RIP- DMB graphics period 80s/90s plates

[HMC]

A1 showplates pre 2001

[jonathan_dyane]

I don't care for the serif on the D...

[HMC]

Agreed. The 7 doesn’t look quite right to my eyes either, maybe the body of it generally has a slight curve on older plates.

[sierraman]

They don’t do serck plates anymore.

[BorniteIdentity]

The Sercks I got from A1 were very disappointing imho. Very thin plastic and not a great facsimile. Fine for a bit of fun, but no more than a 7/10

[uk_senator]

Thats unfortunate, I`ve used them too, & intended to carry on in future as well, even if they are shockingly bad at replying to emails..

[HMC]

Flashback to 2013- my first DMB order. I was totally blown away by the quality of the product. Exact replicas of original plates, and window sticker.

 

That somehow providing such a high level of product in a way completely in keeping with the originality of a car from this period is now somehow wrong; to be stamped out, potentially prosecuted over etc is ludicrous, and defies logic. But silver on black plates for a 1978 cortina is easy to source competely legal (climbs off very small soapbox)

[HMC]

And as a comparison the the front plate that it replaced.

 

 

 

[uk_senator]

Bloody EU!

Oh.. Hang on..

That somehow providing such a high level of product in a way completely in keeping with the originality of a car from this period is now somehow wrong; to be stamped out, potentially prosecuted over etc is a complete disgrace, and defies logic. (climbs off very small soapbox)

[doug]

I just got a rear plate for my motorcycle with the original dealers name along the bottom as per the ones fitted from A1 Plates. Arrived 3 days later and the plate is made from thick black plastic. So should stand up to the vibration better and was much easier to drill. Very impressed with the service.

[captain_70s]

I was of the understanding that if you replaced a number plate the new one technically had to be to the most recent/current plate standard. Although this is unrealistic to enforce unless the plate is obviously wrong...

[HMC]

My understanding*-

Pre 73- as it’s always been

 

73-78 as it’s always been plus now an option to have silver characters on black

 

Pre 2001 (apologies for wordiness) apparently has to be post 2001 font if replaced. Must have bs145 markings. Show plates not with these markings seems to be a technical get around for supplying the old “Charles Wright” font (this however will technically fail an MOT)

Is there a notional cut off to this pre 2001 rule?

Can anyone clarify if pre 78 and not silver on black must it be also the new font?

If so how can suppliers provide those rivited reflective ones without the riot act being read?

 

This is where IMO the rules get a bit difficult to fully understand. Because if they are saying up to 2001 replacements must be the new format where is the notional cut off? If there isn’t a cut off why are ANY older cars allowed anything other than the post 2001 font? Where does it explain that Mr Chumner-Warner in his 1929 Bentley doesn’t have to have a post 2001 plate as a replacement, yet a pleb in his 1995 Escort (me) has to. In both cases providing a replacement contemporaneous to the vehicle in style and construction makes complete sense.

 

2001- new Charles Wright font

[uk_senator]

Although this is unrealistic to enforce unless the plate is obviously wrong...

This is it, if its not got a postcode/maker on it, & is in 100% original style, how the hell is anyone gonna prove otherwise?

 

DMB always demanded V5`s as well, so they weren't just helping cloners without a care in the world.

 

Its all beaurocratic shite that is utterly pointless..

[Isaac Hunt]

Like many things this days, it's all a load of Bollox.

 

So you have an original period plate that is in tact, but a little tired. Not enough to fail an MOT on illegibility or deterioration, but just generally shabby compared with the rest of the restored car,.

 

You can legally carry on using the tired plate but you can't replace it with an exact replica.

 

A supplier of mine hadn't been making standard acrylic plates for many years, latest font and bsau etc. They changed their equipment and the last pair I had made up where thin acrylic with an aluminium backplate. They looked shite even though they were for a modern.

 

How come we never seem to get many car enthusiasts in the bunch of legislators that make up all of this shite. Why do we always end up with the fekkin 'no car nerd types' making the decisions.

[fordperv]

 

DMB always demanded V5`s as well, so they weren't just helping cloners without a care in the world.

 

 

Im sorry but No they didn't I had my saph trimoco plates from them and there wasn't a request for v5 or any proof of I.d

[uk_senator]

Fair enough, I`ve had them do 3 for me, & they wouldnt do it without V5 proof..
 

Im sorry but No they didn't I had my saph trimoco plates from them and there wasn't a request for v5 or any proof of I.d

[Alfamale]

Had two lots of plates made up and both times they asked for the V5. This was in the last 12 months however so they may have tightened up.

[uk_senator]

The first one they made up for me was back in 2013, & they were hot on it then..

Lets face it, if someone wants to knock up a plate, they will do, this is all just bollocks.

[sierraman]

I’d doubt very much you’d get busted for plates unless you were acting like a cock anyway. Only thing that puts me off is this deal on eBay where you are required to send off your driving licence and your bank statement or whatever. Like hell I’d be sending my details off for someone to use to open a few credit cards fraudulently.

 

Hence I’d go in person to somewhere but sadly this would mean ‘new style’ plates.

[Isaac Hunt]

Has anyone asked DMB why they have stopped this service ?

[mk2_craig]

My understanding*-

Pre 73- as it’s always been

 

73-78 as it’s always been plus now an option to have silver characters on black

 

Pre 2001 (apologies for wordiness) apparently has to be post 2001 font if replaced. Must have bs145 markings. Show plates not with these markings seems to be a technical get around for supplying the old “Charles Wright” font (this however will technically fail an MOT)

Is there a notional cut off to this pre 2001 rule?

Can anyone clarify if pre 78 and not silver on black must it be also the new font?

If so how can suppliers provide those rivited reflective ones without the riot act being read?

 

This is where IMO the rules get a bit difficult to fully understand. Because if they are saying up to 2001 replacements must be the new format where is the notional cut off? If there isn’t a cut off why are ANY older cars allowed anything other than the post 2001 font? Where does it explain that Mr Chumner-Warner in his 1929 Bentley doesn’t have to have a post 2001 plate as a replacement, yet a pleb in his 1995 Escort (me) has to. In both cases providing a replacement contemporaneous to the vehicle in style and construction makes complete sense.

 

2001- new Charles Wright font

Totally concur with your thoughts. Plus I've seen plenty of 2001-on vehicles (mainly local authority minibuses etc) with old font plates. How is that not getting picked up at MOT time?

[Isaac Hunt]

They only want 'replacements' to be new style cos they are easier for ANPR stuff.

 

Show plates without BS marks, bolt the shabby dealer originals back on for the test, get an advise for deteriorated Plates then bolt the show plates back on.

 

As the years roll by, those cars in the 78 to 2001 category will gradually become MOT exempt so the show plates can stay on.

[fordperv]

I mentioned about the small number plate, this is what I used to do number plate wise on the escort for m.o.t

 

 

Because as you can see the plate was a little small, to be fair there was nowhere for a regular size one to go and look right due to that silly cut out

[Craig the Princess]

The number of new BMWs, Audis and VWs with the raised letter off-yellow rear plates that presumably are meant to not be picked up by cameras, yet we can't buy period correct plates.

 

And don't get me started on silver on black plates...

[Vin]

Has anyone asked DMB why they have stopped this service ?

 

Don't be daft. Remember, this is the internet...

[mk2_craig]

They only want 'replacements' to be new style cos they are easier for ANPR stuff.

In that case, strange how they're not insisting anything pre 01 MUST change to the new font. Glad they're not though.

 

Work this one out, a batch of buses in Nottingham with randomly old and new font plates :

[In The Pit]

Although new road legal number plates made must contain the BS number and the plate makers name and postcode, MOT inspectors are NOT required to check that any of these are present so they can't fail a vehicle for not having them.

 

This is taken from the latest MOT manual (from 20/5/18)

 

The inspection doesn’t include:

• the suppliers name outside of the minimum margin around the registration number
• postcode outside of the minimum margin around the registration number
• BS number outside of the minimum margin around the registration number
• logos or emblems outside of the minimum margin around the registration number

 

Another interesting line from the manual:

 

Vehicles registered before 1 September 2001 can have larger plates fitted with characters 89mm high and other relevant dimensions that are subsequently larger.

 

and even more interesting:

 

Registration plate characters:

• must be laid out in the correct format for the age of vehicle

 

So technically that means that pre 2001 cars should be displaying 'Old Charles Wright Font' and not 'New Charles Wright Font' as the format is different using 'New Charles Wright Font' as the sequence starts further in to both the left and the right.

 

So the law contradicts itself by stating that new number plates fitted to pre 2001 vehicles must use the 'New Charles Wright Font' but to pass an MOT they must display plates that use the 'Old Charles Wright Font' which you cannot buy because it's illegal to make them.

[Angrydicky]

This is particularly annoying as I cracked the original front plate on the Royale when I bumped into a towbar (on another of my cars) while parking. I've had a few sets of DMB plates and they've always been top quality and reasonably priced.

Its only a matter of time before it fails its MoT, but if it can last another two years it'll be exempt anyway. Just would have smartened it up with a new replica.

[HMC]

And to further add to the confusion at least one of my old cars had as an advisory about the plates lacking the bs markings- I wonder has this changed in terms of mot regs then? Presumably the Interperetation of these conflicting statements is difficult for the testers too?

[HMC]

These arrived today, the construction of the plate is “modern” with only a thin laminate over the characters but I’m impressed with it! My smiley faced escort will soon be even more happy looking.