The flexible car insurance provider Cuvva has warned drivers interested in changing their number plate could land them a £1,000 fine.
With the new ’24’ numberplates releasing on March 1, 2024, the new car market is set to see a spike in sales, as more drivers are encouraged to buy the latest model.
However, Darryl Bowman from Cuvva noted that the release of the new set of plates can also help drivers bag a bargain on the used car market, with some drivers seeing the ’73’ plate cars as out of date.
He explained: “When it comes to number plate changes, there’s always a rush for people to get their hands on the latest plate. But there are opportunities to score deals on slightly older plates.
“If you’re contemplating selling your car, doing so before the new plates are released could net you a higher price. While if you’re in the market to buy a new car, waiting for the new plates may result in a better price, as the current ones become one plate older.”
Drivers not wanting others to know they no longer have the latest plates could always buy a set of private plates to hide the age of the vehicle.
However, Cuvva advised motorists to make sure that the number plates they fit to their car must be made from a reflective material using a white background for the front and a yellow background for the rear.
The company warned that the plates should never feature any patterns that could make them more difficult for other road users to read.
Cuvva also highlighted that drivers getting new number plates fitted to their car should make sure that the lettering and spacing follows the strict standards set by the DVLA.
Only a certain number of fonts are allowed on numberplates, with many recommending Charles Wright 2001, and letters must all be 79mm tall and 50mm wide.
Drivers should also make sure that all letters are 11mm apart from one another to avoid multiple letters and numbers from being merged into one.
Finally, drivers with no plans to change their car’s number plates should also remember to make sure it is regularly cleaned.
Whilst it is not technically illegal, drivers can still be pulled over if dirt makes it more difficult to identify the vehicle they are using.
Motorists stopped for a dirty number plate could face a £100 on the spot fine, which could increase to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
