During the summer season, VRM Swansea’s Plates4Less team has seen an increase in inquiries regarding the legality of displaying the GB/EU flag on number plates of British-registered vehicles when traveling to the continent. The popular GB/EU number plate flag is no longer being sold in the UK, leading to concerns among vehicle owners.
Antony Clark, a number plate expert from Plates4Less, explains that it’s not necessary to change the entire number plate if your vehicle remains in the UK; you can simply remove the GB/EU flag. While new number plates with the GB/EU flag are no longer allowed, existing ones are still legal to use in the UK.
In the UK, there are strict rules and regulations governing number plates’ font, spacing, and materials to ensure their legality. An illegal number plate can result in fines of up to £1000 and may cause your vehicle to fail its MoT inspection.
UK drivers can still order legal number plates with a flag decoration on the left-hand side. Approved flags include the Union Jack, the Cross of Saint George, the Cross of Saint Andrew, and the Red Dragon of Wales. The UK number plate flag now functions similarly to the EU flag used to, eliminating the need for an additional black and white UK sticker, except when driving to Spain, Cyprus, or Malta.
Antony Clark notes that interest in getting a UK flag on private number plates has significantly declined. Before Brexit, 21% of customers ordered an EU flag, but in 2023, only 5% ordered the UK flag. Some owners of private number plates choose flags to express their political affiliations, even if they have no plans to drive abroad.
Driving requirements when traveling abroad depend on the destination country. You may need a UK sticker, a new set of plates with a UK flag, or both. Additionally, specific countries may have other mandatory items for vehicles, such as a warning triangle.
Plates4Less advises motorists to always check the individual requirements of the country they are traveling to before embarking on their journey.
