Do cars with personalised numberplates where spacing has been changed fail MOT test?

[theae]

I'm thinking about numberplates where the spacings of the letters and numbers have been changed to spell the name - eg PO11YGH where the PO11Y are pushed together or B16BOY etc - surely these are failed if they are not in the regulation order/ spaced appropriately? Or do MOT testers not worry so much?

They should yes. It's not really down to the testers to decide if it's an important fail or not, they have a manual to follow.

Yes they do fail. They have to be correct or the MOT tester will fail. In reality most have a MOT set of plates which they put on for the day

Yes they will fail. People just swap the plates for the test or even just cable tie the legal set over the top for the test.

Yep, this! The properly spaced ones are swapped back for the MOT test. We have a neighbour with an illegal one - I once noticed properly spaced ones for a couple of days. Being a nosey sod, I checked the online MOT check webpage, and, yes, the MOT had just been done! The illegal ones soon re-appeared again afterwards!

They should do - but chances are they put on the proper plates (and that includes you, A1 4DAM, doing an easy 90 on my commute home last night and almost causing a major pile up)

Just get a normal one?

My numberplate failed for a different reason, and they paused the test, printed a replacement and then passed it.

Yup the illegal ones are sold as show plates so they will likely have a legal set to swap on for the MOT

Thanks- interesting to know about the extra set of 'proper' plates. Theres someone with one in the next road and I often wonder how they get the car through the MOT. I guess the Police have other priorities?

These illegal plates really annoy me, that they're not fined or caught. Ive seen them in ridiculous font, with the spacing all over the place, even seen a few with arabic looking script.

My numberplate failed for a different reason, and they paused the test, printed a replacement and then passed it.

They don’t pause the test to rectify anything other than headlight alignment. They will have completed the test, fitted a new plate then passed it.

My mate put two extras screw in her plates to make a letter, they were personalised but not enough, got pulled over and fined so yes I think they would fail.

I have a personalised number plate. It's exactly how it's meant to be, no change to the spacing etc. It always amazes me that so many people get away with driving with illegal ones.

I have the correct spacing in the boot for an MOT and then change them back over. Although my last MOT it passed with the wrong spaced ones. It was a Friday so...must have been in a good mood 😊

There’s a great thread on Pistonheads where people post the shit mis-spaced plates they find out in the wild.

Yes it's the same with those stupid noisy exhausts!

Noisy exhausts are pretty easy to get through MOT in my experience.

Why does something that doesnt affect you annoy you ?

It does affect people, just indirectly.

Someone with an irregular number plate is more likely to be able to pass through camera detectors without detection. This would mean they can speed, clone plates, drive with no insurance or stop in yellow hatched boxes without worry. The effect of all of those actions is to endanger, delay or inconvenience other motorists.

Because you cant easily read the numberplate for reporting if necessary, plus it means that someone is driving round breaking the law. What else about owning and driving a car are they so belligerent about?

Illegal plates are actually great for alerting other road users that the car’s being driven by an utter chav scumbag.

@ClaudiaWankleman nah the illegal spacing doesn't stop ANPR. I know few who have tried that and got the fine.

@bellac11 my modified car insurance on a 2.5l WRX is cheaper than my mini JCW standard insurance (mini is the cheaper car). Modified cars are actually lower risk as they are more likely to be well looked after.

When he was in his 20s my friends brother got pulled by the police for his followed by a letter from the DVLA saying if he didn’t display it properly they’d revoke his personal plate so things can be done

I've had mine mis spaced for 20 years, been pulled once £60 fine and they threatened that too. End of the day the police have more important things to da with and hold can't be bothered with the paperwork. £60 in 20 years, can't complain

Deal not do