GB plate no longer valid?

[Gloster]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but the GB plate has been replaced (yesterday) after 111 years by a new one saying UK at the government’s request. (Sorry, mods, no chance of me doing a link, but it was in the London Economic, which should always be treated with caution anyway.) It is a bit unclear as to whether this is just on number plates or includes the old style stick-on. The problems that this will cause may vary from country to country.

 

[Ediswan]

If past behaviour is any guide, ferry companies and Le Shuttle will be heavily advertising this once you are inside their net and selling replacement UK/NI stickers for their customary inflated prices. The only drivers likely to be breaking the new rules are those who are already abroad.

Edit: Thinking further, I dont know how NI fits in here.

 

[Domh245]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but the GB plate has been replaced (yesterday) after 111 years by a new one saying UK at the government’s request. (Sorry, mods, no chance of me doing a link, but it was in the London Economic, which should always be treated with caution anyway.) It is a bit unclear as to whether this is just on number plates or includes the old style stick-on. The problems that this will cause may vary from country to country.

It was also covered on the BBC

GB number plate sticker no longer valid abroad​

By Simon Read
Business reporter, BBC News

British motorists driving outside the UK must now remove old-style GB stickers or cover them up.
Instead they should display a UK sticker or have the UK identifier on their number plate.
The UK government guidance has been in place since Tuesday 28 September.
"It might only be a matter of replacing two letters, but this is a significant change for drivers who in normal times take their cars outside the UK," said RAC spokesman Rod Dennis.
The new rules state that any driver with a GB sticker on their car now needs to replace it with a new UK one if they are taking their vehicle abroad.
"Drivers also need to remember that number plates featuring the blue band and letters 'GB' next to the European golden stars are also no longer valid," Mr Dennis warned.
Penalties for not complying with the new rules are likely to vary.
Halfords warned that drivers who failed to display their UK badges could be refused entry to some countries.

Number plate changes​

The GB sticker was valid for cars from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The move was only revealed by the United Nations which said it had received "a notification stating that the United Kingdom is changing the distinguishing sign that it had previously selected for display in international traffic on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom, from 'GB' to 'UK'".

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change."
The latest change comes just nine months after the government announced new style number plates to mark the one-year anniversary of Brexit.
In January the EU flag was removed from all UK number plate designs and UK drivers were told they wouldn't need to display a GB sticker in most EU countries if their number plate has GB or GB with a Union Flag on it.
At the time Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Looking to the future, whether it's for work, or for holidays abroad, these changes mean that those who want to drive in the EU can continue to do so with ease."

Sticker rules​

According to government guidelines anyone planning to drive outside the UK now needs "to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:
• a GB identifier with the Union flag
• a Euro symbol
• a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
• numbers and letters only - no flag or identifier
However, anyone with a number plate that includes the UK identifier with the Union flag, also known as the Union Jack, does not need a UK sticker.
The guidelines add: "If you're in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.
"You do not need a UK sticker or number plate to drive in Ireland."

My interpretation is that you don't need to cover up any "GB" on the number plate, but you will need a separate "UK" sticker - I'm sure that somebody will be making stickers that will cover existing GB bars with UK ones!


I must say though, what a load of nationalist tory tripe, as usual

 

[75A]

You'll find that cars registered in the North of Ireland (including my two) will not be putting on any sticker to go south, that's for sure.

 

[221129]

You'll find that cars registered in the North of Ireland (including my two) will not be putting on any sticker to go south, that's for sure.

Which you don't need to from anywhere in the UK.

 

[swt_passenger]

If past behaviour is any guide, ferry companies and Le Shuttle will be heavily advertising this once you are inside their net and selling replacement UK/NI stickers for their customary inflated prices. The only drivers likely to be breaking the new rules are those who are already abroad.

Edit: Thinking further, I dont know how NI fits in here.

I suppose the logic was that NI wasn’t included in GB.

 

[simonw]

Good to see the government focus is on those things that matter.

 

[swt_passenger]

Good to see the government focus is on those things that matter.

Well at least it’s cheaper than an Irish Sea tunnel…

 

[XAM2175]

The latest change comes just nine months after the government announced new style number plates to mark the one-year anniversary of Brexit.
In January the EU flag was removed from all UK number plate designs and UK drivers were told they wouldn't need to display a GB sticker in most EU countries if their number plate has GB or GB with a Union Flag on it.
At the time Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Looking to the future, whether it's for work, or for holidays abroad, these changes mean that those who want to drive in the EU can continue to do so with ease."

This is the real highlight

 

[Ianno87]

Which you don't need to from anywhere in the UK.

I believe in Republic of Ireland it is "advised" but not mandatory.

 

[221129]

I believe in Republic of Ireland it is "advised" but not mandatory.

Taken from the linked BBC article...

The guidelines add: "If you're in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.
"You do not need a UK sticker or number plate to drive in Ireland."

 

[SargeNpton]

Link to the government website...

Displaying number plates

How to display number or licence plates, get plates made up, replace lost, damaged or stolen plates, and the national letters, flags and symbols you can display.

www.gov.uk

 

[Flying Snail]

You'll find that cars registered in the North of Ireland (including my two) will not be putting on any sticker to go south, that's for sure.

I find that owners of cars registered in Northern Ireland do not believe any rules apply when going south anyway. The majority of cars using the M1 as a racetrack has always been yellowplaters.

 

[32475]

This subject begs the question whether or not at the next Olympic Games, Team GB will be rebranded Team UK. Furthermore, if Scotland reinstates it’s independence, will the UK be rebranded SLUK (slightly less United Kingdom) or Former United Kingdom

 

[IanXC]

Of course the government's motivation wouldn't have anything to do with people removing/replacing GB stickers/plates which have the 12 EU stars on them would it...

 

[XAM2175]

Of course the government's motivation wouldn't have anything to do with people removing/replacing GB stickers/plates which have the 12 EU stars on them would it...

In fairness, that happened at the start of the year when the Union Flag replaced the EU stars. Obviously though they feel it doesn't hurt to underline the point.

 

[37424]

You can buy vinyl stickers for a few quid which have UK and a UK flag which will cover up the blue part of the number plate which has the GB bit on for those that have that style of plate. I wonder how long it will be before the Government decides you carn't have the EU flag on your plate in this country?

 

[IanXC]

In fairness, that happened at the start of the year when the Union Flag replaced the EU stars. Obviously though they feel it doesn't hurt to underline the point.

It did - but I think I'm right in saying that the only requirement was for the letters "GB", stickers with the EU stars on otherwise remained valid - as a passport saying "European Union" on it does. The change the Government have put in place means a "GB" sticker is no longer valid and so *has to be replaced*.

You can buy vinyl stickers for a few quid which have UK and a UK flag which will cover up the blue part of the number plate which has the GB bit on for those that have that style of plate. I wonder how long it will be before the Government decides you carn't have the EU flag on your plate in this country?

Except that the "UK" identifier now must once again be a separate sticker - that being part of the number plate is no longer valid as this was an EU scheme.

 

[XAM2175]

It did - but I think I'm right in saying that the only requirement was for the letters "GB", stickers with the EU stars on otherwise remained valid - as a passport saying "European Union" on it does. The change the Government have put in place means a "GB" sticker is no longer valid and so *has to be replaced*.

I'm not entirely sure, to be honest - my (very casual) understanding was that "GB" + stars had ceased to be valid outside the UK and Ireland, and had to be replaced with either "GB" + Union Flag (a la Norway) or a separate "GB" oval, but now you've used the passport metaphor I'm doubting myself

 

[37424]

It did - but I think I'm right in saying that the only requirement was for the letters "GB", stickers with the EU stars on otherwise remained valid - as a passport saying "European Union" on it does. The change the Government have put in place means a "GB" sticker is no longer valid and so *has to be replaced*.



Except that the "UK" identifier now must once again be a separate sticker - that being part of the number plate is no longer valid as this was an EU scheme.

Not according to Gov.uk if you have a UK identifier with a Union Flag on your Number Plate you can use that in the EU you don't need a separate UK sticker except for Spain, Cyprus and Malta. Irish Republic doesn't need a UK sticker or Number Plate.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This subject begs the question whether or not at the next Olympic Games, Team GB will be rebranded Team UK. Furthermore, if Scotland reinstates it’s independence, will the UK be rebranded SLUK (slightly less United Kingdom) or Former United Kingdom

Not to mention the launch of Great British Railways (which doesn't operate in NI).
We are inexorably moving towards an English this, Welsh that and Scottish the other.
Oddly, we've had English/Welsh/Scottish National Opera companies for about 60 years, with none of them being particularly National.

 

[Factotum]

I suppose the logic was that NI wasn’t included in GB.

Like Team GB at the Olympic Games? #

 

[swt_passenger]

Like Team GB at the Olympic Games? #

I suppose that’s probably how it’s seen in some places, yes.

 

[TheSeeker]

I put a sticker on my (Belgian) rear number plate, over the blue BE + EU stars. Welsh flag with "CYM". Got pulled over by the police and told to take it off as it would interfere with ANPR recognition. I didn't get a fine as I claimed it was only for the football. (Un)Fortunately Wales had recently been beaten by Belgium which they found very funny.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Not sure why they couldn’t have had GB and UK both being allowed, at least for a transition period. Didn’t the Republic of Ireland use both EIR and IRL at one point?

 

[Gloster]

Not sure why they couldn’t have had GB and UK both being allowed, at least for a transition period. Didn’t the Republic of Ireland use both EIR and IRL at one point?

Probably a wish to get the new plates without the EU star symbol on as quickly as possible. Cynical, me!

 

[TheSeeker]

Come to think of it. Aren’t these country codes international? Like currency, time zone or computer international settings? Bit like the colour of passports, nothing to do with the EU.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I put a sticker on my (Belgian) rear number plate, over the blue BE + EU stars. Welsh flag with "CYM". Got pulled over by the police and told to take it off as it would interfere with ANPR recognition. I didn't get a fine as I claimed it was only for the football. (Un)Fortunately Wales had recently been beaten by Belgium which they found very funny.

Be nice if Welsh, English, Scottish flags and codes had international recognition. Not fair that these countries can't fly their colours on their cars officially. It wouldn't be too hard for lists to include them.

 

[Western Sunset]

Be nice if Welsh, English, Scottish flags and codes had international recognition. Not fair that these countries can't fly their colours on their cars officially. It wouldn't be too hard for lists to include them.

Not wishing to be political, but there's no way the present government would sanction something that appears to weaken the idea of "one nation". Interesting if folks in other counties might think we all come from the Ukraine.

 

[Irascible]

Come to think of it. Aren’t these country codes international? Like currency, time zone or computer international settings? Bit like the colour of passports, nothing to do with the EU.

ISO 3166 ( useful reference for internet TLDs sometimes - they don't always match, like ours ) but motoring country IDs probably predate that.

Not wishing to be political, but there's no way the present government would sanction something that appears to weaken the idea of "one nation". Interesting if folks in other counties might think we all come from the Ukraine.

I always mix up Ukraine ( UA, also UKR ) & the UAE ( AE ). More confusion is obviously what we need! put me in the "entirely childish political farce" camp for this whole thing.