Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Mick6186 wrote:Not sure if this has been posted before but black & white or black & silver number plates can now be fitted to pre January 1st 1975 vehicles,
Mick

Hi Mick,

That's refreshing news as many of us were running the technically incorrect plates on our cars. Where did you find this information. I do find it odd that our government would allow what is probably regarded as a retrograde step in allowing non reflective plate use to be extended to more vehicles.

elanfan1 wrote:

Mick6186 wrote:Not sure if this has been posted before but black & white or black & silver number plates can now be fitted to pre January 1st 1975 vehicles,
Mick

Hi Mick,

That's refreshing news as many of us were running the technically incorrect plates on our cars. Where did you find this information. I do find it odd that our government would allow what is probably regarded as a retrograde step in allowing non reflective plate use to be extended to more vehicles.

Are you sure about that? Nothing I have seen saying that and nothing in the mot testers manual? It's quite clear that pre Jan 1st 1973 only? Vehicle presenter should be able to show date of reg or it's a fail..
Next they will be changing when you don't need seat belts fitting and can have white front indicators.....

Mick6186 wrote:Not sure if this has been posted before but black & white or black & silver number plates can now be fitted to pre January 1st 1975 vehicles,
Mick

Where did you see this? I have a Poster sent from the UK Ministry in December that says all cars after 1/1/1973 must display reflective number plates to BS AU 145d, i goggled it and found this too https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 160914.pdf (see bottom of page 8 and bottom of page 10)

The one that's questionable is the front Letters on Grill set up, i've never had a problem with them at MOT time but i can't see anything that covers their use (guess you could argue the void behind is black?)

Bit off subject but it's interesting your not required to have a Rear Fog until 1980 and not required to have Hazard lights until 1986.

I was fortunate my rear plate had never been changed, so i assume it was the one that was supplied with the kit.

After re-blacking the back and clearing the front it was good to go. I could have bought a new one but i liked the way the chrome letters had aged.


In my opinion it's a no brainier to use the Black plates........


Geez every time i see those two pictures together it makes me want to repaint the bumpers........

I saw this info on the site ' insidedvla blog'.
Also a company that sells vintage registration plates called ' chestnut-registrations' advertises that date for all of its black & white plates.
It appears that this new date was put in place in April 2015
Mick

https://insidedvla.blog.gov.uk/2015/11/ ... er-plates/

Interesting, i'll have to inquire as even our MOT tester has just had a look and come back with 1973? Bit odd.

I hope The date has changed as my +2 is a 1973 and I really dislike the yellow plate.

There is a good chance because the Tax Exempt rules have changed so they may have just tagged it all together to keep it neat (just not told anyone it would seem)

Interesting. And surprising. It also sounds like it will be annual roll on as per the 'historic vehicle' tax class.

It would be good news if it's correct, there is nothing worse than a clashing Number plate

Looks like it is rolled in with the car being in the historic class which now has to be requested as I read it.

Reading the comments from DVLA, further down that link, the black plate rules may well stick at 1975 and not roll with the tax. Not really an issue I would think as a lot of cars made after that date were only ever on yellow/white ones.

I rang the police years ago to confirm their stance as it'd be them who'd pull you......they said 31 Dec 72 was the last date for black and silver.......
This phone call was about 20 years ago so it might be worth another call to check.....
Just a thought......

It was announced in the Club Lotus mag at the end of last year too

I just don't understand it, must be a mistake by DVLA surely? Why on earth would you need to change it other than for vanity? Nothing from DVSA as far as i can find? How hard would it be to change it in the online testers manual? Too hard by the looks of it?

Love it, our MOT tester rang the Ministry to check and they didn't know either he was told they would get back to him. UK Government at its best.

As above it probably means very little to a lot of Elan owners but nothing looks more wrong that Yellow plates on an E-type,Espada or similar classic that ran into the late 70's.