Planning to drive abroad on holiday this summer? The GB car sticker you may have used last year needs to be swapped for a UK one.
The latest government guidance, introduced in the wake of Brexit, states that any British car driving in the EU must have a UK identifier.
If your car has number plates with a Union Jack flag and 'UK' text on the left-hand side, however, you do not also require a separate UK sticker.
It's worth noting that only the Union Jack is permitted, though. A UK sticker is still mandatory if your number plates display the national flag of England, Scotland or Wales. The EU symbol is no longer permitted on newly manufactured registration plates.
Cars with plates that display numbers and letters only - i.e. there is no flag or country identifier - must display a UK sticker as well
The government adds that if you're driving in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate. But a UK sticker is not required to drive in Ireland.
In December 2020, the government introduced green number plates for electric cars. These non-mandatory plates are available to new and existing vehicles, and feature a green flash on the left-hand side. This can include a flag and 'UK' identifier, just like regular plates.
From 1 January 2021, changes were also made to eligibility for black and silver number plates. Only classic vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1980 are now eligible to display these - and they must be licensed in the historic tax class.
Land Rover Owner International called this 'a blow to owners of military vehicles which were approaching 40 years of age'. It references Land Rover models that would have displayed black and silver plates showing their military equipment registration mark (ERM) during service.
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