If you used Clearing in 2024, how did you find it?

My number plate is lost, can I use cardboard or another temporary solution?

I was surprised to find that this morning my front number-plate had vanished.

I will probably report it stolen, just in case it has been, but it will take me weeks to get a new one as it is German registered.

But it is essential that I use my car in the meantime... Is it acceptable for me to display something hand-written in my windscreen? Or stick on some makeshift cardboard number plate for now? I don't want to end up with large fines/points.

Thanks..

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Reply 1

SomeonecalledJohnny

It will take weeks to get a German Plate.

I got a Spanish one made up at halfords :s-smilie:

Mine was 5841 FWR

Do you could just get a temporary plate from a motor factor store!

by German plates do you mean Pressed metal with the German logo on it?

Reply 2

SomeonecalledJohnny

I wouldn't use cardboard etc.

You can get in trouble especially with all this ANPR crap and those bloody coppers who have no discretion, corrupt *********!

Reply 3

Bong-Bong

Cardboard lol.

Sorry, that all sounds a tad American to me.

Reply 4

Aack

Report it as stolen and order a replacement.

Police surely can't expect you to go without a car.

I would check with your local police / DVLA just to be safe though.

Reply 5

Reloaded

SomeonecalledJohnny

by German plates do you mean Pressed metal with the German logo on it?

Yes.

Remember i'm not registered with DVLA and I do not pay UK road tax or have a V5 etc. I don't know if this will cause a problem.

Reply 6

SomeonecalledJohnny

Have you been here more than a year!?

Reply 7

Reloaded

SomeonecalledJohnny

Have you been here more than a year!?

Yes many years

Reply 8

SomeonecalledJohnny

So you've been running around with no road tax for more than a year, haven't imported your vehicle to this country and aren't likely to be insured by a British insurer but you using and placing wear on our roads, Geez thanks.

Reply 9

L i b

^ Roffle.

Anyway, just do what's reasonable. In the main, only complete arse-holes complain when you've been entirely reasonable.

Can you not have a British-style plate printed up with the same information to use for the duration? Cardboard is a bit, well, crap. Still, if the choice is between that and not using your car, go for the cardboard.

Reply 10

SomeonecalledJohnny

I'm not a complete ******** complaining, I just don't like the fact I have to pay £778 to insure a crappy Octavia!

and the fact I then have to tax it which is £200-odd P/A

Reply 11

DeeDub

As previously stated. It is an offence to use a foreign registered car in the UK for an extended period of time. You should re-register it in Britain.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022583

Reply 12

Reloaded

Johnny, I'm no better off than you. I also pay road tax similar to UK price, and high insurance.

The fact that my vehicle is left-hand drive complicates things.

And if you're going to average over 80 posts per day, you might aswell not go off-topic and start complaining about silly things!

Reply 13

SomeonecalledJohnny

You just said your vehicle wasn't registered in this country so why the hell are you paying a road tax fund!?

Reply 14

jaw

you can use cardboard temporarly to travel to get a plate, I've confirmed this with the police personally, just make sure you report it stolen.

you should be able to get a plate made up online and with you within a week.

in store you will need some sort of registrational detail to proove the vehichle is legally yours.

Reply 15

Reloaded

Thanks jaw

Johnny I have to pay German road tax since my vehicle is German registered as previously mentioned. :smile:

Reply 16

menaa-x

LOL @ cardboard :ninja:

Report it stolen :smile:

Reply 17

Steeps

Report it stolen, someone's probably nabbed your plate to do a ramraid on a bank somewhere.

Reply 18

scotttb

this happened to me a few months ago the most important thing is to report is stolen as someone could be using it to commit crimes. When iot happened to me i was told to just put something vissible in the windscreen until i can get a replacement

Reply 19

SomeonecalledJohnny

Reloaded

Thanks jaw

Johnny I have to pay German road tax since my vehicle is German registered as previously mentioned. :smile:

The German Road Tax fund is nowhere near as expensive as here in the UK, neither is your insurance premium tax or fuel costs!

Plus the Germans taxing system takes into account things like DPFs our cars just get thrown into groups with no real thought of their actually damage or polluting properties.

In Germany you also have quite a few derestricted autobahns, not a 70mph speed limit.

So why don't you do the honest and decent thing and either go back to your own country with your own car.

Or register it over here and pay like everyone else has to.