Drivers in the UK risk fines up to £1,000 for having obscured or unreadable number plates, a common but often overlooked legal requirement. UK law mandates that vehicle registration plates must be fully visible and legible at all times, without dirt, damage, or obstructions. Common causes of obscured plates include mud, road grime, bike racks, roof storage, condensation, and illegal tinted covers. Police rely on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to enforce compliance, and obscured plates can trigger stops and penalties even if the vehicle is otherwise legal.

Experts advise motorists to regularly clean and check their number plates, especially after off-road driving or bad weather, and to ensure that equipment like bike racks or roof boxes do not block the plates. Since police officers are not required to issue warnings, prevention through simple habits—such as walking around the car before driving off—can avoid costly fines and MOT failures. Ignorance of the law is not a defense, making proactive plate maintenance essential for all drivers.