When I got my car I stuck my standard size number plate onto the boot of the car. As I only have 5 characters in the plate I’m now considering if I can get a shortened plate made up for the back, with standard size letters to keep it legal.

Problem is, I remember there being a recess behind the rear plate because I had to put the sticky pads around it to make sure it stuck. I don’t want to pull the standard plate off to have a look cause I know it’ll be a pain to clean all of the glue off the boot.

Does anyone know what the shortest size plate is that I can fit on the back but still have enough panel to get it to stick?

Or is there something that can fit in the recess to allow it to sit flush?

Thanks

Technically, to stay legal the actual plate must be standard size irrespective of the amount of letters.

Please disregard - I stand corrected. 2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6

Last edited by Brian Considine on 3rd Sep 2019 1:16pm. Edited 1 time in total

It should be but I’m happy to accept the risk

... John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

As far as I know there is no size stipulated for number plate dimensions.
What is specified is the letter size and spacing to the correct font and an 11mm minimum border around all letters, top, sides and bottom.
Therefore the number plate height is determined by the font height plus 22mm for the margins.
Similarly the length is determined by the font width plus spacing between the letters plus 22mm for the margins.
Therefore a private plate with only a few letters only needs to have letters the correct size and font and correct spacing plus 22mm for the borders.
The less digits, the shorter the plate can be.
Surprisingly there is no limits to the size of plates you can have, presumably this is why oversized rear number plate are ok on Range Rovers.
I stand to be corrected of course if someone knows better

^ sounds about right...


heres an pic of cam-tec-craigs old L322,


 ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

id Read conflicting things about the size but Stan that makes sense.

Craig, do you remember the size, number of characters and how you secured it to the boot?

Unnecessary quote removed

I stand corrected on the size of the plate as long as it has the correct sized margins/letter spacing & so on.
AFAIK, plates had to be a minimum size at one time but it seems to have changed.
Imported vehicles that are not EU type approved do have some "wriggle room" regarding smaller plates. 2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6

Here’s a pic of the tailgate recess behind the plate, didn’t measure it maybe you can judge size from photo....

the recess isnt very big so a small plate will cover that.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

That’s much smaller than I feared so should be fine. Now I have the unenviable job of removing the glue from the sticky strips. I used a lot cause I didn’t want to screw it on

I used a hairdryer to soften the glue and most of the strips peeled away then brake and clutch cleaner to remove the adhesive residue

Full Fattie wrote:

id Read conflicting things about the size but Stan that makes sense.

Craig, do you remember the size, number of characters and how you secured it to the boot?

My plates are 13" x 4.5" instead of the standard rear plate which is 20.5" x 4.5"... My reg no is 4 digits long and was fitted using standard numberplate screws...