Drivers ‘unable’ to tell difference between legal and illegal number plates

A shocking 98% of drivers are unable to tell the difference between legal and illegal number plates, a new survey has revealed.

The survey by motor specialist retailer Halfords released a shocking lack of knowledge around the subject, appearing to be driving a rise in illegal number plate penalties across the UK:

• 99% of UK drivers don’t know which flags can be legally used on a number plate


• 85% of drivers don’t know what documents they need to provide when buying a number plate


• 83% of UK drivers are unable to say what the letters on a number plate mean


• 77% of UK drivers don’t know how much they could be fined for driving with an illegal number plate


• Young drivers are six times more likely to buy an illegal number plate than those over 45


• Two in five people would drive a car with a cracked, and therefore, illegal number plate


• 1 in 20 UK drivers think they can legally use a football club crest on their number plate


• 1 in 20 motorists admitted to previously buying an illegal number plate from an unregistered supplier

 

Halfords also gained data from 49 UK police constabularies regarding the number of drivers being fined for an illegal number plate between 2016 and 2017.

The FOI requests showed that number plate crime rose by an average of 18% between 2016 and 2017, according to data provided by UK police forces. They detected 7,876 non-roadworthy plates in 2016, which increased to 9,031 in 2017.

 

 

A local police traffic exercise on Halifax Road in November found seven vehicles displaying illegal plates, which were unreadable or altered, resulting in a £100 fine.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123795/47-fixed-penalty-notices-issued-during-police-road-exercise

Katie Sexton, number plate expert at Halfords, explained more about the research: “The study proves that there is a lack of understanding of the legalities surrounding number plates.

“With number plate crime on the rise, it is important that motorists get their replacement number plates from a reputable registered supplier and are asked to provide proof of identification and entitlement to show that they have the right to use the registration.”