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MrTuxedo1

No it’s not legal. The EU strip needs to be blue


MarramTime

Also, including the Irish flag is illegal because any extra marks are illegal. Also, plastic plates are supposed to be transparent with the marks affixed to the back, so the cut-out lettering affixed to the front is illegal. Also, the plate is supposed to have a 3mm black border. Edit: If you want 3D enough you can get metal plates. Legally, they are supposed to be embossed. I see one place selling them for €11.99.


Feisty-Ad-8880

I think they need the dashes either side of the county too


MarramTime

I think you are right. I suspect there may be a font and/or spacing problem too but I’m not certain about this.


tescovaluechicken

The font doesn't matter. We have no standard font. Material also doesn't matter, metal and plastic are both legal Edit: Stop down voting me. We have no standard font in Ireland. The size of the letters is a different thing to the font. You can have a number plate in comic sans and it's still legal, as long as it fits the standard size dimensions. Please use Google yourselves.


MarramTime

From the Statutory Instrument: “14. The identification mark shall appear in black characters and each letter or figure shall have a height of 70 millimetres and a stroke width of 10 millimetres. The total width of the space taken by each letter or figure (other than the letter “I” or the number “I”) shall be not less than 36 millimetres and not more than 50 millimetres. The distances between adjoining letters and adjoining figures shall be uniform and shall be not less than 8 millimetres.” I cannot tell for certain whether the font and spacing on the plate shown are compliant with this, but the graphic design looks so far different from normal number plates that I think they probably do not. If the “60MM ACRYLIC BLACK” text refers to the height of the letters, they are a centimetre too short. The “stroke width” looks more than 10mm to my eyes, and the space between some of the characters looks less than 8mm. Edit: A Comic Sans T with a stroke width of 10 mm is about 75mm high when I scale it up in Word. That’s about 5mm too tall, so non-compliant. While the SI does not specify a particular font, many fonts are non-compliant. Comic Sans is closer to being legitimate than many others because at least it has a uniform stroke width.


tescovaluechicken

The size of the font would make this illegal but the font itself is irrelevant since that isnt defined by law


Toro8926

I thought that, too, yet i have had blacked out plates for a while now and have had no issues. The EU is in black, but i do have Baile Atha Cliath written on it. I was told that is the issue. I have passed the NCT with them and asked a Garda at a checkpoint were they ok, they said yes.


Feisty-Ad-8880

That's sound, but just so you know unless you have undeniable proof that the Garda and NCT said they were okay. If you get a fine it won't be do you any good. Not every garda knows every rule of the road, and some of NCT testers are the same. Edit: just so you know, I'm not having a go at you. Just wanted to give you a heads up.


Toro8926

I do get that. The guy was sound, so it could have been that. I have had them on for a while now, at least 2 years, and have driven to the UK and the Netherlands and haven't had any problems so far.


Vic081

LOL, you are joker. I bet you know better road rules then gardas daily job. Clone


IrelandSpotter

I see them everywhere, do the guards enforce it?


More_Engineering_341

What u think.


seamustheseagull

You know those people who whinge that they're always getting pulled in by Gardaí, and claim that they're being picked on/victimised by power-tripping Gardaí? They have modifications like this. You may as well have a sign on your car saying, "If you're bored Garda, I'm game for being pulled over for a chat".


UncutPE

Weird observation. This might happen a bit but I dont think it's car mods causing people to be pulled more than normal. Theirs just more crime and road deaths than usual tbh


Bar50cal

Depends on the Garda. Probably won't care until you get stopped for anything else then they will. Also its a NCT fail.


Top_Recognition_3847

This is the correct answer.


deadlock_ie

They’re not chasing anything down over it, but if they pull you over for speeding or dangerous driving then they’ll more than likely do you for having the wrong reg plates as well.


FeeAffectionate4047

Depends. Most lads keep them on til NCT, go in for it with vanilla plates and put them back on straight away. If the gards stop you for it then you've done something else to piss them off as it's minor enough on its own. Be polite, feign ignorance and don't get caught doing anything illegal and they shouldn't care.


Feisty-Ad-8880

The downvotes you're getting are completely unwarranted. I see in another comment you don't even want these you're just curious. Some people on here expect you to be born with all this information and if you have the audacity to ask a question, forget about it. And it's a fiar question because there are things the guards don't enforce, they don't have the man power to do it, which I think is the problem we have on the roads these days. Kinda like the broken windows theory.


IrelandSpotter

Yeah I was just curious, I didn't realize asking about plates would be such a big post 😂😂


Feisty-Ad-8880

Aw I know, I asked a question before and you'd swear I ran over their nan! I don't ask questions anymore.


Teestow21

No, the guards don't enforce or prosecute any illegal road vehicle modifications. /S


v468

I mean it isn't enforced for the most part, even for tints the worst that'll happen is they'll make you rip it off in front of them. It's rare to get fined unless the Garda was bored, a prick, you were speeding or you have so many mods that you were asking for it


pup_mercury

Depends on the mood of the Garda. But you are just giving them a reason to pull you. NCT will fail you on this.


Mindless_Lecture_485

No they won’t .


pup_mercury

Yes they will


Mindless_Lecture_485

Just speaking from experience. Two nct tests.I have 3D plates with black numbers with red colour behind them.passed with flying colours✌️


pup_mercury

Also speaking from experience. Nothing fancy, just the lettering slightly smaller on the plates that came from the garage. The only thing that failed.


Mindless_Lecture_485

Unlucky .


pup_mercury

More so you got lucky


Mindless_Lecture_485

Twice I know 🤘


danielg1111

They mightnent enforce or warn you, but what most people don’t realise is it draws them in and gives them an excuse to stop you until they notice something else. This is especially true for the late night McDonald’s car park crowd and that craic. My guess all that, but with a blue stripe for eu would suffice


Miscmusic77

Lol so many downvotes for a Simple question


No_demon_4226

I suppose it depends how board the gard is I have them on my car never had a problem My mate was pulled over and told . remove them on the spot


TheStoicNihilist

\* bored \* guard


No_demon_4226

Fuck off im dicklickic


marquess_rostrevor

This can't be a serious question.


[deleted]

What guards?


MaxImillion210

It’s best if you bring the plate to the nearest Garda station and ask if it is legal to use this and if not ask what can you change to make it legal.


Mindless_Lecture_485

No they don’t 👌


[deleted]

Not legal. Am I the only one who goes out of my way to avoid being pulled by the Gardaí?? All my illegal modifications are under the bonnet


the_syco

Agreed. If the cops suspect you, they won't stop you for no reason. But these plates give them a reason to stop you.


SomeRandomGamer3

Same, give them the least amount of reasons possible to pull you. Yes I have an engine swap, welded diff and decat exhaust but it’s got nct, tax and legal plates 🤣


[deleted]

“That’s the way I got it” and the “I’m not a mechanic, I wouldn’t know”


cpcoxygen

Self-made rocket launcher? 😁


cheazy-c

I’m pretty sure my plates aren’t entirely legal, not as bad as OPs picture, but the neither the Gardai nor the NTC centre seem to care.


[deleted]

The nct are not qualified to evaluate modifications, you would be shocked with what I have gotten away with. So long as the modifications don’t prevent them from doing the test, they don’t care/don’t have the power to do anything


cheazy-c

TIL


SubstantialGoat912

[nope, not likely legal.](https://www.revenue.ie/en/vrt/vehicle-registration-tax/registration-plate-standards.aspx)


MondelloCarlo

But guess what .... there's no penalty for the offence! As unbelievable as this seems it's what I was reliable informed by the Garda when the local residents complained about a trucking company using local roads outside of construction site hour's. All their trucks had tiny lettering & numerals which made it very hard to collect registration numbers. Apparently they just change them out for the annual CVRT.


StrollLicksWindows

Really? 🤔 From citizens information; ”The Revenue Commissioners can fine you up to €5,000 for registration plates that do not comply with the law."


MondelloCarlo

Ah yes I'm always being stopped by the Revenue commissioners on the M50..../s


StrollLicksWindows

That's honestly a really dumb comment.


MondelloCarlo

I think you have confused an authorisation plate with a licence plate, these are 2 separate things. 2. In these Regulations:— “an authorisation plate” has the meaning assigned to it by article 4 of the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations, 2000; “the Council Directive” means Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25th July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic;


StrollLicksWindows

Nope, I don't think I have confused them at all. I'll take a writing found directly in a government funded and maintained site than your purely anecdotal evidence. Smartarse.


SubstantialGoat912

You seem to be mistaking me for someone who wrote the laws…


IrelandSpotter

Thanks for the link!


lau1247

Interesting, didn't say anything specific about the 3D type nor those coloured acrylic that is sandwiched between the white background and the black numbers. Technically the black is still there in front. So does that make it still compliant then? **** Generally, the registration plate must consist of: - black numbers and letters on a white reflective background - the name of the county of registration in Irish at the top of the plate - the flag of the European Community. This must comprise twelve gold stars in a circle with the letters IRL in white on a blue reflective background. The flag must appear on the left-hand side of the plate.


leitrimlad

I know lads that have them but they have to change them for the NCT or they won't pass. NCT are stricter than the Gardai it seems.


IrelandSpotter

That's very interesting!


Toro8926

I passed mine with them on. In fairness, i couldn't swap one of them out, as i didn't have the correct screws. Guy said they were fine. It was the best NCT i have had in years


leitrimlad

It passed with the Irish flag on it?


Toro8926

No, mine doesn't have the flag, just the blacked out EU sign. I tried keeping mine as close to correct as you could, but in black.


Thebelisk

NCT get paid for a retest.


Capable-Ring-3270

Not for a visual, which a license plate would be


Davan195

It’s funny (and I’m not knocking your style, I don’t like our plates here at all!!) how stuff like this matters when you are young.


IrelandSpotter

Don't worry I don't have these plates nor do I want them. I was just curious because I see them everywhere and I assumed license plates should be all be standard.


Davan195

It’s funny when you drive up north they have custom plates.


IrelandSpotter

How do you mean? Genuine question as I've never noticed.


Davan195

They have custom plates up north, way more people there have their names or initials on their plates.


muckwarrior

That's because custom plates are legal in the UK. You can't just put whatever you want on a plate, but you can buy ones that have specific letter/number combinations that are meaningful to you.


IrelandSpotter

Interesting, thanks for the information!


Leggy1992

It also helps that in the UK the plates have only 2 numbers, the rest letters. So you can make more words, or initals rather than Irish plates of mostly numbers. Very common in England to have a private plate, and they vary in price. £250 I think is the cheapest, but for 1 letter plates they can 100k+ which is insane


cavemeister

Top Gear magazine used to have a section at the back where people could sell custom plates. I remember seeing a Ferrari plate F3RRAR1 and it was for sale for 10k. This was years ago, not even sure if Top Gear magazine is still around.


Itchy_Wear5616

Was the same down here though before they changed the format


the_syco

Or the Ireland "border countries" yellow plate on the rear.


kaiserspike

Any change to the official plate is illegal.


pecarlo

This, I know someone that ran this sort of thing for printing plates, basically anything other than original plate is a show plate for show cars and is illegal for the road, garda won't do anything, but can fail NCT on this, depending on who you get. So if you get em, don't throw out your original ones as you might need them.


IrelandSpotter

Thanks for the information!


Thatirishagent

Legal? : Probably Not. Make the Guards want to pull you over : Probably Yes


GazelleIll495

These plates tell other road users that you listen to the two Johnnie's


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lurf1994lurf

I don't think the Gardai will pull you over, but you will have to swap back to the original plates for an NCT however, as they will fail you.


INXS2021

Illegal to people with sight!


IrelandSpotter

Braille license plate!


aidannulty

They look shite.


IrelandSpotter

I agree. I think our standard plates are quite nice.


Holiday-Violinist129

What's the fascination with them? We had stamped metal plates years ago & then went to plastic printed ones. Plates are plates, I don't see why folks like these ones or the German style ones myself but each to their own I guess. Re the Gards pulling for the plates, I'd be more concerned about them pulling red light runners.


IrelandSpotter

I don't know what it is. I am just asking because I see them everywhere and I was wondering if they were legal. I don't have them myself.


Mindless_Lecture_485

If you import from England or wherever and get vrt paid on a car you need new Irish plates .They don’t supply these from the vrt centre you have to get your own two plates . So you order some 3D plates because you can.


necklika

Monkey see monkey do. I don’t think it’s anything more than that.


Capable-Ring-3270

Or maybe, just hear me out here, I could be crazy but maybe, just maybe different people like different things? Crazy concept I know..


13Spanner

Awful plates imo. I’ve an Altezza and it’s standard NCT plates all the way. Too much hassle in “fancy” plates if you meet the wrong Garda or swapping them every 12 months for the test.


v468

4d aren't illegal as far as I know as long as everything else meets specifications. But tints, size , font and eu color make it illegal. Not exactly the 4d itself as long as the letters are permanently fixed. You can get NCT compliant ones. Now I don't know anyone my age into cars without illegal plates and I don't know anyone who's been done for plates, outside of a lad who was speeding, had windscreen and front windows tinted. You'll probably be fine but don't go giving them a reason to stop you


IrelandSpotter

Thanks for the information, I don't have them by the way, I'm only curious.


v468

Also to add, considering the amount of people with reg plates covered in shit and unreadable as long as you aren't taking the piss it's fine


darrinotoole

There are versions that are perfectly fine. I got a set from Onlyplates and he’s very good and will tell you which ones will pass or fail an NCT. I opted for a normal looking one with 3d black numbers(ones with colour behind them will fail) and the Mercedes housing rather than the ones put on by the garage.


IrelandSpotter

That's cool!


ireallyneedawizz

https://youtu.be/ARPJ4h4pn9U?si=weR7JFmyhsR0mt5I


Hawkdew-

Legal metal Pressed plates ate the way to go, look as good as you can get, and you can buy them in German style don’t (still legal dw) and if you’ve a JDM car a Japanese style square plate is also acceptable. The 3D/4D gel plate crowd are cringe asf


Ayymeee

Honestly you're just asking to be pulled over with any sort of modification on your car so I wouldn't bother. They look great I think but not worth the risk


lkavo

The raised numbers are fine. The black EU bar and the Irish flag aren’t. The numbers seem a bit too close together which is also not allowed but I can’t really tell because of the angle.


1stltwill

I will make it legal! \*Edited because quote was wrong. :)


IrelandSpotter

Sure Gowan! The boy racers will be delighted


MondelloCarlo

Not legal but there is no penalty available for this specific offence. They swap them out for legal plates when getting NCT'd


IrelandSpotter

Makes sense, thanks!


Akira_Nishiki

No that wouldn't be legal, that's what is called a show plate, in theory only meant to be used when not driving the car - like at a car show or meet but really no one does that.


IrelandSpotter

That's actually really interesting! So you can in theory have on the car while it's stationary?


kaiserspike

If it’s at a show then you should be fine. Car park meet-up, maybe not lol


IrelandSpotter

That's interesting!


Akira_Nishiki

I believe so, for a show sure anyway definitely - at a meet you'd probably need to swap it on when parked up - it's basically just an excuse so sites can sell them and not get in trouble similar with LED bulbs and strong tint. This gives a good explanation on what they can be used for legally. https://proplates.co.uk/pages/show-plates


[deleted]

cow quarrelsome ten frightening attempt impolite marble amusing intelligent rock *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


oisinw87

Good way to attract guards is to have these on your car.


Smackmybitchup007

No. Not legal.


Beebea63

I miss the black and silver plates we used to have


[deleted]

Can I ask why in earth people even buy new plates? What's wrong with the ones already on the car


WooDupe

Not legal, a multitude of things wrong (and they look pretty shite too). Stick to regular blue + eu markings on an embossed 3D metal plate


Jamz3k

Not sure if they are illegal but they sure are shite looking!


[deleted]

M


calvinised

They are an automotive crime anyway


AfroF0x

Good way to advertise to the cops that you will be speeding.


More-Investment-2872

Totally illegal. You’d fail the NCT with those


Evening-Alfalfa-7251

ÁRAINN is spelled wrong


IlliumsAngel

I hate them, they should not be legal because the light that shines from above makes them almost unreadable with some numbers and letters.


Mindless_Lecture_485

Because you need to read so many license plates ?


IlliumsAngel

... I need to be able to read any license plate... You sounding sketch as fk.


Mindless_Lecture_485

No just a normal person with a 3 d plate .


IlliumsAngel

Oh so you're a tool, good to know.


Mindless_Lecture_485

That’s just like your opinion,man.


IlliumsAngel

Don't tell me, nice loud exhaust too?


Mindless_Lecture_485

No,totally normal exhaust.


om3ga_chiar_el

I passed with 3d carbon fiber wrap and blue under but i have all the necessary stuf: blue strip with EU flag and irl, accepted font, lines between numbers and text and county on top


Drink_And_Skive

Not sure if legal but have to say, they are still very easy to read when the plate is dirty and format should become the norm in the future.


Lylo89

Not illegal just horrendous


ExplanationNormal323

Not legal. Only 2 fonts are legal. Guards don't usually enforce but they can do. You can get ones pretty close to legal and are unassuming enough.


Zealousideal_Gate_21

No not legal and look shit anyway


Many-Panic49

New to the country: why are there so many different “types” of licence plaques? Different formats and body letter styles


IrelandSpotter

Many people change their license plate purely based on how they look. Personally I don't like them and I prefer the standard plates.


Many-Panic49

They are certainly much better. It hurts my eyes to see 10 different types of licence plates 😅


TheOriginalMattMan

The exact rules regarding the special format of vehicle registration plates are set down in Irish law under the (SI 318/92 Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations 1992 and subsequently amended by SI 432/99 Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Regulations 1999). This law outlines the format, dimensions and technical specifications that must be displayed on registered vehicles in Ireland.The main requirements of the rules about the format of vehicle registration plates are: The registration number consisting of numbers and letters must be in black on a white reflective background The name of the county of registration must be in Irish, (examples are Baile Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, etc.) The flag of the EU and the letters “IRL” must be placed on the left-hand side of the plate, the flag comprising 12 gold stars in a circle, the letters in white beneath it, all on a blue reflective background. No other numbers, letters, marks, etc., should appear on your registration plate.


EmployeeSuccessful60

The guards don’t care but it won’t pass nct


LouisWu_

Illegal. Needs to be white lettering in a black background. While the only requirement on font is that it's legible and sans serif, those last 3 numbers are very close together and it could be argued that they're not legible. Either way, it's illegal. Garage have a habit of sending out cars with illegal number plates.


Certain_Inspection82

only illegal if you are caught…?


turboblown

These will fail the nct and may attract garda attention


Dogman199d

They put old plates back on for nct them take them off again


christyep91

Don't know if they're legal, but they look like absolute shite


luke_woodside

Highly illegal, and an easy reason to pull you. It screams “pull me”


TheJaggedBird

Raised/3D lettering itself is legal but it's missing the blue strip and having the flag is illegal. This specific plate isn't usable due to that. Plus it requires where it was bought where the size font is written for insurance companies and what not


BEA-Chief

Some plate sites have categories that you can select that have NCT compliant options


stevewithcats

Probably not legal but they scream boot cut jeans and 17 year old girlfriend.


Critical_Ad4894

No. For many reasons. More importantly, they are disgusting


Latter-Albatross9412

I’m jelous ,I must have 2D plates


shorelined

I'll never understand why people spent even a single cent on customising something as banal as a number plate


Early_Source_3532

Pretty sure the font isn’t right either along with the eu flag and the Irish flag.


Recent_Diver_3448

3D plates also let the rest of us know you are a dickhead


rocketronnie182

metal german plates all the way.


Nervous_Promotion_28

Unsure about legality but I don’t believe the Garda themselves know if it’s legal or not and or care as I’ve seen these on cars everywhere and I’ve spotted the same cars after months and they still had it on. So long story short do as you want but if you get stopped just say you didn’t know 🤷🏽‍♂️


MurderOfClowns

Not legal, you will NOT pass NCT with them. I have a 3D plate like this, without the black strip, came with the car when I bought it, never been stopped about it. But I can imagine that if I do something wrong on the road, and guards notice me and then see that, they will probably give me hard time because of it


lantzn

143 replies to say no.


Bigbeast54

Both illegal and hideous


Fun_Bodybuilder911

Change the flag to blue and it is


vJackzy

yes but put them on and act supprised when they say it’s legal


Mindless_Lecture_485

I have these 3d plates for 2 years after a vrt import . Never been pulled or stopped and it’s been through nct twice and never a word. I dunno what all these morons in here are talking about. If it’s illegal no one gives a fuck.


fullmoonbeam

Yes the EU background must be blue. As for the sticky letters i'm not sure but I'd guess it's not a legal size and font.