THE LATEST MOT rules covering number plates have been suspended after a VOSA blunder.
The government agency has revoked its own regulations on MOT testing of vehicle number plates after mistakes meant recent changes to the regulations were not documented correctly.
It means testers must not fail a vehicle on the latest number plate regulations until further notice.
VOSA updated its regulations concerning failing a vehicle last month because the MOT standards were not the same as those covering cars driving on UK roads.
Under the old system a car could pass the MOT on a plate that was illegal as soon as it was driven on a public highway.
However, due to an oversight involving VOSA and BERR (formerly the DFT), certain changes to the old regulations have not yet been officially documented, so VOSA has suspended these until further notice.
Following the blunder, cars cannot fail the MOT on the following points until further notice:
- The registration plate background overprinted or shadowed with text.
- A front registration plate does not have black characters on a white background
- A rear registration plate does not have black characters on a yellow background
- A registration plate obviously not displaying the name and postcode of the supplying outlet
- A registration plate obviously not displaying a BSAU 145d marking
- A registration plate obviously displaying a honeycomb or similar effect background
- A registration plate with a non-reflective border obviously wider than permitted or positioned too close to the characters
- A dual purpose registration plate displaying a symbol other than an acceptable international symbol
Stephen Coles from the RMIF's MOT Operations team said the updated regulations would continue once VOSA mistakes had been rectified.
“From 2001 until last month, a car could pass the MOT on what was would be considered an illegal number plate on the road by Police.
“The amended rules brought the two regimes into line. The new rules will continue once cleared but until further notice, MOT testers must not fail a vehicle on these points,” continued Stephen.
“Neither does it mean that these plate features will be legal for use on the road. Instead, testers should make the vehicle owner aware of the offending features and point out that they could be stopped by the Police if they are spotted.
He added: “We are working closely with VOSA to help rectify the situation and they will publish a special notice shortly to clarify the situation.”
VOSA is expected to release a statement next week. A spokesman for VOSA declined to comment but said the changes were due to "an oversight between VOSA and the DFT".