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Can I be fined for mismatched number plates on my caravan?
Plus everything you need to know about the specs and legality of private and modified number plates
CARAVANS are a convenient way of taking a little of the comfort of home away with you on holiday.
Here we take a look at the laws and fines surrounding the licence plates on caravans.
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Can I be fined for mismatched number plates on my caravan?
If your caravan's licence plate doesn't adhere to the relevant rules and regulations, you could be slapped with a hefty fine.
In the event that you fall foul of the law and are stopped with illegal plates, you could be hit with a penalty notice of up to £1,000.
See our handy breakdown of the laws and advice on how not to break them below.
What are the rules around number plates on my caravan?
The law states that caravans, motorhomes and trailers must have the same licence plates as the road vehicle it is being towed by.
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As Gov.uk explains: “Your trailer must display the same number plate as the vehicle you’re towing it with.
“If you’re towing more than one trailer, the number plate must be fixed to the trailer at the back.”
What are the rules and regulations on size, font and spacing on caravan number plates?
Experts at Number 1 Plates confirmed there was “no difference” between car and caravan plates.
The said: “There is no difference between a standard rear number plate and a caravan plate.
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“So you can select the best fit for you and buy today.
“You can change the plates on your caravan if you are towing with a different vehicle.
“Though it must be replaced with another set of road legal number plates.”
To help drivers stay on the right side of the law, here are the five mistakes drivers most commonly make with their number plates that could land them in hot water with the law.
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Wrong colour — Number plates must be made from a reflective material and have black characters on a white background on the front of your vehicle, while on the back the black letters must be on a yellow background.
Incorrect spacing — The characters must be 79mm high, 50mm wide, and there needs to be an 11mm gap between each character.
Illegal background — Using a non-conforming background that isn’t a plain colour, or stickers which interfere with the plate’s legibility, is illegal.
Wrong font — Only the standard Charles Wright font is acceptable on UK number plates.
Not illuminated at night — This is to make your caravan more visible to other road users. It is also important as it ensures that police and speed cameras can see your registration when it's dark.
There is no difference between a standard rear number plate and a caravan plate
Number 1 Plates
Invalid flags — Only flags of EU, the UK and British nations are permitted.
According to Gov.uk, number plates must also:
- Be marked to show who supplied the number plate
- Be marked with a British Standard number — this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after September 1, 2021
- Characters must not be removable or reflective
- If your number plates were fitted after September 1, 2021, they must be a single shade of black
Caravan driving laws
Check out our array of handy guides and explainers filled with caravan advice and laws:
- Can I be fined for towing a caravan on a motorway?
- Can you tow a caravan with an electric car?
- How to complain about your neighbour’s caravan
- Are passengers allowed to ride in a caravan that is being towed?
- Does my caravan need an MOT?
- Can I be fined for towing a caravan or trailer without taking a test?
- Can I be fined for having inadequate caravan towing equipment?
The following is also permitted:
- Having 3D (raised) characters
- Displaying a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle
While buying an approved personalised reg is fine, carefully placed bolts or tweaking the spacing to spell out a message is illegal.
How to tow a caravan - a guide from the RAC and Camping and Caravanning Club
So if you have a number plate with '11' in it, placing a black screw head between the two digits to form an "H" is against the rules.
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Under law, plates must be legible and conform to a set standard so they're easy to read as they provide essential info about your vehicle to insurers, police and other drivers.
Failing to do this can land you with the hefty fine, a failed MOT and the loss of the plate.
Ten things YOU should know as a car owner
To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:
- When is your MOT due? Find out here
- When is your car tax due? Find out here
- Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
- How many units can you drink and drive?
- What do dashboard warning lights mean?
- Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
- Can you be fined for breaking the highway code?
- How to change the address on your driving licence
- What does MOT stand for?
- Is it illegal to park across someone's driveway?
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