Im looking to get some plates made up for the car for "Show use only" :D , and you can have a slogan at the bottom.

Any suggestions for a good topical slogan for the bottom of the plate, or is that too Max Power and should I just leave it blank.

I was thinking I could advertise the forum and have "www.rx8forum.co.uk" at the bottom (or should that be www.rx8club.com now), or something like "Rotary Power".

There is a plate builder here where you can mess with your own design......

http://www.gtgrafix.com/newOrders/gtPlateBuilder.htm

I have yet to find ANYWHERE that will still make 'show plates' (not for road use - yadda yadda).

Does this place actually do them ? I dont want anything mega , but I would like my plate 'spaced' a little. Just a half gap between the RX and the B (e.g. instead of "RXB" I would like "RX B")

Will they actually do it ?

Morgan.

PS - I am having "No Rotor - No Motor" on the little slogan !

I bought 'show' plates from these guys before, as I had a private plate on my previous Impreza that had 'non-standard' spacing.

The plates were good and arrived quickly in the post.

The also do some other fonts which have a more normal looking 'B'.

As a side issue, when I originally ordered from them I used my debit card and noticed too late they didnt have a secure server and my card number was transmitted openly.

A couple of weeks later I was subject to card fraud, and had £3000 taken out of my current account, which I got refunded after a few weeks.

Im not saying the two incidents are related, but I always now double check that websites are secure before sending any details.

I used a company called Impact Signs in Manchester (0161 9299594). This was done over the phone, purchased using my credit card.

A5 RXB is on show plates, front is rectangle and rear is square, although I think the rear would be better rectangle also.

No slogans, the car will do its own talking.

AnilS.

Call me thick but what exacly is a "show plate". I would like one of those plates with RXB at the end, any recomendations where to purchase from as I have never had a private plate before.

I was at the Preview show at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon and met Anils & Family. I have now joined the forum and become a "forum anorak" every night but this is my first real post.

Hi Topic,

Best place to buy plates is the DVLA - www.dvla-som.co.uk , you should be able to pick one up for £250 all in, or £500 if it is a '1' plate or a new style one.

Be wary of other companies advertising plates, as all they do is go and buy it from the DVLA for you and add on their margin.

The rules for number plates tightened up last year and you can now only have one font and size, and thename of the supplier must be on the plate.

There are a number of companies who will make you up plates as you want them with different fonts/logos etc, but there are not strictly legal for road use so they get round it by calling them show plates. i.e. plates you put on your car to exhibit it at a show whilst not on the public highway etc.

Hope this helps. Have you ordered yet?

Mark

Hi Topic, nice to meet you at Gaydon and welcome aboard the Forum.

MarkW is right about purchasing through the DVLA. My plate (A5 RXB) was another £120 from elsewhere. To buy from the DVLA is very straightforward and easy, so much so I've just bought a plate for my dad (his birthday). His plate also had a mark up other sites.


AnilS.

If you really want something different, I'm trying to see if there's someone that can get hold of Japanese-style plates. Would be good for shows, but definately a no-no for the road!

There are some nice plate designs over in Japan. They have these backlit plates, that glow Electro-Luminescently at night :D

http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/premium.html


Ok, a bit Max Power, but having said that it is the legal plate design in Japan. So if you want to get something for shows/meets and give your car an authentic Japanese look, then it could be fun. Just got to find someone that can make them up now. And being a show plate of course, you could have anything written on it :)


-andy-

Great idea!!

Mark thanks for the link! Am now proud owner of B8 RXB!!

Bargain price too when you think how much the accessories are going to cost us.

Has anybody had any problems with slightly tinkered "show plates"??

Originally posted by sixspeed
If you really want something different, I'm trying to see if there's someone that can get hold of Japanese-style plates. Would be good for shows, but definately a no-no for the road!

There are some nice plate designs over in Japan. They have these backlit plates, that glow Electro-Luminescently at night :D

http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/premium.html


Ok, a bit Max Power, but having said that it is the legal plate design in Japan. So if you want to get something for shows/meets and give your car an authentic Japanese look, then it could be fun. Just got to find someone that can make them up now. And being a show plate of course, you could have anything written on it :)


-andy-

A few years back when the MR2 Roadster first came out, I put Japanese style writing (that looked like swords joining the numbers and letters) on it reading W5 MRE and I had a Lexus IS200 Sport at the time with S5 MRE with the same typeface.

I thought 2 cars looked good at the time both being Jap cars, new and with fancy writing.
It didn't take long before I got pulled though, first the Lexus but the police officer just wanted to have a look at the car but the second time in the MR2 was a miserable git and told me to swap them over straight away.
Looking back though it was a bit gimmicky.:D

On a similar point does anyone know the legalities on "short "plates, ie for those of us with just 5 digits on the plate Is it legal to have the letters and no.s in the correct font and size but simply displayed on a shorter length plate?

For anyone that saw the 350Z on top gear that featured "shrort "plates IIRC.

Ed

This is my plate which is totally legal, made by Signum cut to the size that I wanted.

As long as the spacing and the font is the right size you can any size you want. Mine is 400mm wide but could have been less if I didn't have the euro sign and I think the std size is 520

http://www.kitchenalia-cookshop.co.uk/private/boxster-8small.jpg

Thanks for the help MarkW & AnilS. I shall be purchasing from the DVLA on Thursday. Favourite is M13 RXB.

M - Martin / Michele (Wife) / Mazda
13 - Date of birth / lucky number
RXB - Really Xellent Beast

Any more suggestions?

Ordered car over internet. See below.

My previous Impreza was a limited edition called a "UK300", and I bought the plate "M30 OUK"

I had the plate in the pic below made up by gtgrafix and it is smaller than a standard plate as you can see, and the spacing is 'slightly' incorrect :D

Its easy to find out the legalities of numberplates , but there they are :

Height*........................................... .................79mm
Width (except the figure 1 or letter l).............50mm
Stroke............................................ .................14mm
Space between characters.............................11mm
Space between groups...................................33mm
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum)........11mm
Space between vertical lines...........................19mm

My (possible) R6RTY comes in at a minimum width of 338 instead of the normal 520 width.

Rob,

I found those dimensions as well but it doesn't refer to a plate size legality so presumably from what others have said here a "shorty" is perfectly legal.

18 and Mark - nice cars and plates guys:)

Ed

Well just to add to the variety.

My neighbour's mate has a suzuki 900 cc bike with a license plate under the rear seat that is only 1 inch in height and 5 inches in length. You cant read it from 20 feet away let along 100 feet.

He constantly gets pulled over, the way he looks at it.

30 quid spot fine for getting pulled over (worst case) than a ban for speeding as he does that reguarly. Personally hes a 21 year old a$£ehole.

I suppose that's the risk people take, especially on bikes.

Well - I ordered my 'show plates' from GTGrafix - will post how they come out , I am hoping they will be here tomorrow.

I am posting to warn you all that you must have documented proof ready. What will happen is that once you place your order , they will request a copy of the proof of ownership. Whether a logbook (as if ! ) , or the certificate of entitlement to a plate that I guess we all have (RXB club).

You can scan and e-mail , fax or post a copy of this to them , but they will not despatch your plates until they have that proof. It is the law , even with show plates (which are obviously not for road use).

One final point is that they will use the 'old' font if you want. The difference here is that the letter B on the new font has little sticks top and bottom , whereas the old one does not. Worth a thought.

Also - get thinking what text you are going to have at the bottom ! Will post pics when they arrive.

Morgan.

Originally posted by morganrogers
Well - I ordered my 'show plates' from GTGrafix - will post how they come out , I am hoping they will be here tomorrow.

I am posting to warn you all that you must have documented proof ready. What will happen is that once you place your order , they will request a copy of the proof of ownership. Whether a logbook (as if ! ) , or the certificate of entitlement to a plate that I guess we all have (RXB club).

You can scan and e-mail , fax or post a copy of this to them , but they will not despatch your plates until they have that proof. It is the law , even with show plates (which are obviously not for road use).

One final point is that they will use the 'old' font if you want. The difference here is that the letter B on the new font has little sticks top and bottom , whereas the old one does not. Worth a thought.

Also - get thinking what text you are going to have at the bottom ! Will post pics when they arrive.

Morgan.

Nice one Morgan :),

I'll wait to see what yours look like before I order mine now then!

Did you get the standard type, or the 3D effect or Carbon one?

Standard font - i.e. black. (but 'old' style)

I didn't actually want a funky font that will not be picked up on a speed camera or anything , but I did want the font that is displayed by 90% of the cars on the roads ! i.e. before the horrible 'times new roman' type font came in !
I struggle to see why this should now be illegal to be honest. I understand that max-power types should not be allowed joined up writing and the like but current controls seem a little tight - particularly when you take into account the amount of cash the government have made flogging us all the damn plates in the first place ! ! !

Did go for message at the bottom though ! :)

Got yer plates yet Morgan?

I ordered mine on Friday and they arrived yesterday. I'm very happy! They 'massaged' the spacing of the letters for me, and even cut off the tails on the B for me, so i have 'legal' lettering!

I went for a message on the bottom of my last set from there, then wished i hadn't, so didn't bother this time!

Just got the red border to match my red motor.

They didn't request proof of ownership from me though, i just did it over the phone. Now i'm just missing one little thing................!

Yep - Got plates.

Sorry - have been meaning to post a piccy of them.
They have not come out badly - not sure about the sapcing but they certainly did not have the little sticky-outy bits on the B.

Will photo them and post tonight !

Prompt service too.

how much for the plates?


do you intend to use them everyday or not?

£20.

Well , show plates would of course be illegal for everyday use.... ;)

Ta-Da !

Originally posted by morganrogers
Ta-Da !

Thanks Morgan, the 'B' looks good without the sticky out bits. Not sure about the spacing yet though, need to think about it.

You are probably the first UK person on here to own a bit of your new car :D

Is that actually a different font to the new standard, or did you just ask for the bits on the 'B' to be chopped off?

Originally posted by MarkW


You are probably the first UK person on here to own a bit of your new car :D



hey, what about me?

It is the 'old style font'. When ordering ask for that. It shows on the order form as 'Legal black old style font' actually.
i.e. what I have on my car now (and what about 75% of cars on the road have).

Technically you are supposed to have the new font , but I really cannot see it being a problem.
Perfectly readable , not stupid joined-up writing or anything.

Put it this way , if you got pulled for that it would be time to seriously question police priorities !

M.

Originally posted by KEF


hey, what about me?

Sorry KEF, you have the honour of being first :)

Anyone going for a new style plate using one of the Reading prefixes? i.e. RX04 ---

We cant go for '04' plates unless the cars registered march/april eh?

Isnt it '53' plates now and you cant plate a car newer thna its registration date?

Originally posted by RobDickinson
We cant go for '04' plates unless the cars registered march/april eh?

Isnt it '53' plates now and you cant plate a car newer thna its registration date?

Correct. You can put an old plate on a new car, but not the other way round.

N2O RXB anyone? :)

I quite like RX53 xxx as 5+3=8

I'm thinking of getting a MAZ ??? style plate.

Originally posted by RobDickinson
We cant go for '04' plates unless the cars registered march/april eh?

Isnt it '53' plates now and you cant plate a car newer thna its registration date?

The DVLA website has 04 plates as available to buy from 03 November. But as you say you might noy be able to use it before March next year.

Cheers
---Dave

Originally posted by druck
The DVLA website has 04 plates as available to buy from 03 November. But as you say you might noy be able to use it before March next year.

Cheers
---Dave

You can buy it, and put it on an 04 registered car.

The only thing you cant do is put a number plate on an older than the plate car (i.e. no X reg on a T plate registered car).

This is so you dont make the car look newer than it is, and is a sensible rule/law.

KEF I thought that the R8 KEF was not going on the car, but onto the disco....?! :)

MY TIP FOR A GREAT PLATE 6 C RX 8

(SEXY RX8 ) GREAT PLATE FOR A FEMALE as for my luck all the wrong types would be after me .

Originally posted by renegade_si
KEF I thought that the R8 KEF was not going on the car, but onto the disco....?! :)

think i've finally set on the RX53 KEF plate, it was far too expensive just to throw away, and i doubt i'd be able to sell it for a worthwhile amount.

the 53 personalised plates are £499 from the dvla.

my logic is i can keep it on the '8 and just sell it with the car (i doubt i'd change inside 4 years) that way i'd at least be getting my money's worth out of it

shame, i keep looking at my pics of the tit grey demo car with my R8 plate on it and it looks great.

what a dilema, any advice guys?

I say put the R8 KEF plate on the car. Dont bother with the 53 one at the moment, it'll come down in price like the others (to £399 then to £250) over time.

Having said that I'm possibly going to buy an RXB plate this week rather than put my S7 HAD plate on as its £80 to move it between cars and I can get the other plate for only triple that...and leave it on the car when (if) I ever sell it.

The old prefix plate is probably a better option than the new 53 plate, as it disguises the age of the car. I suspect that RX8's will still be sort after in a few years, and the old plate will hide the fact that it is a year 1 model.

I'm torn on wether to get one, its a lot of money and unless it has some value for resale as opposed to just vanity, I can't justify it.

I'm not familiar with the process as this this is my first new car, the information I have is that the price we have paid for pre-order is the on the road cost including regisration. So if you go for a personal plate, do you get it yourself through the DVLA at the full price, or via the dealer which should be minus the cost of the normal registration?

Cheers
---Dave

ARGHHH

leaning back towards the R8

engineer struck by indecision!!!!!!

Dave,

I think the issue you talk about can't happen. I think that the DVLA has to assign a "normal" plate to every car and then you can assign a cherished number to it. (cherished lol).
The V750 form from the DVLA asks you what the reg of the vehicle is currently, and this is so when the plate is eventually taken off again (or when the car is scrapped with it still on) then the old reg goes back on...

Si,

I cant find any information on the DVLA website on that, but I can beleive it. If you were able to to register the car from new with the plate of your choice, it would deny the DVLA to charge you twice for being such a vane mug.

So does any one think that an old style plate would get you back a fraction of the 250 to 799 when you come to sell up the RX8 (god forbid)?

Cheers
---Dave

no I think its worth very little once bought to be honest...

I was investigating a few possible plates on the DVLA site today and noticed one that was not in the list. This constant moaning about the delivery dates is going to far: Own up, who bought "L8 RXB"?

Originally posted by JohnnyCumLately
I was investigating a few possible plates on the DVLA site today and noticed one that was not in the list. This constant moaning about the delivery dates is going to far: Own up, who bought "L8 RXB"?

Not me :)

Took the plunge and ordered H18 BLU just now. More money than sense I tell ye...

(edit: but I did show a little restraint in not splashing out on X8 BLU, which would have cost twice as much. Still there if someone wants it ;))

I knew there was a plate thread somewhere!!

While at the dealers the other day I was discussing private plates etc.

We were also talking about how the front plate was a bit of a pain as it "hides" the front grill.

At this point he took me outside to see a n MX5 that he had just "stuck" a number plate on above the grill directly onto the body.

Apparently this is legal as long as it is vertical(ish)

A bit like this

Well it was nothing like that at all, but you get the gist!!:eek:

Oddly enough it's legal only on the Jag E-Type. It's not an offence the police are generally going to be too worried about, but you'd best keep a proper plate handy for your MOT...

but I did show a little restraint in not splashing out on X8 BLU, which would have cost twice as much. Still there if someone wants it )

I figured that at least with this type of reg it still transfers well to another car as it has a strong link on the "X8" but still remains a nice plate on another car.

FWIW I bought X8 EDD back in May for £599 inc. which i thought was good value?

Ed

So what are you all doing with your plates? Letting the dealer sort them out or getting them made like morgan?

I would like some rounding on the edges of the B to make it more like an 8 and realise its a tad on the illegal side.

Damn, I forgot to ask the dealer yesterday to get plates with the Great Briton Union flag not the EU symbol.

Cheers
---Dave

heres mine

RENEGADE SI

Nice rego plates i have two sets of plates .

MRXO8

RXB88 ( GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE )

Originally posted by druck
Damn, I forgot to ask the dealer yesterday to get plates with the Great Briton Union flag not the EU symbol.

Cheers
---Dave

Just as well, as there is no such thing. OK so I'm being pedantic, but the union flag is that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, incorporating the crosses of Saints George, Andrew and Patrick (and nothing for the Welsh) unless you are planning to resurrect the pre 1801 version without the diagonal red cross.
I'll be getting the EU one, as it has a practical use as a legal alternative to the GB sticker and isn't just a display of nationalism.

Dont give me pendantics. If there is going to be any symbol on my number plates, I want the flag of the country I was born a citizen off, not some jumped up trade agreement turned undemocratic superstate that has been imposed on me.

Originally posted by druck
Dont give me pendantics. If there is going to be any symbol on my number plates, I want the flag of the country I was born a citizen off, not some jumped up trade agreement turned undemocratic superstate that has been imposed on me.

That's probably exactly what the Irish said in 1801 and the Scots before them.

Originally posted by druck
Dont give me pendantics. If there is going to be any symbol on my number plates, I want the flag of the country I was born a citizen off, not some jumped up trade agreement turned undemocratic superstate that has been imposed on me.
Well I don't agree that it's undemocratic - the EU is largely run by the Council of Ministers, which is comprised of Premiers and Foreign Ministers from the democratically elected member governments, and Commisioners, who are appointed by those same democratically elected governments. And then you have the democratically elected European Parliament....

But there's a far more serious issue here - does the blue EU flag clash with my mica red paintwork? I think it looks great on titanium and silver cars but I'm not sure about other colours. I assume you can specify no flag - most cars on the road seem to be this way.

Originally posted by ChrisW

But there's a far more serious issue here - does the blue EU flag clash with my mica red paintwork? I think it looks great on titanium and silver cars but I'm not sure about other colours. I assume you can specify no flag - most cars on the road seem to be this way.

<---------- That's why I got the St George's Cross instead :)

Renegrade - Where did you get your plates made?

MarkW; but isn't that still a nasty blue circle at the top?

The RX8 Owners Club Logo (http://www.cagnew.u-net.com/RX-8/LOGOsmall.jpg) would be nice on the plate as it features the Union flag, but of course thats illegal.

Cheers
---Dave

www.gtgrafix.com

thanks to MarkW.

Thanks Renegrade

Just contacted www.gtgrafix.com who faxed me the choices I have. They gave me 4 alternatives on M1 RXB (The 1 just being a straight line down so already looking like I) and only 'massaged' the B from the standard font with the B having the endings sticking out to it looking like a 8. I have gone for the second choice which has just taken those endings off as anything more than that will statr to look too illegal.

The dealer will fit them to my car but also give me theirs. Cost was £20 & postage.

rael

OK - I'm so bored at work I've been surfin' instead of workin'. But I did find this - not sure if the plate is legal though.

http://www.benfallaize.com/images/rx8.jpg

Badge or flag is of no consequence surely, as plates can be delivered with or without the EU symbol so cannot be mandatory. If not mandatory then anything goes I should think. In which case why not the RX-8 Owners Club logo. gtgrafix offer this service so should be legal, or is this only for show cars?

I'm afraid the DVLA are quite strict about what goes on the plates. It either has to be the old plain plate or a EU symbol one. They will let you have a small national flag underneath, but not instead of the EU one - gits. See Reg Marks Current Requirements (http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm#europlate) for more details.

Cheers
---Dave

There are strict rules about what can appear on the plate but as others have said no requirement on the size and, so far as I know, no rules about what can appear near the plate or requirement that the plate be in the absolute centre of the car. For those wishing to display their dubious taste, the legal option may be to have a slightly smaller plain plate and mount a picture next to it. The most cost effective way of doing this is probably to saw the end off your illegal plate and and stick it next to the rest. Then you can have fun with any zealous police, as you point that your plate is legal and the extra decoration is independently fixed between it and your (soon to be broken) brake light.