What does the law state regarding the number on the back of a bike rack!

1. If a have any empty bike rack carrier and my number plate on the back is visible can I drive around as the pic below with no number plate on the bike rack?



2. Can I have black and silver metal plate on the bike rack?

On the DVLA all that is said is "Traditional plates for vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973
Vehicles constructed before 1.1.1973 may display traditional style “black and white” plates i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate."



Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Provided you have a proper legal plate on the vehicle that is visible you can stick what you like on the bike rack! Once the vehicle plate is obscured (even partly) the plate on the rack requires to be legal for that vehicle.

No Freelanders were made before 1973, so the black and silver is not an option, even though the number displayed may have been first issued prior to 1973. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

You don't need a number plate on the bike rack if you're not carrying any bikes.
If you are carrying bikes then yes you do need a number plate on the rack, and that's got to be yellow & black.

However don't know if you can put a black & white/silver plate on the rack if you're not carrying bikes and your yellow & black plate on the car is in full view.

I've got a buddy who's a traffic cop, I'll ask him.

edited to add: point just answered. ^  FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

When the MOD auctions were held in different parts of the country one of the dealers that attended them had a trailer that was regularly towed by one of three vehicles. It had three different number plates permanently fitted complete with illumination. Apparently there is no regulation about having additional numberplates displayed.

My only concern that on a day when crime is quiet it is an excuse to stop a vehicle and then check tyres, lights, exhaust, whatever until something is found to keep the figures up. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

Thanks guys will just stick a plate on her when carrying bikes and have the normal yellow reflective backing. MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

ronp wrote:

don't need a number plate on the bike rack if you're not carrying any bikes.

. . . though in Spain you will need the square red diagonal striped "overhang" plate. European harmonisation will have it with us soon. Police there seem to be very hot on stopping vehicles without - perhaps because it is an on-the-spot cash fine.  Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

In Italy as well. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.