GB Sticker

[Birchy]

Is it compulsory to display GB stickers on your car for Euro travel? And, if so, WHY? AND...can you make your own, rather than buy them. I have a 9-y-o daughter who wants to design something less plain than yer usuals...

[buddylab]

I think that it is compulsory to have a GB sticker displayed unless you have the 'european' type number plate. As for your daughter making one, I think that they have to be toi a regulation size, but there's no harm in her displaying her own as well as the proper one!

[Grunty]

When a vehicle is temporarily imported, the host country will issue to it a temporary registration number.  Where the car's own number is readable in both countries (i.e. not Arabic letters etc.) the temporary number will be the same and the car's own plate will be used.  The GB sticker (which only costs a few pence anyway, or is sometimes given away free by travel companies) is to help the authorities in the case of an emergency or traffic offence.  Your question "why" is valid, however - who can read the tiny letters from an EU plate when the vehicle is moving?

[Birchy]

I thought the answer to "why?" may have been, "so other non-GB drivers can dislike you automatically without having to hear you speak". Is there an Essex plate that tells other road users that the driver doesn't know how to indicate, park or drive without chitter-chattering on a mobile???

[jimmyb01]

If you want, you can now use ENG for England, SCO for Scotland etc. This came in last year.

[Cathyhuns]

The use of SCO etc only relates to the Europlate and not to the oval stickers which must still show GB.

[sddsddean]

And the French and Italians will 'do' you for not having one, so make sure it is a real one, not one your daughter has made.

[normyc]

But why then do french cars not always have a F sticker when they travel over here?

[sddsddean]

'Cos our boys in blue would rather catch you speeding (where they will get a fine) rather than chase a fenchie, who will plead he doesn't live here and thus they will let him off. The joys of the equality of the EEC!!!