Private Reg - attract trouble ?

[PatDanz]

Having shopped around and haggled with regtransfers, I've found a good private plate - X55 UMS - space it to read X5 5UMS ( I teach math for a living)... for a keen price - I know technically I'm not meant to play around with the spacing - anyone had any run in with the law over this ?

Do we think private plates draw the wrong sort of attention - especailly considering my car is not garaged over night,
am I asking to get it vandalised... ?

 

[Mik]

Thats a neat plate, I like it.... I ve got M1 8MW E and i got a 2 metre scratch put on it sunday night. Not saying do or don t but it makes you wonder eh :|

 

[muppet]

With spacing like the the Number plate police will be after you

 

[Zed_Steve]

I think it does unfortunately, one reason that puts me off going for a private plate. A desirable car can attract unwanted attention, a desirable car with a desirable plate attracts even more unwanted attention! :x

 

[Ian G]

At the end of the day i have know crap cars get scratched and great cars scratched on purpose, with and without private plates. Personally i think it comes down to luck! All nice cars will get attention - dont think the kind of people who key a car gice a s**t about the plate on it. Jealous and brain dead!

 

[Mr Whippy]

Anonomity these days is preferable, more so in a sports car I think

Still, if you really want one, then screw the issues it might bring with it (or might not, not every car with a private plate GETS negative attention ), and enjoy it.


That said, if Plod spot you you'll have to revert it or risk more bother in the future... but I think it's still a cool plate spaced right

Happy driving

 

[therealjools]

:headbang: I had trouble last year with Suffolk Police -a very anal officer stopped me one Sunday. He obviously had nothing better to do like catch real criminals. He said my nicely but illegally spaced J90 LSX (J00LS.X) read as JD0LSX on his system. I argued that it was not even a reckonisable combination but he booked me anyway. I kept the plates on for a few more weeks and then got stopped by Norfolk Police (They followed me into petrol station). They only stopped me because it came up on their system. They thought it was ok and would not have fined me. So much for keeping proper plates in the boot and being let off, as I did. I will have another set of pates made but want the dust to settle a bit more. Takes all the fun out of it.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Put a private reg on it if you want. I see nor reason why it will increase or decrease unwanted attention.
Whatever you do don't mispace it 1) you'll be pulled in time and 2) it can now be confiscated and not returned.

 

[ksher]

Many people put private plate on crap cars. I had seen X5, M3/M5 on Ford, Vauxhall, etc. What's the point?

MOT requires specific spacing between letters and numbers, and size of the texts. So if your number plate meets the requirements, police can do nothing to you.

 

[shabba]

People will say 'what the hell is that meant to mean'. I wouldnt bother.

 

[WLH]

I have taken the approach for years to try to avoid bringing unwanted attention to my car and agree that anonymity is preferable, and even more so in a sports car. I especially avoid political and organization membership stickers. Years ago I had the sticker below displayed in my back window and someone put 2 bullet holes in my rear deck just below the sticker. I am guessing the individual that did this was opposed to gun ownership however the grouping of the 2 shots was pretty good.... :?

 

[TO//M]

I think that generally the people who would likely vandalize a car probably aren't bright enough to understand the plate. I've had "Z IV" as a plate for six years and most people ask "What does the EYE VEE mean, are you a doctor?" A sad commentary of the education system in my country.

 

[Ben.]

Go for it but don't use this company: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10974
:headbang:

 

[Tommo]

I have a private reg and I think the car looks much better for it. Nobody thinks my car is 5 years old (obviously people who can't spot a facelift) and lots of people think the car cost me around £15k-£16k.

THe only downside is ther times when you want to have a little bit of fun, you are going to get recognised. Or if you are the sort of person that gets into to trouble or arguments/fights, it will be easy for people to recognise you and take it out on your beloved Z

 

[coxyh78]

I think a private plate looks good, but the zed certainly raise's awareness for dodgy plates!! :evil:

I have C8 XYH which I got done C8XY H all correct letters, fonts et just wrong spacing......3 days in and a letter drops on the mat about the spacing. My mate has had G1LY H for 3 years on a focus, more or less the same...not a peep from the police!! So I decide to take anoth risk with mine as the first letter was just a warning.....2 weeks later £60 fine! so I have now changed it....while he still drives around laughing about it!

Just think the Z4 is such a head turner, bored / jealous police are more likely to take notice.

 

[Wondermike]

PatDanz, I think they do attract unwanted attention unfortunately, better to be anonymous in my opinion.

 

[Swami]

PatDanz, I think they do attract unwanted attention unfortunately, better to be anonymous in my opinion.

Do you think this just applies to plates that say something recognisable (e.g. s3xy, BMW etc) or all including random initials?

 

[cj10jeeper]

PatDanz, I think they do attract unwanted attention unfortunately, better to be anonymous in my opinion.

Sorry but I can't see it. If I wanted to remain anonymous why on earth woudl I drive a Z4? If I wanted that a dark couloured older Audi or something woudl be just the job. I just cannot see a plate makes any sigbnificant difference either way unless it's some sort of provocative combination of letters.

As an aside I saw 'C1' on an old bland 4 door saloon in my local garden centre this week. Must have been worth 20x the cars value

 

[Traxxer]

I'd have to say that it all depends on what you have as a license plate. If you have something that makes you sound cocky or arrogant then I'm sure it will get negative attention. If it's something funny or just something simple like a car model name then it won't be a big deal.

 

[Wondermike]

Do you think this just applies to plates that say something recognisable (e.g. s3xy, BMW etc) or all including random initials?

Sorry but I can't see it. If I wanted to remain anonymous why on earth woudl I drive a Z4? If I wanted that a dark couloured older Audi or something woudl be just the job. I just cannot see a plate makes any sigbnificant difference either way unless it's some sort of provocative combination of letters.

Sorry let me clarify what I meant - getting X55 UMS and leaving it spaced as it should be would be pretty pointless in my opinion, would anyone actually know what it meant. You could say who cares, as long as the person themselves knows. Get it and space it to read X5 5UMS would be asking for trouble though, for sure, as someone above posted, the police would be on to it pretty quickly.

Get your initials instead