New number plate changes from March – but some drivers admit they 'have no clue'

20 February 2024 , 12:30

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Cars on the motorway [file image] (Image: Derby Telegraph)

Number plates are set to change in just a few weeks but it appears that most drivers are unaware of the important rules.

Fourteen per cent of people don't even "have a clue" about how many times new UK registration plates are updated in a year, according to research. All of this comes before the upcoming 'new reg day' in March when new number plates are released. Tom Banks, car insurance spokesman for Go.Compare, said it is "interesting" just how many drivers don't know what number plates mean, even though they usually pass by hundreds or even thousands every day.

He said: "Even if you aren't plate aware, it is important that you are insurance aware. Therefore, if you are lucky enough to be picking up a '24'-plate car in a few weeks don't forget to shop around for insurance. You may find that your current insurance provider will simply change the details of your policy to cover your new vehicle, but this may not always be the cheapest option. So it's always worth comparing the price you have against the rest of the market to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere."

The DVLA has revealed a set of rules everyone should know about licence plates, reports Birmingham Live. To start with, number plates must be built from something that reflects light and shows black letters and numbers on a white background (for the front plate).

Rules also state drivers must display black characters on a yellow background (for the rear plate), must not have a background pattern and must be marked to show who supplied the number plate. They must be marked with a British Standard number - this is 'BS AU 145e' for plates fitted after September 1 2021.

Pet owners driving with dogs face £5,000 fine if they break these rules

The characters must not be removable or reflective. If your number plates were fitted after September 1 2021, they must also be a single shade of black. Number plates can also have 3D (raised) characters, display certain flags, symbols and identifiers and display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle.

Rom Preston-Ellis