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The government is set to change the rules on British number plates for anyone travelling abroad in their car.
Currently, Brits must put a ‘GB’ sticker on their car before travelling to another country, except if they have a number plate that also features these initials, underneath the Union Jack.
Boris
However, Boris Johnson’s cabinet is now changing ‘GB’ to ‘UK’, and every motorist must display these letters on their vehicle before entering another country.
Britons will now have to display a UK sticker on their vehicle when abroad, and not a GB sticker, from 28th September, marking the end of the summer holiday season.
Rule change
The announcement of the rule change comes just months after the government informed the public of a new British number plate earlier this year.
On January 31, 2021 – the first anniversary of Brexit – transport secretary Grant Shapps unveiled the new design, which had on it the letters ‘GB’ under a flag of the Union Jack.
Mr Shapps tweeted: “Brits will be able to drive on the Continent without GB stickers thanks to new reg plate with Union Flag and GB”.
Previously, number plates in Britain had featured GB, but under a circle of EU stars.
Welsh and Scottish
Welsh and Scottish drivers could still travel abroad with number plates displaying the Welsh or Scottish flag, but only if they also placed a GB sticker on their vehicle.
The new rule change however means that the GB sticker will no longer be valid.
New law
Every motorist under the new law will either need to buy the new number plate featuring the letters UK, or make sure they have a sticker displaying the same letters to prevent any punishment.
Therefore, people who ordered Mr Shapps’ new design earlier this year must now purchase a UK sticker to put alongside it to make it legal.
Some number plate suppliers have voiced their concerns, with one telling the AA it could take four to six months to update the plates, risking them losing orders.
Union Jack
The change to feature a Union Jack on licence plates was made earlier this year, and government sources told the Times the change is “inclusive of Northern Ireland” and will “promote the whole of the UK abroad”.
If Britons fail to display the letters UK somewhere on their vehicle when abroad after the end of September, they will be fined to a varying degree that will depend on the law of the country they are in.
The Government’s website does not yet include information on the new UK number plates or stickers.
It does however remind Britons what they must currently do if travelling abroad with a vehicle.
Look at what’s changing
Here’s a look at what’s changing for anyone with GB flag stickers on their car.
On or after 28th September 2021
You will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:
• a GB identifier with the Union Jack
• a Euro symbol
• a national flag of England, Scotland, or Wales
• numbers and letters only – no flag or identifier
If your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union Jack, you do not need a UK sticker.
If you’re in Spain, Cyprus, or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.
If you have a GB sticker, cover, or remove it.
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