Registering and registration plates (red/white)

macplaxton

Progress has been slow on getting plates sorted.

The Citroen took about 4 or 5 trips to the VRO in Tallaght to get done. Along with 3 trips to the Motor Tax office in Clondalkin.

The first issue was that of no statistical code. Wait for a week and kick them into action and the prod got a code later that day. The following day I go down the office and the stat code seems to be wrong. It's come out as a Peugeot 307 1.4 HDi diesel 5 door hatchback. Not a good start, so it gets corrected and I go back in to hand pay the money. Get half way up the road and realised the cc is wrong. Phone them up and that gets sorted. It showed up on the Motor Tax system the following day as an Opel Ascona 5 door hatch. Looks like someone didn't save the amendments and have the make, model, fuel type, body type and doors wrong. Instead of having the same statistical code of the rest of GS family, it's been put under a "dump" code. This appears to get used when someone at Rosslare can't be bothered to do their job properly.

Anyway it's done and dusted now and everything is present and correct.

So I swan around with UK plates on, but I start to think I should be more responsible and get the ZV plates on.

Framptons couldn't quote me for a set as they'd need to get white reflective material for the large 21" x 5" plate I need for the big digits. So it may have been the case that previous front ones they have made used easier to get, undersized UK 20 1/2" x 4 3/8" backings. So, for them, not a problem in principle, but after 3 or 4 phone calls chasing it up and getting "waiting on the supplier" line for the reflective material and I've given up.

Next idea was Tipper's Vintage Plates to just purchase digits on their own and sort out some backgrounds from Europlates. They usually do 3 1/2" digits in polished aluminium or white. The white ones are aluminium digits stove enamelled in white. No problem to do them in black instead, but I haven't heard back. Granted, I only made one call to them.

Does nobody want to do a bit of business?

Go up to Europlates with the intention of just getting some plastic Euro jobs as a stop gap and instead end up get some pressed black/silver ones. (With a little persuasion) He kindly made them up on the spot. Well that's what it's wearing at the moment.





Not my cup of tea as regulars will know, but it will help me keep a low profile.;)

Having discussed my number plate requirements with Europlates, they got back to me the other day and offered a set of polished aluminium on black backing at a no-obligation special price as they had been made in error (and supplied with a second set of loose digits - crossed-wires somewhere!). Declined the nice offer and just awaiting a set of ACE digits to be painted and appropriate reflective backings supplied. Will rivet the digits on myself.

Pictures when I finally get them done and fitted!

carchaeologist

Nice one mac,good to hear you finally got sorted!Did you get my pm re the plate sizes?

macplaxton

Yes I did thanks. I'll double check the dimensions later, but that rear backing you showed a picture of to me appears to be undersized.

carchaeologist

Ah,interesting,it was the first day plate that came with the car.i just gave the dimensions of the reflective material,not the entire plate,could that be the difference maybe?.

Dades

You plateheads are mad.

Max_Damage

Thank god we don't live in Germany, or else we'd be stuck with these type of poxy plates on all classic cars.

carchaeologist

Dades wrote: »

You plateheads are mad.

Haha,thanks for the compliment dades!!:D

Silvera

#1 platehead here !:D

As an 80's child (;0) I recall another style of plate that was used on sports/prestige cars at the time - acrylic (plastic) silver-on-black plates ...and they usually had the suppling dealer's name in small print along the bottom of the plate. I believe Tipper Plates do these type of plates also.

I'm surprised Europlates cant supply the red plates that you want?
Thats where most guys on here source their red plates.

Another option is - www.autojumbler.ie

macplaxton

It's a waiting game and I'm getting there. Plus I'm rather picky with the style. Any old red plate won't do this time

unkel

macplaxton wrote: »

The Citroen took about 4 or 5 trips to the VRO in Tallaght to get done. Along with 3 trips to the Motor Tax office in Clondalkin.

That kind of incompetence would make my blood boil :mad:

BTW I spotted a brown GS in Lucan on the ORR northbound stopped at the griffeen traffic lights yesterday at about 4PM ish. Was that you?

macplaxton

unkel wrote: »

BTW I spotted a brown GS in Lucan on the ORR northbound stopped at the griffeen traffic lights yesterday at about 4PM ish. Was that you?

It was me coming home from work. Unless I have a doppelganger

unkel

macplaxton wrote: »

It was me coming home from work. Unless I have a doppelganger

Next time I'll flash ya. You'll have to flash me back. If the GS doesn't flash me back, we have proof you indeed have a doppelganger

carchaeologist

unkel wrote: »

Next time I'll flash ya. You'll have to flash me back. If the GS doesn't flash me back, we have proof you indeed have a doppelganger

If he has,the reg will be 8990ZV!:p

unkel

carchaeologist wrote: »

If he has,the reg will be 8990ZV!:p

And your nick is logistcarchaeo?

carchaeologist

unkel wrote: »

And your nick is logistcarchaeo?

ok ok..should really be 0998VZ:D:D

L1011

Brown Citroen GS, DAF 66 - you don't work around the corner from me by any chance? Have seen a brown old Citroen and a DAF on the Broomhill Road in the past few months.

macplaxton

^^^ Yes, I have been frequently (but not exclusively) in that area, working out of the K&N yard, opposite Shires.

L1011

I'm in the ugly yellow brick / steel / glass monstrosity on the corner there, with my very far from classic car... never got close enough to the Citroen to see which model it was though!

G Luxel

Monplate used to do in the early eighties a laminated plate with a sort of Russian doll effect. I dont know what the name of it is, but I was informed a few years ago, when I needed to replace it, that the machinery in question broke down and parts could not be found..... The same style of plate was available in the UK between 1972 -1973.

AsphaltRisin'

congratulations on finally getting it registered. i had the same frustration with an old pickup truck that i was trying to register. it too two months of feck acting from them to get it done, and 4 visits to the vrt office, had to get it weighed and get a letter from ford UK to prove it had ever existed.

macplaxton

Well after waiting for ages and having to do the ringing back myself, I have the plates. Collected them last week.

The backings are technically too small (20.5" x 4.5" instead of 21" x 5"). Europlates have 21" x 5" backings, but they have square, not rounded corners. The digits are the right size (3.5") and are aluminium Ace peaked, painted black.




(Wanted to do the riveting myself for some reason which I can't remember.:o Give me another three months and I might get them done and on the car)

As an aside, I have to say the Scottish & English plod didn't bother me at all (or even stop me) during the 8 days I was whizzing around without an "IRL" oval on the black/silver plates.:eek:

CamperMan

nice looking car...

shawnee

I registered mine lately and was told by the lady at the Vrt office that I had the choice of 78 lk xxx or zvxxxxx. I chose the zv because I believe that they are nearer to what was around at that time. She did however say that if I chose the 78 lk , I would need to put the modern type plates on it.
I got raised silver on black plates which again were used around that period. These delivered from Uk were approx 50 euro and I am very pleased with how they blend in with the chrome on my classic merc.:D

carchaeologist

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I have a quick questions to ask you plate boffins, I will hopefully over the next month or two be registering my 81 Porsche. The question is what type of plates can I or what plates am I allowed to put on the car. Will they just be the standard 81-D-XXXX on white background or do I have options?

Only cars over 30 years old can get the ZV number,so its 81 D for you im afraid,you wont get the classic tax until its 30 too.
When the car hits 30 you can change your year plate for a ZV if you want.
I think you have to stick with the IRL type plate.

L1011

I'll comment on what the plates look like first morning you're parked in Tallaght the existing silver/black ones don't look half bad on it though.

macplaxton

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The question is what type of plates can I or what plates am I allowed to put on the car. Will they just be the standard 81-D-XXXX on white background or do I have options?

Legally - Any new format YY - C(C) - XXXXX registration, regardless of age, should be displayed on a current style "Euro" plate.

You can display in the style of the period if it was an original Irish registration or a ZV mark.

MYOB wrote: »

I'll comment on what the plates look like first morning you're parked in Tallaght the existing silver/black ones don't look half bad on it though.

They do look okay on a French car, but red rears are the way forward!:D

carchaeologist

macplaxton wrote: »

red rears are the way forward!:D

zilog_jones

macplaxton wrote: »

Legally - Any new format YY - C(C) - XXXXX registration, regardless of age, should be displayed on a current style "Euro" plate.

I thought that was only '91 onwards? The old '87-'91 black on white plates (with no EU flag) are still legal aren't they?

MercMad

zilog_jones wrote: »

I thought that was only '91 onwards? The old '87-'91 black on white plates (with no EU flag) are still legal aren't they?

...............yes they are perfectly legal, but only on a car registered in this state originally. If you import a 1990 car it should wear Euro plates.

Hope that makes sense.

Camarague

I think that GS looks nicer with the black plates. Red and bronze don't mix imo. Actually those red plates look horrible on most cars.

Not to rag on your taste or anything, it's a beautiful car...

macplaxton

MercMad wrote: »

...............yes they are perfectly legal, but only on a car registered in this state originally. If you import a 1990 car it should wear Euro plates.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for clarifying that MercMad, I was of course refering to imports. All depends on the date it was first registered in the state.

Camarague

It doesn't seem likely that the police will stop somebody with a pre-1991 import on non-Euro plates.

How are they to know the difference between a 1988 car recently imported with black plates and a 1988 original irish car with black plates?

Even if left hand drive it doesn't seem likely. When I was in the VRT the only regulations I saw referred to before and after 1991 (or was it 1992?)

MercMad

Camarague wrote: »

It doesn't seem likely that the police will stop somebody with a pre-1991 import on non-Euro plates.

How are they to know the difference between a 1988 car recently imported with black plates and a 1988 original irish car with black plates?

Even if left hand drive it doesn't seem likely. When I was in the VRT the only regulations I saw referred to before and after 1991 (or was it 1992?)

............black plates are not legal for anything after 1987 with the YY CC 123 format. Even back in 1988 you could be stopped and fined up to £1000 for having them.

Camarague

MercMad wrote: »

............black plates are not legal for anything after 1987 with the YY CC 123 format. Even back in 1988 you could be stopped and fined up to £1000 for having them.

It makes sense that in 1988 you could be stopped an fined for having black plates on a 1988 car, because the regulations in force then referred to cars of that time. However, more recent regulations refer only to cars after 1991.

It doesn't seem to make sense that as regards 1987-1991 cars, one obsolete format (plain white) is acceptable, but another (black) is not.

Surely one obsolete plate is no different from another obsolete plate?

I must check this out to be sure

Silvera

Camarague wrote: »

It makes sense that in 1988 you could be stopped an fined for having black plates on a 1988 car, because the regulations in force then referred to cars of that time. However, more recent regulations refer only to cars after 1991.

It doesn't seem to make sense that as regards 1987-1991 cars, one obsolete format (plain white) is acceptable, but another (black) is not.

Surely one obsolete plate is no different from another obsolete plate?

I must check this out to be sure

Yes...cars registered AFTER 1991 MUST bear Euro-style plates EXCEPT -

a. ZV Plates
b. ZZ Plates (Temporary)
c. Trade Plates

i.e. even if you import, for example, a 1982 car it must (legally speaking) bear euro plates ....because - it's first registered in the state AFTER 1991.

Having said that if you use black-on-white plates on your 1982 car (for example) i dont think many gardai (or NCT testers) will complain about the lack of blue (euro) panel or county name on the plate.

If anybody really wanted to check if a 1987-1991 car was sold new in ireland or a post-1991 import, all they would need to do is ask for the registration document - cars registered before 1993 use old-style tax books, and cars registered after 1993 use the current (paper) registration certificate.

Personally, I wouldn't use black plates on a 'year' format registration unless the car was a 1975 reg or older. i.e. I would use black-on-white front and rear (or red rear plates) on any reg from c.1975 onwards .....these plates just look better and more appropriate.


macplaxton .....

You mentioned that Europlates ONLY supply metal plates with square corners - these are actually the correct Irish style of backing plates...and something which differentiates them from UK style plates (i.e. the UK plates have the rounded corners.

As a matter of interest...

- Can Europlates supply plastic (flat top, i.e. not ace peak style) clip-on digits for their metal plates?
- And what do Europlate charge for a set of such plates?

Best of luck with the Citroen btw!

Camarague

Well I hope that the Guards don't have so much time on their hands as to check which 1988 cars may have been imported after 1991 by going as far as to demand the registration document.

Silvera wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't use black plates on a 'year' format registration unless the car was a 1975 reg or older. i.e. I would use black-on-white front and rear (or red rear plates) on any reg from c.1975 onwards .....these plates just look better and more appropriate.

Black plates were still being installed on many new cars right up until 1987.

MercMad

I also think there is something about them having to be reflective. Many cars in the 80's had black acrylic plates which had reflective digits. The europlate style black and silver ones are not reflective and were only really seen after 1991.

1275gt

interesting topic. have to say the raised lettering looks fantastic and cant wait to see it on car.

so, reading the info above, im technically breaking the law driving my 1972 car on pressed black an silver plates??
(Euro Digit Style 72-D-xxx)??

i assume theres no way of re-registering to ZV once you've gone down the Euro Digit route?

MercMad

1275gt wrote: »

interesting topic. have to say the raised lettering looks fantastic and cant wait to see it on car.

so, reading the info above, im technically breaking the law driving my 1972 car on pressed black an silver plates??
(Euro Digit Style 72-D-xxx)??

i assume theres no way of re-registering to ZV once you've gone down the Euro Digit route?

.............actually you CAN change to ZV but once changed you cant change back.

Technically I reckon you are but I doubt even the Gardai would know that to be honest !

Silvera

MercMad wrote: »

.............actually you CAN change to ZV but once changed you cant change back.

Technically I reckon you are but I doubt even the Gardai would know that to be honest !

Oh I'm sure many gardai know that such a reg should be on euro plates (especially members of the Traffic Corps), however most would not make an issue of using such plates on classic or vintage cars.

Having said that some owners of classics are probably 'pushing their luck' by not taxing and/or NCT'ing their vehicles and so drawing attention to their vehicles.

I'm often surprised how many classic/vintage cars I see at shows with no tax/NCT and often insurance discs(!) on display. (I'm sure 99% of them are actually insured.....perhaps temporarily - hence no ins disc on display) but why so many are not taxed makes no sense ...especially when vehicles over 30yrs old only cost c.€50 to tax?! (The garda fine for no tax is more than that!). (N.B. I know that vehicles over 30 yrs old don't have to be NCT'd)

macplaxton

Silvera wrote: »

macplaxton .....

You mentioned that Europlates ONLY supply metal plates with square corners - these are actually the correct Irish style of backing plates...and something which differentiates them from UK style plates (i.e. the UK plates have the rounded corners.

As a matter of interest...

- Can Europlates supply plastic (flat top, i.e. not ace peak style) clip-on digits for their metal plates?
- And what do Europlate charge for a set of such plates?

Is that "Europlates ONLY" or "ONLY Europlates"?

UK plates don't necessarily have rounded corners.

- not as far as I know. If I find anywhere that does semi-peak or flat plastic digits, I'll let you know.
- see above, but you should be able to get blanks.

okistag

Silvera wrote: »

Oh I'm sure many gardai know that such a reg should be on euro plates (especially members of the Traffic Corps), however most would not make an issue of using such plates on classic or vintage cars.

Having said that some owners of classics are probably 'pushing their luck' by not taxing and/or NCT'ing their vehicles and so drawing attention to their vehicles.

I'm often surprised how many classic/vintage cars I see at shows with no tax/NCT and often insurance discs(!) on display. (I'm sure 99% of them are actually insured.....perhaps temporarily - hence no ins disc on display) but why so many are not taxed makes no sense ...especially when vehicles over 30yrs old only cost c.€50 to tax?! (The garda fine for no tax is more than that!). (N.B. I know that vehicles over 30 yrs old don't have to be NCT'd)

I agree with your point re: road tax on classic cars, my cars are often at shows but one year somebody took my tax disc of the windscreen for what reason i dont know, maybe to stick it on their everyday car, who knows.
Now at shows I often remove it from the screen and lock it in the boot when wondering about. I am not saying this is the reason why others may not have theres displayed but its why mine may not be on display.