(S) number plate light??

Hey there guys i was just wonderin, is it illegal to change the lights that illuminate your number plate from white to red, ive seen coloured bulbs on sale on the internet bt i was just wonderin if its legal??
cheers

No not legal not even legal to replace with White LED as the lamp unit has been granted type approval for use with a normal filament lamp

Can be legal if the bulb is E marked to the correct standard, however you cannot use red to the front. Nor can the bulb be designed not to properly illuminate your reg plate.

As the numberplate lamp is an optional lamp it is not required to follow the rules set out for obligatory lights. - IGNORE, it is an obligatory lamp.

Tom.

P.s Rules are due to change 2011.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1989/Uks...psimilardevice

no its not

yes it is

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1989/Uks...linemarkerlamp
Maintenance of lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices
23.—(1) No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle unless every lamp, reflector, rear marking and device to which this paragraph applies is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean.

(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3), paragraph (1) applies to-

(a) every-

(i) front position lamp,
(ii) rear position lamp,
(iii) headlamp,
(iv) rear registration plate lamp,
(v) side marker lamp,
(vi) end-outline marker lamp,
(vii) rear fog lamp,
(viii) retro reflector, and
(ix) rear marking of a type specified in Part I of Section B of Schedule 19,with which the vehicle is required by these Regulations to be fitted

SCHEDULE 15
(Regulation 18)

requirements relating to obligatory rear registration plate lamps



1. Number:
Such that the lamp or lamps are capable of adequately illuminating the rear registration plate

2. Position:
Such that the lamp or lamps are capable of adequately illuminating the rear registration plate

3. Angles of visibility:
Such that the lamp or lamps are capable of adequately illuminating the rear registration plate

4. Alignment:
Such that the lamp or lamps are capable of adequately illuminating the rear registration plate

5. Markings-
(a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985:

An approval mark

(b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985:
No requirement

6. Size of illuminated area:
No requirement

7. Colour:
White

8. Wattage:
No requirement

9. Intensity:
No requirement

10. Electrical connections:
No individual requirement

11. Tell-tale:
No requirement

an E approved LED might be E marked but is e marked for use in a fitting that has been designed for use in a LED fitting and E marked as such

Doubt you'd have any problems using white however if you get an arsey copper or are involved in an accident insurance companies will try anything to get out of paying up

I stand corrected, lol, shouldn't have let the chav off the other night whilst on shaddow shift. I'll tell Ray in the morning

Thanks Andy

Ah cheers guys, i guess its back to the drawin board then

no problem He'll be telling you next blue washer jets are legal

A burnt out rear numberplate light is an MOT failure, therefore, and as Andy stays its definately NOT optional...... More study on the lighting regs is needed my friend

LOL, now i know theyre not legal

I'd already acknowledged my ill-informed information.

@ Andy, Aye that he did. Same chav too come to think of it, silly little scrote.

Quoted from POLICE UK

"Take a look at the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1989.

Reg 18 specifies what obligatory lamps are required and how they must be maintained. You'll need to look at the table in Schedule 1 for the requirements. Further schedules go on to describe the requirements of each in detail. Schedule 4 deals with dipped hedlamps. There is a colour requirement and they must be white or yellow. Similarly for main-beam headlamps (Schedule 5). So, any colours apart from white or yellow in the main or dipped headlamps is a contravention.

Since lights fitted to washer jets do not comprise a type of lamp (obligatory or optional) specified in the Regulations they are not catered for. HEnce, there are no requirements as to their use aside from then prohibition on flashing, dazzling etc/"

Ah bt arent all outwards facing neon lights such as under car, wheel arch, washer jets, etc. illegal beacause they distract other drivers??

Quote from POLICE UK

"Lights mounted on the screen wash nozzle may be legal if they do not flash, move or distract other drivers. It is illegal to have any red lights to the front of the vehicle.

If the light can be seen from the rear of the vehicle (which more than likely will be the case with these types of lights) then an offence is committed as the only lights that can be seen from the rear of the vehicle have to be red (subject to certain exceptions, e.g. indicator lights and reverse light). If you are found guilty of this offence you could face a substantial fine.

The situation is the same for neon lights of other colours. "

ang on, then surely if the number plate light was red, like i intended then as long as the plate is still visable then its okay right???

Thats what I originally thought, however as the rear reg light is an Obligatory lamp it falls into the schedule as laid out above by Andy.