What's the position re black'n'silver plates?

[MrT]

I've seen a few cars driving with silver on black reg plates on and wondered what the rules were about these things.

Two stick in my mind: one was a '73 M-plate yellow Cortina mk3 - totally mint looking car that probably gets away with it on age grounds (my old Viva HC was 'M', but had white/yellow plates - not sure when the rules changed).

The other was a black Saab 9-3, but it had a private number on which could conceivably have been bought from a scrapped vehicle.

Are these things legally acceptable on a modern vehicle? Or are they going to attract the same attention as folk who use show plates (non-standard fonts, crap spacing etc) on the road?

[pricey]

Black/silver plates are only legal on cars that were built 'PRE' 1973.

[poves]

Wat e said ^^

[GARY3306]

as above, although they would pass an MOT

[Ste]

If the Police use the MOT test requirements as a basis for considering roadworthiness, how can the plates be illegal and yet pass the MOT?? Puzzling

[solorider]

as above, although they would pass an MOT

how as these plates are illeagal for that car,same as if the spacing is incorrect.plus the police can pull you over and issue you a fine.

Vehicles constructed before 1.1.73 may display traditional style "black and white" plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.

notice the word constructed not registered

[GARY3306]

There are loads upon loads of differences, and the Police don't apply MOT regs, they follow the construction and use regulations. You don't need a windscreen in the vehicle for an MOT test, but you try getting past MLC without one . You can take all the lights off your vehicle, every one and it will pass, but you try getting past MLC. The list goes on and on and I for one think it is crackers, but there you go, that's this country for you.

MOT requirements for a number plate:
1) Must have one
2) Must not be dirty, obscured, defaced or otherwise illegible
3) Must be secure
4) Must have correct size of letters and correct spacing of letters.

That is it, nothing more. You can use a bit of cardboard and write the reg on with a black marker. If it fulfills the above criteria, it will pass

[mark1319]

Military vehicles also have black & white plates. So paint your car DPM and your sorted LOL.

[GARY3306]

Military vehicles also have black & white plates. So paint your car DPM and your sorted LOL.

lol, the man's a genius

[VauxVeteran]

The nicest ones are pinstriped if you can still get them, I had them on a 1972 Escort many moon's ago, took on 1.3L and did a job to be proud of on it, rostyles and chrome embelisher's, Mexico blacked the rear panel, all on a dark green metallic canvas, no pics I'm afraid, and it's the one car I wish I had pics of because it looked so sexy, so sexy infact I only had it 4 weeks before a 3.0 Ghia Capri 2 auto was waved infront of my nose as a swap.