Motorists are at risk of being hit with a £1,000 charge for breaking number plate driving rules this March.
The DVLA will launch their new ‘24’ number plate designs on all new vehicles registered from March 1.
It is inevitable drivers will feel excited about securing a brand new car and many owners could look to christen the model with a set of fresh plates.
However, failing to follow simple specifications when ordering a new ‘24’ design could backfire and see road users hit in the pocket.
This is because number plates must follow exact design guidelines to be considered road legal in the UK.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing said: “Number plates are widely available to buy online. Popular online retailers like Amazon, eBay and Etsy sell them, among hundreds of other websites.
“The price or convenience of buying from these retailers might be tempting. But motorists need to know that they must purchase their plates from registered suppliers which have been approved by the DVLA.
“The GOV.UK website has a useful search tool that will help you find your nearest supplier. Having a plate from a non-registered supplier could result in you being stopped and fined by the police, or your vehicle failing its MOT.
“It’s really not worth the risk, however cool you think the supplied design might look.”
New number plate designs are introduced twice per year in March and September with ‘74’ layouts launching later this year.
According to GOV.UK, number plates installed on a vehicle must be made from a reflective material.
Back characters on a white background must feature on the front plate while the rear should have black characters on a yellow background.
The number plate should not have a background pattern and must be marked with a British Standard number.
Designs must also show who supplied the number plate white characters must not be removable or reflective.
Stricter guidelines mean plates fitted on or after September 1, 2021, must only be a single shade of black.
Motorists caught displaying illegal number plates could be issued a smaller £100 fine or a staggering £1,000 charge for repeat offending.
In extreme cases, vehicles can even be seized as evidence while number plate registrations could be rescinded from owners.
