THE motor accessory provider  vGroup International is launching a new business division called vPlate.

vGroup says it’s required to meet the first regulatory changes to vehicle number plate design for 17 years to improve legibility.

The company also wants to increase its reach. Currently the group supplies 1,200 pairs of number plates per day to the fleet market – typically contract hire and leasing companies and major end-user fleets – but wants to grow into the franchise dealer, vehicle manufacturer, used car supermarket and motor factor sectors.

vGroup International’s expansion plans coincide with the anticipated September 1, 2018 introduction of British Standard (BS) AU145e.

This will replace BSAU145d and focuses on improving number plate readability. However, the exact date the British Standard regulation changes has still to be confirmed.

James Nash, Managing Director, vGroup International, said:

“We have designed and launched a brand new product, significantly enhanced to meet the much more stringent regulations that has some real benefits to the market and end users. The manufacturing process for vPlate’s number plates is so significantly different to that currently used and we want to grow the vGroup brand, hence the launch of vPlate.”

vPlate’s says that its number plates are made from 3mm thick acrylic polymer featuring hermetically sealed edges for increased durability. The plates come with a warranty that has increased from three to five years.

Forthcoming number plate changes

BSAU145e chages, which also specify the typeface, the size and colouring are:

• The screwed fixings of plates is no longer allowed to avoid damage to the number plate or alteration of the readable area once fitted to a vehicle. Instead fixing pads or brackets must be used, the latter allowable but must not obscure the black of the letters/numbers on a plate.
• The only markings allowed on plates are the British Standard number, a means of identifying the component supplier or manufacturer; and the name and postcode only of the number plate supplying outlet.
• No country flags or the European Union flag are allowed.
• An increased brightness to plate letters and numbers due to the use of the latest laser technology in the manufacturing process.
• Lipped plates, which have proved popular in recent years as a place for business slogans or a personal message outside of the legal area of the number plate containing registration number, boarder, UK or European Union badge and supplier’s details are no longer legal.

Nash added:

“The regulations are designed to improve the readability of vehicle number plates by ANPR and other cameras. We believe the law will be strictly enforced by the authorities – the police, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency and, on its behalf, MoT stations. We have also taken the opportunity to redesign vehicle number plates to both conform to the new British Standard and maximise lifetime usage.”

Vehicle number plates must conform to British Standards or manufacturers can be fined up to £2,500 and/or be banned from supplying them. The penalty for driving a car with an illegal number plate is a fine of up to £1,000, plus an automatic MoT fail.