Drivers are only just realising that their number plate could cost a £1k fine

DRIVERS have been left in shock after discovering that their number plate could cost them a £1,000 fine.

Some people often rearrange letters and numbers on their plates to create a more personalised look, but car experts have warned drivers against doing this because they risk receiving a hefty fine.

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The Government says: “Number plates must show your registration number correctly. You cannot rearrange letters or numbers or alter them so they’re harder to read.

“You could be fined up to £1,000, and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.”

Rearranging the letters and numbers on your plate is not the only issue that could see drivers hit with fines.

According to guidelines, the number plate on your vehicle must be made from a reflective material, display black characters on a white background, display black characters on a yellow background, and not have a background pattern.

They have to also be marked with a British Standard number – this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021.

And the characters can’t be removable or reflective.

If your number plates were fitted after September 1st 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.

Jon Kirkbright, sales director at Platehunter, told Liverpool Echo: “All drivers should ensure that they are buying number plates from a reputable seller who has been approved by the DVLA.

“There are strict rules around the font, colour, spacing and size of the characters on a number plate that must be adhered to. We offer the service for just £25, including delivery and they can be dispatched on the same day, depending on the time they are ordered.

“This gives our customers peace of mind that the plates they are installing on their vehicle are legal and comply with the law.”

This comes after car experts warned drivers about simple errors that could result in fines of up to £2,500 during this summer’s wedding season.

Plus,  drivers were warned that they could face a £100 fine for wearing the wrong shoes behind the wheel.