GB stickers are no longer valid when driving abroad
In a move that will outrage Daily Mail readers everywhere, the familiar GB letters (which have been recognised for over half a century) will no longer be valid on the rear of your vehicle after 27th September 2021 when travelling abroad.
From the 28th of September, if you wish to take your car overseas, you’ll have to replace the soft and curvaceous GB letters with the more angular UK label.
Thought to be a sign of solidarity with Northern Ireland - which isn’t part of Great Britain - following post-Brexit trade tensions, the move wasn’t formally announced by the Government but spotted as a footnote in UN regulations.
While the nation bemoans the loss of this piece of motoring heritage, the Government website states bluntly ‘if you have a GB sticker, cover or remove it’.
But my number plate already shows my country!
Many number plates do have the GB letters within the Union flag, a Euro symbol or national flag for England Scotland or Wales. Currently, you need a GB sticker if your plate identifier shows anything but the GB letters in the Union flag.
From the 28th September, all of these will require an additional UK sticker or that you replace your number plate with a new one showing the UK identifier. (If you are planning to travel through Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.)
Do I need a GB sticker?
Yes, drivers can be given on-the-spot fines in Europe for not displaying the correct nationality sticker. While you maynot be pulled over for not displaying one (or still having a GB sticker after September) it’s always better not to take the risk.
It's pretty common to feel some confusion around new laws and regulations when it comes to our vehicles and the roads. Especially when they change with no real warning. With us at Car Leasing, we know how important it is to stay transparent. That's why we hold many guides and articles over on our inspiration blog.
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