Petition · Department for Transport
Relax the spacing requirements on UK personalised vehicle registration plates
Closed
296 signatures
What the petition asks
In 2012 it was reported that the Government was planning to relax spacing requirements for personalised numberplates, to allow for letters and numbers to be moved closer together to more easily spell words. This planned change has not been implemented.
It would allow more single words to be created, potentially boosting Government revenue.
For example, in TA11 EST the space could be removed to read TA11EST. The DfT stated in 2012 that the number plates would still remain readable by numberplate recognition cameras. The DVLA currently sell number plates that if the characters were to be pushed together would constitute a word; but they also prosecute owners for pushing those words together. Acting on this petition would eliminate this unfair situation.
For example, in TA11 EST the space could be removed to read TA11EST. The DfT stated in 2012 that the number plates would still remain readable by numberplate recognition cameras. The DVLA currently sell number plates that if the characters were to be pushed together would constitute a word; but they also prosecute owners for pushing those words together. Acting on this petition would eliminate this unfair situation.
Timeline
| 4 Dec 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 4 Jun 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
296
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Transport
Opened
4 Dec 2025
Closed
4 Jun 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 6 Aug 2026.