Drivers are being warned about the rise in defective registration plates which can see motorists heavily fined and forced off UK roads until it's fixed.
The warning comes as the new “24” identifier plate launched on March 1, with more drivers likely to update their plate to reflect the new year. The second number plate update is set to come in September when the “74” will be rolled out.
Since its release, drivers have reported more cases of new plates showing incorrect registration numbers which make them unfit for UK roads.
Drivers must have correctly fitted licence plates in order to drive on British roads, but as more motorists look to get the latest plate, the police and DVLA have seen a rise in the number of vehicles being supplied with defective plates.
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Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for incorrect licence plates
PA
The police found evidence of wrong registration or mismatched plates on the front and rear of vehicle, with drivers being pulled off the road to fix the mishap.
Paul Hollick, chair at the Association of Fleet Professionals, said: “We’re hearing from our members of an increasing incidence of this problem.
“It’s quite an easy thing for fleets to miss on delivery and there are reports of cars and vans driving around on the wrong plates for months or even years.
“In some cases, the error only comes to light when fleets find that the vehicle has been stopped by the police. Operators need to start identifying the problem earlier on by making their own checks on delivery.”
Vehicles must be correctly fitted with licence plates or drivers could be fined up to £1,000 and fail their MOT test if they drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.
Hollick noted that the error was being made by manufacturers or dealers when the vehicle is being prepared for delivery.
He added: “Really, this is something that should be picked up during the pre-delivery inspection but, from what we are hearing, this is happening less and less often.
“If a problem subsequently arises and there is a financial implication, there is then the question of who is to blame? Certainly, in those circumstances, dealers don’t seem too keen to take responsibility.”
The current vehicle registration number format consists of two letters, referring to the region in the country where the vehicle was first registered.
It also features two numbers that detail where it was issued and three letters chosen at random.
Number plates in the UK have to meet certain requirements. They must be made from a reflective material with the front plate displayed in black characters on a white background.
The rear plate must display black characters on a yellow background and the lettering must be in the Charles Wright 2001 typeface.
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