Bongo Fury

1st mot since we bought the bongo and it failed.
letter size and spacing on the number plates and rear fog light not working
had checked all the lights a couple of hours prior to the mot
the plates were on the bongo when we bought in may 07 and it came with a recent mot.
tester told me the regs had changed some time late last year.
so will be out getting new plates tomorrow.

There have been threads on here before about reg plates & MOTs.

As far as I remember there is a tolerence allowed for imports. Your MOT gaff may not be aware of this. Try a quick search on here or maybe one of the regulars will flag it up.

But, don't splash the cash just yet, all could be well. . . . .

Numberplates
Once your vehicle has been allocated a UK registration number, it must be displayed on front and rear numberplates in accordance with UK requirements. Failure to meet the requirements is an offence attracting a maximum fine of up to £1,000 and in some cases the registration mark may be withdrawn. The police can also issue fixed penalty fines for illegally displayed numberplates and vehicles may also fail the annual vehicle MoT test. It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words; e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC.

For vehicles first registered on after 1 January 1973, the characters must be black, the background must be reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear. Each number plate shall be permanently and legibly marked in such a position as to be clearly visible when the number plate is fitted to the vehicle, with the following information: (i) the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the maker; (ii) the number of the British Standard, i.e. BS AU 145a.

New or Replacement Plates Fitted from 1 September 2001 must be fitted in accordance with BS AU 145d, and show (i) the number of the BS (i.e. BS AU 145d), (ii) the name trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier; (iii) name and postcode of the supplying of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier; (iv) name and postcode of the supplying outlet.

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display numberplates with smaller characters if:

The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval
And

The vehicle's construction/ design cannot accommodate standard size plates
Specifications for numberplates
Standard size plates

Character Height
79mm

Character Width (except the figure 1 or I)
50mm

Character Stroke
14mm

Space between characters
11mm

Space between groups
33mm

Top, bottom and side margins (minimum)
11mm

Space between vertical lines
19mm


Smaller size plates (for certain imported vehicles)

Character Height
64mm

Character Width (except the figure 1 or I)
44mm

Character Stroke
10mm

Space between characters
10mm


thanks to trev for this info from another post.

V.G. Dave.

Any chance of a translation into Bongospeak?

Like does "European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval" apply?

as far as i know we can have smaller number plates, 13 x 7 .i think is the jap import size.

thanks bongonauts.
armed with the info and a copy of the dvla regs on plates i went back today and the bongo has now passed
the not working rear fog turned out to be a damaged wire where it had been routed under the carpet in the drivers footwell area(a clip on the trim had been pressing on it)-
spliced the damage and rerouted the cable .

Nice one for passing.... Did you have fancy show plates fittted?

Must copy some of this useful stuff ready for my next MOT