The DVLA has unveiled major changes to number plates today, with petrol, diesel and electric car drivers all urged to act and secure the latest registrations.
The new "75" number plate has launched today, offering drivers the chance to have the latest registration for their vehicles when visiting a dealership.
The plate, which signifies this year, will be available to motorists of all vehicles and marks the second change in plates after the "25" launch in March.
In the UK, number plates are updated twice a year, taking place in March and September. However, while the new registrations allow drivers the chance to customise their vehicles, experts have issued a caution.
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Drivers have been warned that failing to follow the number plate rules can result in a £1,000 fine
|GETTY
Nyo Logan, Tyre Content Manager at Blackcircles, said: "In recent years, the demand for customised number plates has grown, with searches for 'custom number plates' increasing by 30 per cent in the past year.
"While it may be tempting to personalise your number plate, the UK's number plate laws are quite strict and failure to comply can result in a fine."
Drivers who fail to meet UK standards can be slapped with a £1,000 fine and their car could fail its MOT. However, in more serious cases, it could lead to invalid insurance and the police removing vehicles from the road until the plates are updated.
A spokesperson for BigWantsYourCar.com warned that "stylised plates" which include altered spacing, illegal fonts, or screw caps used to mimic different letters, "are being increasingly targeted by authorities".
New number plates are rolled out twice a year, in both March and September
| GETTY"It might seem harmless to change the spacing or add a novelty screw to personalise your plate, but it could end up costing you dearly," the spokesperson stated.
According to the expert, plate replacements have spiked recently, which typically rise during new plate launches, "when people are most at risk of unknowingly buying illegal ones online".
The spokesperson said the safest option is "always" to buy through a DVLA-registered supplier and "avoid any formatting that makes the plate harder to read".
The next online DVLA number plate auction will take place from Wednesday, September 3, to Tuesday, September 9, with drivers able to bid on more than 2,000 different plates.
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To meet UK requirements, number plates must be made from a reflective material with the front plate displayed in black characters on a white background.
The rear plate must also display black characters on a yellow background, and the lettering must be in the Charles Wright 2001 typeface.
The DVLA explained that to avoid fines, drivers should ensure plates are marked with a British Standard number for plates fitted after September 1, 2021.
Drivers can also customise their number plate without changing the registration by having 3D raised characters or by displaying flags, symbols or identifiers.
Drivers can purchase the new '75' tag on number plates from today
| PAThe UK's number plate system operates as the first two letters indicating the location where the car is registered, with the next two digits reflecting the six-month period when the car was registered, and the final three letters being randomly assigned.
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association, shared that as the new plates get introduced, it could spark an increase in the number of drivers buying electric vehicles.
She noted: "As net zero targets and growing consumer demand for greener transport drives the shift towards electric vehicles, buyers are increasingly interested in making the move to EV.
"The NFDA encourages buyers to visit Electric Vehicle Approved dealers. With more than 500 approved sites across the UK, these dealerships offer trusted advice, detailed product information and ongoing expert support."