Taxi Cop guidance details plate mistake could cost licensed drivers fines, court action and DVLA trouble
- Perry Richardson
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Taxi and private hire vehicle licence holders in Bristol and South Gloucestershire have been issued guidance on how to legally display vehicle registration plates.
Drivers are reminded that plates must meet the current BS AU 145e standard, be clearly readable, correctly spaced and displayed in the same format as shown on the vehicle’s V5 document.
The guidance also warns that taxi licence plates, fixings and cable ties must not obscure any part of the vehicle registration characters. Rear plates must also be illuminated at night.
Hackney carriage and private hire drivers are being reminded that non-compliant number plates can lead to penalties, licensing action and possible loss of personalised registrations.
Raised 3D and 4D characters are permitted, provided they are the correct size and font, solid black and clearly readable. Square plates may also be used, but drivers are warned not to fit motorcycle-style plates to cars, as the characters are too small.
Non-compliant plates can result in a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice or court action. Where a personalised registration is involved, DVLA may be informed and could withdraw the mark.
The document also warns that plates adapted to avoid camera detection, including those using films or coatings, may still leave the driver liable for enforcement action even if they were unaware of the alteration.
For drivers, the issue is huge licensing risk if cabbies choose to act outside of what is deemed to be compliant. Councils may treat illegal plates as a breach of licensing conditions and take action during vehicle inspections.
Drivers who believe their number plate has been cloned or stolen are advised to report the matter to police and DVLA, and to notify their licensing council.
