WHAT ARE THE NEW RULES?

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Durable and able to resist:

• Impact. Stone chips and minor parking collisions are unfortunately part of driving. The impact test ensures the plate’s longevity.

• Bending. The components that make up a plate can separate from each other when the plate is bent. This is sometimes called plate delamination. The bend test prevents delamination on BNMA member supplied plates.

• Thermal change. The UK’s changeable temperature necessitates this test. The plate’s shape and size must remain the same when subjected to heat and cold.

• Abrasion (NEW). Plates stay clear and easy-to-read if they pass the abrasion test. This protects against repeated exposure to dirt, road grime and jet-washing.

• Being removed from a vehicle. Provided adhesive pads are placed correctly along the plate, it will take over 160 hours of consistent pressure to detach a plate that passes the E standard.

• Weathering. The weathering test under BS AU 145d remains the same under BS AU 145e. It’s a key and extensive test and replicates 2,275 hours of UV exposure; 2½ times more than some other European number plate test schedules.

• Dirt. As a subset of the weathering test, plates must be able to resist simulated dirt.

 

Reflective, with the correct: 

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• Colourimetry. Plates must be made of components that show the correct white for front plates, yellow for rear plates and black for printed digits.

• Retroreflection. To keep them distinct on a plate, the black digits and yellow or white background have very different retroreflectivity rules. The black digits cannot exceed 0.5 retroreflective units (cd/lx) whereas the white or yellow background can’t exceed 150 retroreflective units.

• Near Infrared contrast (NEW). ANPR cameras read plates by looking at the contrast between the digit and the plate background. This contrast is read in the near infrared (NIR) spectrum, similar to infrared or ultraviolet. The new rules make sure all plates can be read in NIR. The NIR test is repeated at various points during the accreditation process.

 

Designed and printed with the correct: 

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• Solid black digits (NEW). Two-tone/3D fonts of any kind are no longer allowed. This is for ANPR cameras. 

• Supplying outlet’s details. The centre-bottom of the plate must include the supplier’s business name and postcode.

• Component manufacturers' mark. All plates show the manufacturer name and BS AU 145e in the bottom right corner of the plate.

• Space around the registration. This is essential for ANPR readability.

• Optional border.

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