Number Plates – Upcoming changes to legislation from 1st January 2021

Introduction of the new standard for number plates : BS AU 145e

The British Standards Institute publishes the technical standards that all number plates are required to satisfy and this requirement is mandated in law. In March 2018, the BSI published an updated standard for number plates, BS AU 145e. This new standard will improve the durability of new number plates and enhance compatibility with on road enforcement cameras.

The new standard also requires that plates only display single shade black lettering removing the ability to use different shades to produce 3D effects or highlighting.

The agency has not seen any evidence to show that number plates displaying raised plastic, acrylic or perspex lettering (3D/4D plates) are able to meet the requirements of either the current or new the British Standard.

To take effect this new British Standard needs to be incorporated into the regulations and will become mandatory from 1st September 2021 but can be used from 1st January 2021.

This means that as a supplier you: must ensure that the number plates you supply can meet all the requirements of the standard and legislative requirements and should contact your component supplier or manufacturer if you are unsure whether the components they supply for you can meet the standard. It is an offence to supply number plates that cannot meet the standard

Changes to the eligibility for black and silver number plates

It will be specified in law from 1st January 2021 that only vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1980 are eligible to display “black and silver” number plates

As a supplier this means you: can only produce black and silver number plates for those vehicles registered prior to 1st January 1980 that have also been licensed in the historic tax class

Removal of the “EU” symbol

As part of the UK’s exit from the EU, government will remove the ability to fix a new number plate displaying the Euro symbol after the end of the EU exit transition period. Those registration plates fixed to a vehicle before 1st January 2021 will be unaffected.

As a supplier this means you: cannot produce a number plate with an “EU” symbol from 1st January 2021

Green Number Plates

Green Number Plates (GNP) will signify that the vehicle emits zero emissions and will consist of a green flash on the left hand side of a registration number plate. They will be non-mandatory and available to new and existing qualifying vehicles.

Regional emblems and identifiers that are currently permitted can still be displayed on the green flash.

Eligibility

Only vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions (e.g. fully battery electric, or hydrogen fuel cell) can display a green number plate. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids (including range extenders) are not eligible.

This applies to all vehicle types – cars, vans, taxis, motorbikes; and buses, coaches and HGV’s

Design

The regulations state that the green flash must be no less than 40mm in width, and no more than 50mm in width it must be retro-reflective and be matching or of an equivalent green to the Pantone 7481c colour reference

Examples