v8bertha Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Whats the law on trailer number plates? I always thought they had to be proper plates conforming to the usual standard, i.e letter spacing, size, colour etc etc rather than the scrawlled paper and marker pen jobs that you see so often these days! Don't get me wrong, I'm no angel and have been guilty of this in the past but if anyone knows for sure what the rules state, post up! Cheers Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco_al Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 you are correct, they should be made to the correct standard, same as any number plate (which is a right PITA having to take licence and logbook to get them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boro Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Hope dan doesnt mind me asking but saves starting another thread, if the tow vehicle has the old black and white pressed plates can you use the same type of plate on the trailer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8bertha Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 LOL... I thought so... so what kind of example were the towists setting this morning then!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 LOL... I thought so... so what kind of example were the towists setting this morning then!! Don't do as I do. Do as I say...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boro Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 would love to know the story behind that, ie one off towing something thats been siezed or a regular thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 :hysterical: That is magnificent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Trouble is you used to be able to have any numberplate on the trailer so long as it related to a vehicle you owned. Now it has to m atch the tow vehicle. Not an issue if you only have one tow vehicle and 1 trailer but a PITA if you operate a fleet of different trailers and potential tow vehicles. I am guilty of leaving one plate on each of my trailers which may not be the one of the tow vehicle but it is easier than constantly changing them around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco_al Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 i just tend to use a trailer board with the correct plate on it these days if i borrow a trailer, easier to attach with some cable ties and an extension to the car for the socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Trouble is you used to be able to have any numberplate on the trailer so long as it related to a vehicle you owned. Never heard of that before, I thought it was always the case it had to be the tow-car's plate. Good picture though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Trouble is you used to be able to have any numberplate on the trailer so long as it related to a vehicle you owned. Now it has to m atch the tow vehicle. Not an issue if you only have one tow vehicle and 1 trailer but a PITA if you operate a fleet of different trailers and potential tow vehicles. I am guilty of leaving one plate on each of my trailers which may not be the one of the tow vehicle but it is easier than constantly changing them around. When did that change? I certainly thought that was still the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Interestingly you are allowed to remove the number plate from you car to put on the trailer instead.... from http://www.britannia-driving-school.co.uk/highwaycode/pdf/uksi_20010561_en.pdf Fixing of rear registration plates: vehicles registered on or after the relevant date 5.—(1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered on or after the relevant date. (2) A registration plate must be fixed on the rear of— (a) the vehicle, or (b) where the vehicle is towing a trailer, the trailer, or © where the vehicle is towing more than one trailer, the rearmost trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 This is the closest thing I could find about displaying the wrong registration on a trailer... it's from the same document listed above.. Fixing of registration plates: works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines 8.—(1) This regulation applies to works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines. (2) A registration plate must be fixed on the vehicle in a vertical position or, where that is not possible, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable— (a) on both sides of the vehicles, so that the characters of the mark are easily distinguishable from both sides of the vehicle, or (b) on the rear of the vehicle, so that the characters of the mark are easily distinguishable from behind the vehicle, or © where the vehicle is towing a trailer or trailers and the plate is not fixed on the sides of the vehicle, on the trailer or the rearmost trailer (as the case may be) so that the characters of the mark are easily distinguishable from behind the trailer. (3) Where the towing vehicle is an agricultural machine, a plate fixed on the trailer may, instead of displaying the registration mark of the towing vehicle, display the mark of any other agricultural machine kept by the keeper of the towing vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Number plates on a tractor trailer? Whatever next! lights?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/machinery/machinery-news/stay-within-the-number-plate-laws/40961.article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Makes sense really if you were hauling silage you may swap tractor and trailer quite a few time in one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerboy_y2k Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Number plates on a tractor trailer? Whatever next! lights?! My boss bought trailer boards for the trailers at work. First time we've had lights on them while i've worked there. no number plates though..... All 3 of our ifor williams trailers show the same plate and don't get changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Hope dan doesnt mind me asking but saves starting another thread, if the tow vehicle has the old black and white pressed plates can you use the same type of plate on the trailer? only if the towing vehicle is pre 1 January 1973 IIRC, before the reflective reg plates came into use. anything reg'd after 1 Jan 1973 MUST carry the reflective plates [black on yellow for the rear end] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Whoops, and there's me thinking this applied to all vehicles and not just tractors! Better buy a few sets of rear plates then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wack61 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 When I went to buy something from the motor factors I was told they couldn't sell me a plate for the trailer without the car documents but they could sell me a blank plate and the self adhesive letters, so I bought those and stuck them on myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco_al Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 When I went to buy something from the motor factors I was told they couldn't sell me a plate for the trailer without the car documents but they could sell me a blank plate and the self adhesive letters, so I bought those and stuck them on myself that is correct. the dvla require number plate suppliers to keep the details of all plates made for 3 years. we always ask for driving licence of the person collecting the plates (or passport/bank card/credit card) and the v5c for the vehicle so we can keep a record of the serial numbers for traceability. avoid halfords for plates, they are charging anything from £18 upwards at the moment (depending on style, plain, border, gb logo all add extra) whereas we charge £12 regardless of style or shape. (cheaper for trade or people the staff know ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boro Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 That doesnt mean to say you cant still buy plates without producing documents, i bought one online not long ago for a trailer, the need to produce documents is nonsense really as the criminals will always find a way round it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco_al Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 That doesnt mean to say you cant still buy plates without producing documents, i bought one online not long ago for a trailer, the need to produce documents is nonsense really as the criminals will always find a way round it true, there are ways around it, but the supplier (if caught) can get a fine of upto £3k per offence, and if you're caught then a picky jobsworth could fine you for having non approved plates. proper ones should have the BS mark and the suppliers name and postcode on the bottom. there are rumblings in the trade that plates will be checked at mot time for the bs marks etc.....and that the "show plates" as they are comonly known, will be a fail becuase of the lack of supplier details. it's a pita system, but it does work. we had the police round to check our records as they found a stolen vehicle with plates on it that had our supplier details on, came and checked the records and found the name and address of the person who bought the plates, who turned out to be a locally well known criminal - muppet had got so cocky from not being caught, that he used his own id to buy the plates for a car that he'd nicked!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 proper ones should have the BS mark and the suppliers name and postcode on the bottom. there are rumblings in the trade that plates will be checked at mot time for the bs marks etc.....and that the "show plates" as they are comonly known, will be a fail becuase of the lack of supplier details. Could this be a problem fro pre-73 vehicles or will they be excempt? My B+W plates have neither BS mark or a suppliers name - I did have to send all sorts of documents off to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boro Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 What about all the older cars running around with the original number plates on them then, they wont have a bs number or suppliers name and post code, i dont think anyway, i will check a few cars in a minute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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