GB Number Plate Stickers No Longer Valid Abroad

Any British motorist venturing outside the UK with their car should now remove any old style GB number plate stickers or cover them up if they can't be removed. Now they need a UK sticker instead ...

Either a UK sticker or have the UK identifier on their number plates. This guidance has been in place since the 28th of September. It may just be about replacing 2 letters, but it is a very significant change.

"Number plates with the EU Flag on them are also no longer valid!"

There are some penalties for non-compliance. Leading motorist retail centres such as Halfords are saying that displaying the wrong badge could mean refusal of entry to some countries. With all the arguments happening with the French Government at the moment, it could mean you'll be on the ferry home again shortly after arriving on the continent.

This change was a decision by our own Government, and we applied for the change via the United Nations. It's seen as a symbol of unity post-Brexit and post-pandemic as the economy opens up again.

Government guidelines say that you must display a UK sticker if any of the following apply:

- Your number plate has a GB identifier and the Union flag - Any sort of EU identifier on it - A national flag of England, Scotland or Wales - No identifiers; just your car's registration number

However, if you already have UK on your number plate and that has a Union flag on it (AKA, The Union Jack), you don't need an additional UK sticker for most of Europe. If you're in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, then you do!

And finally, because of the common travel area, if you're in the Republic of Ireland then you won't need number plate stickers at all.

If you feel inspired to find out more about anything I've said here, do call me on 01908 774320 or leave a comment below and I'll be in touch as soon as I can.