Number Plate

[Gryzor]

I quite like the look of metal plates but unfortunately they are illegal in the UK. Apparently the reason is they are not made of a retroreflective material and also because the letters are not flat to the plate and cannot be read by ANPR.

So if ANPR can't read raised letters what happens when a German tourist gets done for speeding?   Lots of countries have raised letters on their plates and are legal to drive in the UK so i doubt that would cause any issues.

The law applies to cars registered in the UK, not cars visiting from other countries.  Like I said, it's not that ANPR cannot ever read metal plates or other kind of raised letters, but the specification clearly states what a number plate must be made from.  Metal plates are not retroreflective, so can't be legal.  Happy to be proven wrong though.  I see all kinds of illegal plates on the roads though, from silly fonts to wrong character spacing and incorrect use of screw cap covers to make letters look like something else.  Some get away with it, some don't.  I'd rather eliminate the hassle completely.

Edit: I just had a word with a mate of mine who used to work in the police force a few years back. While he couldn't say for 100% certainty, he was sure that (talking about new plates here) any with raised letters, regardless of material, is illegal in the UK.  He is going to have a chat to somebody he knows still in the force to get some clarification for me.  Not that I'd consider putting such tacky things on my car, but I'm interested to know

[JoeGTI]

Not that I'd consider putting such tacky things on my car, but I'm interested to know

How pray tell is it "tacky"? And  plastic / acrylic plates somehow aren't? I would think exactly the opposite but each to their own 

[Gryzor]

How pray tell is it "tacky"? And  plastic / acrylic plates somehow aren't? I would think exactly the opposite but each to their own 

I just think they look out of place on a modern car, especially one like the Mk7 GTI with such clean lines.  Besides, I've never been a fan of dressing up the exterior of my cars in any way just to make them look different.

[JoeGTI]

How pray tell is it "tacky"? And  plastic / acrylic plates somehow aren't? I would think exactly the opposite but each to their own 

I just think they look out of place on a modern car, especially one like the Mk7 GTI with such clean lines.  Besides, I've never been a fan of dressing up the exterior of my cars in any way just to make them look different.

But but.... every single VW in Germany (and most other Euro countries) has pressed plates - look at the original promo photos of the GTI,  they look great... I also find that the plastic plates often go all milky and get discoloured (possibly water getting in under the plastic), or they look "distressed" wherever the dealer drilled them for screws. Then they look seriously naff, as if they needed any help in that department.

OK, I give up, different tastes and all that.

[Gryzor]

I don't live in Germany, I live in the UK, and my plates are going to be stuck on, not drilled.  If they discolour, they are a simple swap.  Besides, if they are indeed illegal in this country, they can look as cool as they want.

Nothing to give up on, if we all had the same tastes the world would be one hell of a boring place!

[Bill_the_Bear]

I think my mind just tunes the plates out now so that I don't even notice them.  Therefore I doubt it matters much.

[JellyB]

As a side note, I have worked with both static and mobile ANPR systems and they have no problems picking up metal pressed plates, reflective or otherwise.

In fact for law enforcement use they are quite scary - unlike the ones you have on petrol station forecourts which are quite funny sometimes!