Black & White number plates

[JonathanT]

I’m sure there are quite a few of us that would dearly love to be able to use black and white number plates on our post ‘73 cars.
Following on from discussion about what is to happen with vintage cars in the future, and the fact that government cannot get any decent revenue from them in particular. I think it might be an idea to campaign for the use of black and white number plates in exchange for a fee to DVLA. Either applied as a monthly tax or a one off payment. There is an awful lot of vintage cars so this presumably would provide quite a bit of revenue for the government? I wonder what you guys think?

 

[Jnr-Renospeed]

This does also roll forward as said on the DVLA website : https://insidedvla.blog.gov.uk/2015/11/17/whats-the-story-with-black-and-silver-number-plates/

 

[JonathanT]

Thank you Jnr I didn’t know that bit about vehicles registered before 1st Jan 1979
However it’s not about road tax it’s about the ability to use black and white number plates.

 

[Jnr-Renospeed]

However it’s not about road tax it’s about the ability to use black and white number plates.

Ah yes my mistake, still i would hope that the black and silver number plate age limit does go on a rolling scheme as more vehicles become eligible, up to a point.

 

[benchseat]

Here is what the official DVLA document actually says:

< Vehicles made before 1 January 1973 may display traditional ‘black and white’ number plates (for example, white, silver or grey characters on a black plate). From April 2019 vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1979 are also able to display traditional ‘black and white’ number plates. You must: • have applied to DVLA • be registered within the ‘historic vehicles’ tax class. The 40-year exemption date rolls forward automatically each year on 1 April. >

This sounds slightly ambiguous in its use of the term "the 40-year exemption" — it does not state explicitly that it applies to black/white number plates — but I’d read this as saying that the date for old-style number plates will roll forward year-on-year, though with a different cut-off date.

But there must have been a reason why yellow fluorescent number plates took over — probably crime prevention (easier to read, particularly at night). So introducing a loophole would simply bring Murphy’s Law into operation and the wrong people would exploit it, which would not help anyone. Which is why the use of black/white number plates on post-1972 cars is subject to restriction (have to apply to DVLA, have to have Historic Vehicle status).

Obviously classic-car enthusiasts (and their cars) are seen by DVLA as being far too old or timid ever to be involved in car crime.

 

[André4Renaults]

I ought not to say this, but my classic car sports the black and white number plates, which would allow me to avoid paying parking charges in several car parks controlled by C.C.T.V....... Not that I'm condoning this activity....!

 

[laxeian]

Would the ability to display/run black and white no. plates have something yo do with the new classification applicable for car to be registered as historic after 40 years ( believe its not an automatic roll over like the free tax anymore), same as if you restore a car thats been off of the road for a number of years that was brought in to align the UK mot’s with Europe's last May, see the DLVA site on historic/classic registration to get a car to be MOT exempt and registered historic/classic its not the same as it used to be pre May 1919, more like the European systems.
A 40 year old car does not become an automatic classic anymore until you register it as one yourself under the new system, same as re-registering a basket case restoration after last May, there are a lot stricter guidelines to what becomes classic if not automatically ( due to it being on the road legally) becoming one before this date.

 

[JonathanT]

I ought not to say this, but my classic car sports the black and white number plates, which would allow me to avoid paying parking charges in several car parks controlled by C.C.T.V....... Not that I'm condoning this activity....!

Woooo! So black and white not readable by ANPR? That seems odd !

 

[Jnr-Renospeed]

Woooo! So black and white not readable by ANPR? That seems odd !

Anyone going to volunteers to try this out .

 

[edwin]

Cameras cannot read the old black and white or silver number plates, which is why the plates were changed. They glare out on the photograph and cannot be read. I have not seen many criminals using E types or three litre Bentley's as escape vehicles recently, taking advantage of that, or Renault 4's for that matter.

 

[JonathanT]

Now there’s an idea !

 

[laxeian]

Did use my 68 Transit as a getaway van, with black and silver plates, but only because it was fitted out for camping

 

[André4Renaults]

Woooo! So black and white not readable by ANPR? That seems odd !

I can confirm the following (ALL COMMENTS MADE WITHOUT PREJUDICE!)
1/ Car parks operated by N.C.P. that use ANPR to capture details do NOT read black and silver number plates and no fine is raised.
2/ The Dartford Crossing system DOES read black and sliver number plates, but does so manually, not automatically. As a result one receives a (vaguely!) personalised letter explaining this. As a result, I was asked to pay only the £2.50 charge, not a fine.
3/ Local authority car parks do NOT read black and sliver number plates, although local authority systems may vary and this knowledge only refers to those car parks where I have parked.
4/ I cannot comment on the ability (or lack thereof!) of Police A.N.P.R. systems to read these plates. However, I did recently drive through an area where the Police were carrying out an operation to catch untaxed and uninsured vehicles; as I drove towards the officer, dressed in his hi-vis jacket, he simply waved me on, without looking at his computer screen! What this means in terms of identification via the number plate I can't comment on...........

 

[JonathanT]

I think I definitely want black and white number plates

 

[JonathanT]

So where are we going with this topic ? Do you think it would be a good idea to lobby the DVLC for the ability to use black and white plates ? I realise a date threshold needs to be drawn though. But what is interesting for me anyway is the 73-79 ‘loophole’

 

[Jimthevan]

I stuck B&W plates on anyway - I only potter around the village mostly - I figured if I get pulled up which is rather unlikely round here i'll get a slap on the wrist. I just swap them back over at MOT time.

 

[John Edmonds]

I stuck B&W plates on anyway - I only potter around the village mostly - I figured if I get pulled up which is rather unlikely round here i'll get a slap on the wrist. I just swap them back over at MOT time.

Jim, I like your strategy. Alternatively, has anyone considered a Northern Ireland registration? For less than £140 (inclusive of transfer and VAT) you can get a relatively anonymous, non-dating plate (such as NXZ 4491) from one of the many on-line specialists offering this service.

 

[Cornish4]

Or maybe French style plates? These reflective ones are on my car, but I'm sure silver on black are available from a well known company in Eire. That would really upset the boys, and girls in blue

 

[André4Renaults]

And yellow headlights, to boot! Love it!

 

[Cornish4]

Thanks Andrew, they are halogen bulbs, so nice and bright, but fitted with yellow glass clip-on covers available from der Franzose. I've fitted yellow bulbs to the two fog lights too, which are wired into the headlight dipped beam, but they also have an isolater switch. It does give the car a nice French classic look.