Law change for b/w registration plates

[Keith Bennett]

Published: 10/12/2020

The FHBVC has today received information directly from DVLA concerning information on black and silver number plates which will take effect from 1 January 2021.

DVLA kindly requested we share this information with you....

This note is to tell you about important changes being introduced on 1 January 2021 that affect the ability of vehicles registered in the historic tax class to display the old style pre-1973 black and silver number plates.

Following the change in definition of a historic vehicle for vehicle tax exemption purposes in 2015, an issue was identified in the regulatory requirements for the valid display of a black and silver number plate. This resulted in an unintended consequence where any vehicle over 40 years old and registered in the historic tax class would be permitted to display an old style black and silver number plate. This was despite the law previously requiring all vehicles first registered after 1 January 1973 to only display the yellow and white number plates with black characters.

As this was never the intention, we have sought to rectify this through a legal correction which will shortly be implemented. The change seeks to prevent any vehicle constructed after 1 January 1980 from the ability to display the black and silver number plate despite being recorded in the DVLA’s historic tax class. Those vehicles with a construction date prior to 1 January 1980 will continue to be able to legally display black and silver number plates to avoid any undue costs of replacement.

Your members may also wish to note that from 1 January it will no longer be permissible to fix a new number plate displaying a Euro symbol. Number plates already fixed to vehicles are unaffected. We will also be introducing a new British Standard for number plates produced from 1 September 2021 which will mean all current style number plates that are first fixed to a vehicle from that date must meet the technical requirements contained in that standard.

[Dave the rave]

Don't like those pressed black & silver plates at all. Much prefer the separate white letters fitted on the black background.

[Stoney13]

what a lot of old do dar , what different does it make what dam plate is on the vehicle as long as its clearly readable

[Keith Bennett]

Cos I expect some little clerk in DVLA had a quite afternoon and wondered what other mischief he could make...

[Dave the rave]

And the exchequer can count the spondoolies when the miscreants get collared

[Stoney13]

No what it is that all exempt vehicles will display this plates much like aus, they have heritage number plates ,
i did post this also on face book, as some how i get emails from DVLA and the FBHVC alike and post on our page so people can keep up dated

[Stoney13]

and now the idiots at DVLA had said that new electric vehicles will display a Green number plate instead of the white ( front) and yellow (rear) really have they nowt else to do in this lock down

[Stoney13]

any way green number plates its only going to be the edge were the EU bit was, thanks DVLA for at last making it clear or at least as clear as DVLA can, and now i read that some folk have been putting these green edges on to their plates so they dont have to pay clean air taxes i say well done them (only my opinion )