Taxis - and the incorrect display of number plates!

Concerns have recently been raised about the display of square number plates alongside local authority licensing plates in the number plate aperture on some taxis and private hire vehicles - effectively using the rectangular aperture to display a square number plate alongside a square taxi licence plate – apparently naughty!

There is a possible issue in that the legal requirements for the display of registration plates may not be known by some keepers/operators of taxis or private hire vehicles as a result the following reminder has been issued:

The display of registration numbers is defined in the Road Vehicle (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (as amended) which requires number plates to conform to the British Standard, currently, BS AU 145d.  This standard stipulates, amongst other things, the size, shape and reflective qualities required of a number plate.

All vehicles built to a European standard (EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval) must correctly display the registration number on a rectangular plate fitted into the aperture prepared on the vehicle by the manufacturer. This applies to almost all vehicles registered in the UK (there are exceptions for some imported vehicles e.g. those built for the American market).

Further information is available on www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates