German style number plates and Nct.

darragh o meara · 10-02-2015 12:09pm #1

I recently got a set of German style plates made for my bmw. I know some of you think their naff, but I happen to like the look, so no criticism please.

Anyway back to topic. Does anyone know if these plates will be alright come Nct time? The plates just have a German font on a regular Irish plate, ie no stickers in the middle or DE in the country identifier.

AndyBoBandy · 10-02-2015 12:11pm

darragh o meara wrote: »

I recently got a set of German style plates made for my bmw. I know some of you think their naff, but I happen to like the look, so no criticism please.

Anyway back to topic. Does anyone know if these plates will be alright come Nct time? The plates just have a German font on a regular Irish plate, ie no stickers in the middle or DE in the country identifier.

I've never understood why people get these? I've always assumed it was a form of silent protest against the fact that we are basically run from Germany these days!

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/vehicle_registration_numbers.html

doesn't mention anything about font of numbers, but does say the little stickers (that you don't have) are not permitted)

darragh o meara · 10-02-2015 12:14pm

Andybobandy wrote: »

I've never understood why people get these? I've always assumed it was a form of silent protest against the fact that we are basically run from Germany these days!

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/vehicle_standards/vehicle_registration_numbers.html

Thanks for your input. I had already seen those links but no mention of font type, hence question.

I have explained above why I got them, purely for aesthetics, no protest here..

_Brian · 10-02-2015 12:17pm

I was with a group of lads one night and one of the lads said they wouldn't pass them, like yourself it was just the font. guy in NCT said the font was non standard and he had to go get regular plates made up..

Now I'm presuming they can't be read by the plate scanning software.. maybe that's why they fail.

AndyBoBandy · 10-02-2015 12:18pm

darragh o meara wrote: »

Thanks for your input. I have explained above why I got them, purely for aesthetics, no protest here..

I do mostly see them on German cars, but when I see them on non German cars, I am bemused!

each to their own though. (I drive a BMW and would never consider them, they won't make the car drive better/safer, or look better, so I'd see them as a waste of money)

out of interest, how much did you pay for them?

AndyBoBandy · 10-02-2015 12:20pm

_Brian wrote: »

I'm presuming they can't be read by the plate scanning software.. maybe that's why they fail.

That could very well be it, as we use a lot of plate scan tech in Ireland nowadays, so it could be down to ability to read the plates.

JPF82 · 10-02-2015 12:21pm

_Brian wrote: »

I was with a group of lads one night and one of the lads said they wouldn't pass them, like yourself it was just the font. guy in NCT said the font was non standard and he had to go get regular plates made up..

Now I'm presuming they can't be read by the plate scanning software.. maybe that's why they fail.

Years ago I had a Mark 5 Golf GTi with German reg plates. I had no issues with any of the tolls bridges or anything when they were on the car. They won't pass NCT though so, to the OP, get a standard set mad up for the test.

challengemaster · 10-02-2015 12:27pm

_Brian wrote: »

Now I'm presuming they can't be read by the plate scanning software.. maybe that's why they fail.

Actually the opposite - The font used on german style plates was designed to be more readable by ANPR systems.

10-02-2015 12:34pm

_Brian wrote: »

I was with a group of lads one night and one of the lads said they wouldn't pass them, like yourself it was just the font. guy in NCT said the font was non standard and he had to go get regular plates made up..

Now I'm presuming they can't be read by the plate scanning software.. maybe that's why they fail.

Interesting . to test go to a toll booth. It should show your number on a screen in front of the car.
Regarding the number plate , look at pages 8 and 9 of the nct manual. it shows all the sizes of the letters/numbers and the other requirements. if it matches these you will be ok.
Anyhow do you still have the old number plates. just pop these back on

Carawaystick · 10-02-2015 12:42pm

The test checks the size and legibility of the letters.

Reasons for fail :

nct manual 2010 wrote:

1. One or both plates missing, insecure or not clearly visible
2. Numbers or letters missing or illegible or incorrect size
3. Numbers, letter or background of incorrect colour
4. Marks, other than those prescribed, on the plate
within the boundary shown in the diagram

ironclaw · 10-02-2015 1:30pm

Where most people fall down is that they either have the German decals, stickers and DE marking instead of the county name in Irish and the IE decal. Those are required from my understanding. Which would defeat the point of a German style plate if it has an Irish banner on it.

10-02-2015 1:37pm

ironclaw wrote: »

Where most people fall down is that they either have the German decals, stickers and DE marking instead of the county name in Irish and the IE decal. Those are required from my understanding. Which would defeat the point of a German style plate if it has an Irish banner on it.

To me the point of the german style plate is to have something slightly different, ie the squarer numbers .
Personally id shy away from changes to a car that make them illegal or anything that might draw too much attention to the car.

joujoujou · 10-02-2015 1:46pm

OP, as long as you have county on top, EU banner + IRL on LHS and your reg number and nothing else - you'll be grand.

People complaining about German style plates don't even realise these ones

are German (just older) style as well! :P

Img. source - olavsplates.com

_Kaiser_ · 10-02-2015 1:49pm

I don't mind the German font (but with the proper 0, not the cut-out variant) - what bugs me more is the fact that my reg is a short one so doesn't fit the plate properly!

(and there's the non-D of course!)

jimgoose · 10-02-2015 2:02pm

If you have German-style number plates, the VLC needs to be printed in Fraktur font with an Iron Eagle across the top. I know a fella who failed the NCT over this. I'm not sure about the car, though...

wotswattage · 10-02-2015 2:52pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Actually the opposite - The font used on german style plates was designed to be more readable by ANPR systems.

I assume they are designed to be more readable by German ANPR systems. I'd be interested to read how Irish ANPR systems get on with the different fonts...

I like the style of font, but think its silly to be imitating another countries number plates...

Also does anyone know why on earth people are using yellow German font numberplates???

challengemaster · 10-02-2015 2:56pm

wotswattage wrote: »

I assume they are designed to be more readable by German ANPR systems.

What I meant was the font itself was actually designed specifically with ANPR in mind - not specifically for german ANPR. The characters should be easier to read no matter what countries system it is.

ironclaw · 10-02-2015 3:12pm

wotswattage wrote: »

I assume they are designed to be more readable by German ANPR systems. I'd be interested to read how Irish ANPR systems get on with the different fonts...

Character recognition is a fairly hard part of Image Processing but once trained with different fonts, its accuracy is fairly high. Most ANPR systems, for tolls and police work, come pre-calibrated to standard fonts with a fall back to snap and catalog / falg those it can't read or be certain about.

wotswattage · 10-02-2015 3:36pm

ironclaw wrote: »

Character recognition is a fairly hard part of Image Processing but once trained with different fonts, its accuracy is fairly high. Most ANPR systems, for tolls and police work, come pre-calibrated to standard fonts with a fall back to snap and catalog / falg those it can't read or be certain about.

So whats the advantage to using a German style font in Ireland if the ANPR systems accuracy is "fairly high"??

I understand that the German fonts were introduced primarily to make it harder to tamper with a plate, while a secondary objective was making it easier for an ANPR system to read the font.

I think we all know that making the plate more easily read by toll systems/speed cameras isn't the main reason lads are putting German style plates on their cars...

challengemaster · 10-02-2015 3:38pm

wotswattage wrote: »

I think we all know that making the plate more easily read by toll systems/speed cameras isn't the main reason lads are putting German style plates on their cars...

The reason is because the owner thinks it looks good. Simple as.

wotswattage · 10-02-2015 3:39pm

I've heard fells using the 'easier to read' argument to try justify it before.

Eireplates · 10-02-2015 4:03pm

FYI

German FE font plates are being passed by the NCT once they have IRL, county and hyphens on them.

10-02-2015 4:16pm

wotswattage wrote: »

I've heard fells using the 'easier to read' argument to try justify it before.

Are these lads the same lads that put the cds on the dash with the reflective side out because it was a handier place to store them,

dgt · 10-02-2015 5:02pm

wotswattage wrote: »

I assume they are designed to be more readable by German ANPR systems. I'd be interested to read how Irish ANPR systems get on with the different fonts...

I like the style of font, but think its silly to be imitating another countries number plates...

Also does anyone know why on earth people are using yellow German font numberplates???

Every character is shaped in such a way it cant be altered for another one. Its easier picked up by anpr too.

Still hate the font myself

ciarsd · 10-02-2015 5:02pm

The replies on this thread are as inconsistent as the NCT around the plates themselves!

I've imported and VRT'd 2 cars with them, using the exact same plates, from the exact same company. The first car passed, I only ever did 1 test in it. The 2nd car was NCT'd a week after it was imported, it only ever had german plates made for it for use in Ireland. It also passed it's 1st NCT. The 2nd NCT it failed for them (same plates, same car, same NCT test centre). I had to go have standard ones made up, around the corner, stuck them on over the german ones and went back to the NCT and picked up my test cert/disc. The 3rd and final NCT I done on this car, again failed for them. Again, same plates, same car, same NCT test centre. This time, I left reception, went out to the car drove it around to the front, stuck the standard plates on over the germans, testers came out and inspected and gave me my paperwork.

Inconsistent from my 4 NCT experiences using the plates. I've since gone back to standard metal pressed style.

DraganGTD · 10-02-2015 6:05pm

German reg plates really look nice. Pity that the Irish plates have that stupid year on them.

UnknownSpecies · 10-02-2015 6:16pm

I have them on my own car and passed the NCT. Mine have all required info ie. county name, IRL, hyphens and correct sizing; I just prefer the font. I don't understand why they draw so much vitriol, it's not an outlandish modification and can't harm anyone. Do a search on this forum and you'll see tonnes of similar threads that will shed some light on it.

Gumbo · 10-02-2015 7:01pm

My plates are exactly like the above. Have always bought them from Trevor in Eireplates or these guys http://www.a-zplates.com/

no stupid stickers. Passed the NCT every time with different cars including all my E60's, my current Skoda, and previous E90/E39

CiniO · 10-02-2015 11:46pm

Andybobandy wrote: »

I do mostly see them on German cars, but when I see them on non German cars, I am bemused!

Because?

kilianmanning · 10-02-2015 11:56pm

Those plates passed the nct on my old golf anyway no problems :pac:. Standard irish plates apart from the german font

darragh o meara · 11-02-2015 12:51pm

Thanks for all the feedback. May just chance sending it through the test with them and keep the proper plates just in case.

AndyBoBandy · 11-02-2015 1:05pm

CiniO wrote: »

Because?

because it just looks silly, I kind of get why people would want them on a German car, but on a ford focus, it just looks silly.

darragh o meara · 11-02-2015 1:13pm

Andybobandy wrote: »

because it just looks silly, I kind of get why people would want them on a German car, but on a ford focus, it just looks silly.

Funny you mention the Focus, most of them are manufactured in Germany and the RS is produced there too

http://youtu.be/Y8ViZHNu_eU

CiniO · 11-02-2015 1:19pm

Andybobandy wrote: »

because it just looks silly, I kind of get why people would want them on a German car, but on a ford focus, it just looks silly.

Ohh you mean German car - German plate...
So maybe I should put Japaneese font on my honda's plate.

I understand that some people might prefer to have different font on their number plate, and German font is in fashion, but I can't really see any correlation with this and cars of makes originating from Germany.

Caliden · 11-02-2015 1:23pm

CiniO wrote: »

Ohh you mean German car - German plate...
So maybe I should put Japaneese font on my honda's plate.

I understand that some people might prefer to have different font on their number plate, and German font is in fashion, but I can't really see any correlation with this and cars of makes originating from Germany.

People do that.

Different strokes for different folks.
I'm sure you have a few opinions that others don't agree with.

German style number plates and Nct.

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