, thanks,rob.
May 7th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Mark… you wish! I think that’s more a case of a copper not spotting it, and then the biker getting away with it. Why would anyone want to put a 68 plate on a 2005 Yam though? Seems bloody stupid to me.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:37 am
The law in the UK is quite clear, “Motorcycles registered after 1st September 2001 must display a two-line number plate, while older motorcycles may use a three-line plate” is unambiguous.
It doesn’t matter when the bike was made, it doesn’t matter when the plate is made, if the bike was first registered before Sept 2001 you are allowed to use a 3 line plate.
However I defy you to find anybody who will make you one, because it seems all manufacturers don’t understand this point and believe they have not been allowed to make 3 line plates since Sept 2001.
I’m not so sure about private plates bought before Sept 2001 and put on a bike that’s newer than this, but I wouldn’t want to be the pushing the law on this.