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NUMBER PLATE NEW LEGISLATION - THIS AFFECTS YOU!
11 August 2008
There are some important changes to the regulations affecting companies involved in the supply of number plates. If you have not already done so you should be receiving a letter from DVLA advising you about these changes. Please read the following information carefully.
Personalisation
A clarification of regulations first introduced in 2001, may now require a change to the personalisation on your number plates. Number plates must display the supplier’s name and postcode in the bottom centre of the plate but from 1st November 2008 it will no longer be allowed to include company or manufacturers’ logos, web addresses or telephone numbers. There is no restriction in the style of font or colours used and a coachline will still be allowed.
The Bestplate BS AU 145d must be shown in the bottom right corner of the plate.
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Should you wish to continue to display your web address, telephone number etc, Bestplate can provide you with 3 alternative solutions:
1. Bestplate Lipped Plates;
2. Bestplate Advertising Frames; and
3. Bestplate Advertising Strips.
Enclosed are brochures detailing the above products, please contact your Bestplate Area Manager or our Customer Services on 01253 348634 for samples and costs.
Please ensure that existing stocks of pre-printed materials or plates are used in good time to avoid any unnecessary wastage.
Prosecution for Supply of Non-compliant Number Plates
It is currently an offence to display plates on a vehicle which do not comply with the current requirements. With effect from 1st November 2008 it will also be an offence to supply non-compliant plates. In the eyes of the law it will no longer be acceptable to advise customers that their plates should not be used on the road or are for show or display purposes only. If a plate displays a registration mark issued by DVLA, then it is deemed to be a number plate and must therefore comply with the current standards.
The maximum penalty for an offence will be a fine of up to £2500 and/or suspension from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers for up to 5 years.
Extension of the Register of Number Plate Suppliers to Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS) was first introduced in England and Wales in January 2003 in order to regulate the supply of number plates and make it more difficult for criminals to obtain number plates for the purpose of criminal activity. This legislation is now being extended to Scotland and Northern Ireland from 1st August 2008.
All businesses in Scotland and Northern Ireland involved in the supply of number plates, with the exception of some outlets which are deemed exempt, must now register with DVLA between 1st August and 31st October 2008. At the time of registration there is a one-off fee of £40 per place of business. If your business has more than one location involved in the supply of plates, then each location must register and the fee will be payable for each site.
There may be businesses in England and Wales who will now need to register branches in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
To comply with the legislation you must register with DVLA before 31st October 2008. Registration can be completed by telephone on 0870 600 1016 provided payment can be made using a debit or credit card. Alternatively you can download form V940 and/or V940/1 (additional locations) from the DVLA website at
www.dvla.gov.uk.
On registration, DVLA will provide details of record keeping requirements together with a list of acceptable documents. Bestplate can provide a record keeping software package which will guide you through the process of identifying acceptable documents and recording the sale legally. Please contact Customer Services for more information.
If you have any queries about any of the above information, please contact our Customer Services on 01253 348634 or
[email protected]. Alternatively you may wish to call DVLA direct on 0870 600 1016.
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DVLA GAINS ADDITIONAL POWERS TO COMBAT THE SUPPLY OF ILLEGAL NUMBER PLATES
28 August 2007
New powers gained under the Road Safety Act 2006 mean that DVLA Number Plate Enforcement Officers will step up the enforcement effort against number plate suppliers who break the law.
The existing requirement is for all number plate suppliers in England and Wales to register with DVLA, request sight of specific documentation from customers and keep records for 3 years following a sale. This will apply to traders in Scotland and Northern Ireland later in the year.
Failure to request evidence of entitlement to a particular registration mark through the production of suitable documentation (e.g. registration certificate) and proof of identity (e.g. photocard driving licence) is an offence.
DVLA officials now have the authority to enter premises, seize records and prosecute offenders. This will supplement the powers used by police officers and trading standards officials.
Police spokesman Superintendent John Wake said: “The police welcomes this DVLA initiative. It increases the pressure on rogue number plate suppliers who provide criminals with the raw material to clone motor vehicles.
“We fully support DVLA bringing their own prosecutions and we will continue to work closely with DVLA to cut off the supply of illegal number plates and bring those involved in car cloning before the courts.”
Jonathan Hartley of the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association (BNMA) said: “The vast majority of number plate suppliers who comply with the requirements of the law have nothing to fear. The BNMA fully endorses measures taken by DVLA to bear down on illegal number plate suppliers, who undermine legitimate trade and take business away from BNMA members.”
