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Reflectors	Brake Performance (Roller Brake Test)	Mirrors
Indicators	Method of Calculating Brake Performance	Fuel System
Headlamp Aim	Ministry and Manufacturer's Plates	Registration Plates and VIN Details
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Parking Brake	Tyre Size, Ply Rating and Load Index Tables	Structural Integrity and Corrosion
Brake Efficiency Table	Seat Belts	Test Equipment
Hand Operated Brake Control Valves	Windscreens/Drivers View of the road	Vehicle Identification Number Location
Exhaust Emissions/Service Brake Control	Audible Warning (Horn)	Identifying Code Locations

6.8 Registration Plates and VIN Details

Information

Method of Inspection

Reason for rejection

Registration Plates

Unregistered Vehicles

Un registered vehicles need not be fitted with registration plates.

1.
Check that there is a registration plate fitted at the rear of the motor bicycle or sidecar, and check it for security and condition

1.
A rear registration plate a. missing b. so insecure that it is likely to fall off c. letter or figure missing or incomplete d. faded, dirty, deteriorated or obscured so that it is likely to be misread or not easily legible by a person standing approximately 15 metres to the rear of the machine) e. format incorrect (see additional information).

Style of letters/figures

Letters/figures must be of equal width along their entire length

Letters or figures of a particular style, eg 'computer' or 'sloped' are not to be regarded a reason for rejection unless they are likely to be misread.

2.
Check visually that the letters and figures are correctly formed and are not obviously likely to be misread due to, for example, badly positioned, uncovered or wrongly coloured retaining bolts etc.

2.
A rear registration plate with a. a letter or figure not correctly formed or likely to be misread b. letters and/or figures likely to be misread or not easily legible by a person standing approximately 15 metres to the rear of the machine c. a letter or figure which is obviously not of equal width along its entire length d. any feature on a registration plate that has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters of the registration mark, so the true identity of the machine is less easily identified

Vehicle Identification Number

A Vehicle Identification/Frame Number is required on all machines first used on or after 1 August 1999, except those which are amateur built.

If a Vehicle Identification/Frame Number cannot be found the vehicle presenter should contact the nearest Vehicle Registration Office.

If more than one different Vehicle Identification/Frame Number is found, the vehicle presenter should contact the nearest Vehicle Registration Office

Check that the machine is permanently displaying a legible Vehicle Identification/ Frame Number this can be either
• on a plate secured to the frame of the machine, or
• stamped or etched on the frame of the machine.

3.
a. A Vehicle Identification/Frame Number not permanently displayed or not legible, or b. more than one different Vehicle Identification/Frame Number displayed

Registration Plates Additional Information

Layout 1
Letters on one line figures on another.
Examples

Layout 2
The gap between letters and figures must be at least double the gap between adjacent letters or figures.
Examples

Letters and figures of equal width along their entire length.
Example

Note 1: A year identifying letter is regarded as a figure

Note 2: Vehicles with foreign or diplomatic registrations need not conform to these layouts.

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Reproduced from the MOT Inspection Manual by kind permission of THE VEHICLE INSPECTORATE.