Recent widespread press publicity on changing number plate legislation has created some misinformation for classic car owners whose cars were first registered after 1^st January 1973 and who have been using black and silver or similar non-reflective number plates on their pre-1973 cars that are registered as Historic.

Historic classification also means that the car is exempt from paying tax and it is this aspect that since 2015 with the reintroduction of the rolling 40 year eligibility for conversion into the Historic class has simply created an unintended legal loophole.  The loophole allows these cars to legally display the non-reflective number plates, contrary to what the main number plate legislation says applies to vehicles registered after 1^st January 1973.

The creation of this unintended legal loophole has since the 2015 been used by very many classic car owners whose cars were registered after 1^st January 1973 to legally fit black and silver or similar non-reflective number plates.  However, it took five years for the loophole to be closed with fresh legislation that came into force on 1^st January 2021.  This was widely circulated at the time and allows cars built before 1^st January 1980 can still use the black and silver non-reflective plates, but any car built after the 1^st January 1980 even if it is moved into the Historic class with zero duty no longer can.

This status has not changed and the widespread press discussion is not accurate and fails to mention this aspect correctly.

By Roger Parker