Just following on from my original post, the following links are to the core legislation and guidance. Fortunately, the 2002 Amendment Regulation 14A is very succinct, getting straight to the point.
The core legislation, which can be read on the website or downloaded as pdf, is:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001 ... tents/made -
the first statutory instrument I've seen with pictures in it (!) so worth a look
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002 ... tents/made -
the key text, Reg 14A straight to the point
The government guidance and trade body websites, both useful reading:
https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/overview -
mentions about registered number plate suppliers
https://www.bnma.org/ -
useful read from an organisation who's existence depends on maintaining the rules
An important point is that whilst there are some websites I've found which claim to supply 100% legal plates but don't require any ID, Section 3 of the government guidance shows that they are not in fact legal, as plates can only be legitimately provided by registered number plate suppliers (who must confirm ID before supplying new plates). When you look into it further you find these websites are run by companies based in Ireland who are looking to get around the legislative requirements, being outside the UK. Some old links I found to these kinds of companies sometimes didn't find the website, which suggests they keep re-inventing themselves under different names. Whilst such companies are fine for show plates, they mislead when they claim they can provide 100% road legal UK plates (nearly fell into it myself).
In summary of what seems to be achievable under the 2002 Amendment Regulation 14A:
• Registration marks of 6 or 7 characters will mostly have to be over two lines (unless a lot of '1's in there which legally take up less room);
• Registration marks of 5 or less characters can be over one line (Reg 14A is silent on width of 'middle' gap but Part 3 Table B of 2001 Regs suggests 30mm between groups).
The use of (up to) 6mm borders does not seem to be specifically mentioned in the legislation, 2001 or 2002, though the BNMA site says (for standard plates):
COMPANY ARTWORK, LOGOS ETC
All number plates must show the suppliers name and postcode. It must be displayed in the centre, at the bottom of the plate and must not exceed 178mm total length and have a maximum height of 13mm. No other advertising is allowed, though a single coachline, not exceeding 6mm thick is permitted."
Not sure where they get this from, but presume that if the coachline doesn't obstruct the critical measurements/gaps then it is not considered a distraction. So in the case of 12"x6" plates, a border would only likely be allowed on single line registration marks, and not allowed for two line registration marks (ie, in the case of most 6 and 7 character marks).
Upshot is I'm off to Halfords, can't get much more straight-laced than that, and see what they can do for me - more to put it to the test than anything else.
Maybe sometime in the future I may push the boat out and buy a registration mark which will fit on one line and treat myself to a border - simple pleasures!
