Rules and regulations governing vehicle number plates

In 2001 the laws governing the display and supply of replacement number plates were greatly changed in order to tackle the problems of false plates and mis-spaced or illegible number plates. False plates are a problem to the police as criminals use them while committing crimes so that cctv camera footage is useless and illegible or mis-spaced number plates create problems for speed cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems used by the DVLA and congestion charging schemes. Since the introduction of the new legislation all number plate suppliers have had to register with the DVLA and must put their name and postcode on each plate manufactured to enable traceability of every number plate. The supplier must inspect an approved type proof of entitlement and also approved proof of identity supplied by the customer and keep a record of both to be kept available for inspection by the police or trading standards officers. Failure to supply the above documents to the supplier will be met with a refusal to make up the number plates. The layout and materials of number plates are also specified in the legislation , and must comply with british standard BS AU 145d which governs the reflectivity and durability of the materials. There is only one font which is legal and characters must be 79mm high and 50mm wide. The gaps between each figure must be 11mm except for the gap between the two blocks of digits which must be 33mm . There should be a minimum gap at the top , bottom and sides of 11mm. Europlates are allowed with a choice of flags such as St Georges Cross , Saltire , Union Jack, or Red Dragon. This legislation at present does not seem to apply to suppliers based in N. Ireland although there are plans for it to be made law there as well .

The cherished number plate transfer scheme

The term cherished number plate has traditionally been associated with classic dateless registrations. Many of these number plates have often been owned by families for decades or have a high sentimental value. Since the introduction of number plates in the early 1900’s, the desire to own a cherished number plate has grown steadily. During this time the administration of car registrations has moved from the responsibility of local councils the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which was set up in 1965. The introduction of the DVLA brought with it new rules and regulations for the sale and transfer of cherished car registrations and for the next 10 years the trade of personal number plates boomed. Dealers across the country were buying old cars and motorbikes for their number plates and selling the registrations on for profit. Many of the vehicles were not in working order however their registration marks could still be legally transferred. In 1976 however the DVLA head office in Swansea went about changing the laws of cherished number plate transfers with the view to totally prohibit the transfer of cherished registrations in the future. The implications of these new laws would have been devastating to number plate dealers who had built up the industry from scratch. The stock piles of old vehicles that they had bought would become useless as the registration numbers could no longer be transferred, the general public would not have a chance to own their perfect plate and many of the best cherished registrations would be lost forever. It was clear that something must be done about these changes. The backlash of these proposals was strong and included public campaigns, rallies and protest marches. In 1977 the DVLA took into account all these issues and re-introduced the cherished number plate transfer scheme and trade flourished once more. There were however certain key changes made to the cherished transfer scheme which are still in effect today. One main change was that once a registration number had been transferred off a vehicle the replacement mark was non-transferable. This prevented dealers from continually transferring the replacement cherished registrations off the vehicles for profit. A second change required each vehicle to have a valid MOT in order for the transfer to be successful. Applications to transfer a number plate can be made in person at any local DVLA office or by post to DVLA Swansea. An Ј80 transfer fee is payable to the DVLA in the transfer process. The DVLA also offers a retention scheme which enables owners of cherished number plates to transfer their car registration off their vehicle and hold it on certificate. By doing this people can collect and own cherished registrations without having them assigned to their vehicles. The current fee for transferring a cherished registration onto a retention certificate is Ј105. During the changes made in the 1970’s the retention scheme was abolished due to the level of fraudulent activity associated with it. Much of this was due to the scheme being paper based. It was reintroduced in 1992 with extra measures to minimise the amount of fraud and is now administered by a central DVLA database. With the rising demand to own a cherished number plate, prices have increased year on year. Cherished registrations can change hands for tens of thousands of pounds and some are worth more than the average house. In today’s terminology however the term cherished number plate has been diluted somewhat by owners of prefix and current style car registrations who use the term to describe their private number plates. Many of these newer style registrations are also worth a great deal of money however there are cheaper options available.

Discount radar detector guide

Radar detectors are extremely effective for warning a driver that he is approaching a speed detection device that uses a radar system. Some of these radar detectors can be extremely expensive but finding a discount radar detector is relatively simple if you know where to look. Here is a quick guide to where to look for discount radar detectors. Online sales If you perform a simple search for discount radar detectors, you will see that there are literally hundreds, of sites that proclaim they have the best discount radar prices on the internet. This is a good place to start as you can compare the features and the prices of the various types of radar detectors available. You do need to be aware of potential sales taxes that may be added to the final price. This depends, not only where you live, but also where the discount radar detector is being shipped from. Shipping costs also need to be taken into account. Many of the discount radar detector sellers online are actually wholesalers and are able to offer lower prices because they have bought their stock in bulk. Retail outlets There are a number of electronics stores that sell discount radar detectors. The trick is to look for flyers or advertisements in your local Sunday newspaper. There are nearly always coupons that you can use towards the purchase of any electronic product. This method enables you to create your own discount radar detector price. The benefit of buying radar detectors this way is that you can actually see the units before you buy them. Another means of tracking down discount radar detectors in retail outlets is to watch out for their special offer periods or sales. These often happen when a new model is being introduced and they need to clear their old stock. You are sure to find discount radar detectors that suit your budget. Used radar detectors As with any technology, speed detectors are constantly evolving and being updated. This leads to a number of radar detectors being sold as second-hand. You can pick up a discount radar detector that works perfectly, but is not the latest model. It is important to check that the unit still works before you buy it, but this can be a great method of obtaining discount radar detectors. It is certainly worth checking local advertisements to see if there are any discount radar detectors for sale. Garage or yard sales and rummage sales can be a surprisingly good source of discount radar detectors. You never know where you might pick up a bargain! Online auctions There are a growing number of online auction sites, but eBay is by far the most well known. This is a great place to search for discount radar detectors. It is important for you to check the recommended retail price of any product that you are interested in to ensure that you do really buy a discount radar detector. You also need to take into account the delivery charges as these can sometimes turn a discount radar detector price into a more costly one than those found on retailer’s websites.

Car buying tips for women

For a woman buying a car alone, the experience falls somewhere south of having a root canal on the pleasure scale. Female car buyers often have to endure a subtle – and sometimes not so subtle – discrimination. They find themselves being shown “cute” cars. Salespeople discuss the choice of paint colors rather than the gas mileage. At worst, women are asked if they want to wait for their husbands to arrive before making the big decision. So, how does a woman purchasing a car on her own defend against this sort of behavior? Education. Learn what you need to know before you head to the showroom. First, decide on the car you want. Consider what you are looking for in a vehicle – size, style, and features. Use the websites of the major car manufacturers to “build” your dream car. These programs will even given you the sticker price of your ideal vehicle. You can ignore this price during real negotiations, but you'll have a idea of the general price range of the vehicle. Still unsure about what you should buy? Look at car comparison websites such as Edmunds and NADA Guides that can help you compare cars side-by-side as well as offer reviews and guides for car buying. Once you have found the perfect vehicle, it’s time to research the price. Using the internet, you can find out what the dealer’s invoice price is for your car. This is the price you want to work with, as it is the actual dealer cost. In addition, check to see if there are any incentives available on the car. These can be incentives such as low-interest financing or cash back. There may also be incentives to the dealer from the manufacturer. That means that if the dealer sells a specific model, they receive a rebate. This means that a dealer can sell at or below invoice and still make a profit on the car. Many websites will even give you information on actual selling prices of similar models in your area. By analyzing this information, you will be able to determine a reasonable sales price for the car you want. Now that you have found your car and know how much you should reasonably pay, head out to the dealer. You can now negotiate effectively. When you arrive, make it clear to the salesperson that you know exactly what you want and exactly how much you are willing to pay. In short, there should be very little negotiation. Make your offer and stand firm. You will likely get the usual, “I have to check with my sales manager” runaround. If the dealer will not meet your price – which you know is reasonable – go to another dealer. In some cases, you can even get dealers to bid against each other. With a little homework beforehand and a little persistence at the dealership, you'll have a better experience buying a car.

The vintage mercury lincoln cougar a nascar legend

Many have thought of the Mercury Cougar a simply nothing more than a luxo-bloated version of a Ford Thunderbird. It may well surprise many Ford, Mercury as well as Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar enthusiasts that 35 years ago that the Cougar “Pony” Car was kicking butt on the Trans-Am circuit. In its origins, the Cougar was an idea that Lincoln-Mercury had been tossing around, for some time, with the idea of a smaller sporty car. As early as February 1963 this idea of a smaller as well as sporty Lincoln-Mercury vehicle, to be introduced to the North American market, came to emerge within the corporate head office, marketing and design staff. The success of the Ford Mustang was all that was needed to put the wheels in motion. Indeed the famous marketing reference in regards to the product market popularity and sales of the Ford Mustang ‘Pony” Car was a sign in a donut shop that “Or donuts sell as fast as Mustangs”. Nothing drives the automobile industry more than the potential and promise of fast car sales figures. It is noteworthy that even the name of the vehicle product “Cougar” can be said to be family line generated. After the name Cougar is not only six letters but is another member of a line of fast creatures. Both the names of Mustang and Cougar evoke an image of sleekness and fast speed as well as agility. Built on a 111 inch wheelbase, the Cougar was three inches and half inches shorter than its cousin – the Thunderbird. Underneath the elegant sheetmetal of the Cougar was a Mustang, so to speak. In actuality the Cougar shared with its cousins – the sporty Mustang, and the more dour family vehicle - the Ford Falcon (which was also known in the Canadian market as the Ford Frontenac product. The Ford Mustang had the greatest fortune of being born from the Ford Falcon product line. Mustang enthusiasts owe a great debt of gratitude to a so called compact “Family” car. The Ford Falcon allowed both the Mustang car project as well as the Cougar car product a quick to develop, cheap to produce as well as a proven and durable base platform. Even the dash of the early Mustangs was a direct copy of the Falcons. Underneath all of the glitter of its elegant sheet metal the Cougar car was all Mustang, using the exact same Falcon front suspension and a solid rear axle with four-leaf springs. A base 289 cubic inch V-8 made 200 bhp (gross), but the real action came in the guise of a 390 cubic inch V-8 that made 320 bhp. A GT option included a performance handling package and power disc brakes that replaced more standard front brake drums. Finally special GT wheels rounded out the package. It has been said that Lincoln Mercury’s chief designer had envisioned the Cougar as an elegant European sports car, along the lines of the Jaguar Mark 2. How was it that the Cougar went racing? In 1967 Lincoln Mercury turned to Bud Moore to be the point man for a shot at the SCCA Trans-Am Championship. Team Cougar made up of drivers, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Formula 1 driver Peter Revson and NASCAR driver Dave Pearson came in second in Ford Mustang’s team. In 1968 then under the aegis of Moore, driver DeWayne “Tiny” Lund went on to capture the NASCAR Grand Touring Championship. So where and how did the Cougar go wrong. It seemed that Lincoln-Mercury was never quite sure on how to market the Cougar. This lack of market focus, as well as not knowing and perceiving the needs and desires of the potential Cougar customer market proved to be the Cougar’s undoing. By the 1969 product introduction the Cougar was a little longer and a little wider. From then on it was only a short decent into landau roofs as well as the opera window type styling and options of the day. Once started this downward trend and spiral of the Cougar was inevitable. The halcyon years of the early Cougar - specifically the early Cougar model years of 1967 – 70 remain a time when the Cougar’s roar boomed out of dual exhausts and the sign of a car that had some bite to it.

The 5 most famous fictional cars of all time

Over time, the media has elevated the popularity of various vehicles by highlighting some of the fictional rides that have graced the pages of novels, the lyrics of songs, the 30-minute TV show, and the silver screen. Whether Fred and Wilma are peddling around in their signature rockmobile, James Bond gets away with his gadget cars or the Beach Boys bring life to the Little Deuce Coupe, it’s sometimes hard to forget that many of these fictional cars really don’t exist. Below are a few examples that have gained fame throughout the years. Batmobile In both the Batman television shows and movies, the superhero-on-the-go often hopped into a sleek, customized vehicle that provided protection for his Bruce Wayne alter ego. Equipped with heavy armor plating and a high performance engine, the evolution of the Batman series displayed increasing levels of gadgets. To reach increased speeds, the Batmobile sometimes offered rocket boosts, while additional weapons and a computerized assistance helped to keep villains at a distance. KITT The talking car that aided David Hasselhoff’s character, Michael Knight, navigate through a sea of enemies and bad guys was a Pontiac Trans Am. The television series focused on a high-tech approach to entertain the audience. Numerous fans watched the show just to see what KITT would do or say next. The popularity of the show even helped to boost Pontiac car sales as the verbal wonder could drive without a passenger and even displayed its own set of entertaining stunts. Christine Stephen King has produced numerous novels that have become popular movies; the same is true with the 1958 Plymouth Fury that seemed to have a mind of its own. Christine was the name given to the car that appeared in the horror novel (with the same name) published in 1983. Driven by supernatural forces, the antique auto created havoc in both the novel and the movie. Herbie Several Disney movies and cartoons have focused on Herbie the Lovebug, which was a Volkswagon Beetle that made its first appearance in 1969. Just like Christine, the red, white, and blue striped car with a “53” on its side could also drive without assistance and had a reputation for acting on its own. Most of the time, the car was featured in some sort of racing competition. General Lee The television series and movie named the Dukes of Hazzard showed main characters, Bo and Luke Duke soaring through the air, causing mischief with their get-rich schemes. Their vehicle of choice was a colorful Dodge Charger that allowed the cousins to complete high jumps in almost every episode. The car is also known for its controversial Confederate flag decoration.