[Hugo]

I would love to take my front number plate off just like the US and other parts of the World. I think Minis look fanatastic without them.

I would post this in Exterior but its for both R53 and R56.

[MiniBrunette]

All cars look so much better without a front number plate

I've just been working in the US for a couple of years, some States now require you to them, but in most it's still not compulsory

Beautiful cars like Ferraris, Lambos and Maseratis just look so good without them.

[ScottyBoy]

Id like to do this also, as id like to fit the Alta rally light bar but with the number plate there i just cant do it.

[mikbmini]

I used to go on UK Polos forum as I was gonna get a Polo GTi, and a few on there have done it. They just carry the number plate on the dash board, and most said they have never been stopped, or if they do they just point it out on the dash board and the Police say it should be on the front but thats the last they hear of it. Indeed my friend had a classic Mini, and his number plate fell off. He drove around with it on the dash showing through the front window for about 6 months or something. I think he got stopped once, but they just said make sure you fix it on the front and let him go. Not sure if I'd have the guts to do it, but I'm sure you wouldn't get a fine or anything.

[ScottyBoy]

Id rather have it on the front of the car tho than on the dash!

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyBoy (original)

Id rather have it on the front of the car tho than on the dash!

I thought we were discussing the idea of not having it on the front of the car though? If its not there then its gotta be somewhere, and I'd have thought the dash is the only alternative.

[mab01uk]

How about on the bonnet like these original classic Works Minis ?
Classic Works Mini for auction 1

Classic Works Mini for auction2

[MINI-Bob]

I was about to suggest the same thing. But having thought about it, it will only work for One's and Cooper's. The S has a rather useful hole where you'd want to stick it!!

How small can you get the licence plate without compromising the legallity of it? There is plenty of dead space which you could trim off.

[Hugo]

The real Mini's number plate is so low you could get away with or go for rally plate on bonnet, ours used to catch on kerbs etc.

[mikbmini]

I have been told that the number plate just has to be visible from in front of the car, but someone else told me it has to be at roughly the furthest point forward on the car, in which case putting it in the window would be technically not allowed. You should be able to get away the bonnet though.

As far as the size of the plate goes, I think the plate size normally used is like a Euro Standard so it has to be that size by law, or I think it can also be square like you see on off-roaders, and also Mitsubishi Evo's have them I think. I think bikes also use the square type. If you make the plate smaller I think it would be breaking the law. I doubt anyones gonna pull you for it though.

[Nath316]

its the size of the lettering and the spaces between which form the majority of the law and also the font

as far as i am aware

[South Shore Lad]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniBrunette (original)

All cars look so much better without a front number plate

.

Largely agree, but disagree for some of the newer Audis. I reckon they look AWFUL without plates - the grille is just TOO big (looks like the portcullis of an old castle or something). Really needs the number plate to break up the line and make the grille smaller/in two halves.

As for plates on bonnets. Do you mean the sticker type, like on 60s E Types etc? I remember debating this on MINI2 a while back and I'm fairly sure they're illegal.

SSL

[mab01uk]

Maybe if you import a MINI from Japan or outside Europe your OK for smaller plates and is why you see Jap imports with small No.Plates.

There is a line in the DVLA rules regarding imports and plate sizes. It implies (its worded a little loosely) that you may use plates that are smaller than UK sized ones, (similar to motorbike plates) if the plate holder cannot accommodate standard UK plates.
i.e. places like Japan have smaller plates, and some bumpers are moulded to take these.

"This regulation applies in relation to any vehicle imported into the United Kingdom which -

• (a) does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval; and
  
  (b) is so constructed that the area available for the fixing of the registration plate precludes the display on the plate of a registration mark in conformity with the requirements of regulation 14.

For non UK vehicles, the sizes need to be:

Min. 64mm high for characters
Min. width (except for i) of 44mm
spacing between characters 10mm
Border of the plate to be a min. of 5mm, top, left and right
Border of the plate at the bottom to be not less than 13mm

[S33BBY]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hugo (original)

I would love to take my front number plate off just like the US and other parts of the World. I think Minis look fanatastic without them.

I agree; it looks so much better without!

[Foxy Mini]

I agree...looks awesome!

[mikbmini]

I just remembered... my friend had an old MR2, something like a B reg I think, and he had a stick on Number Plate. It was stuck on the bottom of the bumper on the lip. I seem to remember it was almost horizontal. He never had a bit of bother about it. Not sure about the technicalities of its legality, but I'm sure it passed the MOT just fine.