Drivers issued number plate warning as £1,000 DVLA fines loom within weeks

Motorists have been warned that using tinted or darkened number plates could land them with a fine of up to £1,000 and an immediate MOT failure.

The warning comes from vehicle recycling marketplace National Scrap Car, which found that searches for "darkened number plates" have risen by 22 per cent over the past three months.

The increase comes ahead of the arrival of the new "76" registration plates on September 1.

Saul Turner, motor expert at National Scrap Car, has now urged drivers to think twice before fitting tinted plates, explaining that while tinted number plates might look good, "I'd steer clear of them".

Mr Turner said the rules were designed to make sure vehicle registrations can be clearly seen by other road users, police and automatic number plate recognition cameras.

He added: "The rules around number plates are there for a reason - to keep everyone safe - so your registration must be clearly visible at all times."

Any tint, film or alteration that makes the characters harder to read could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

It could also mean an immediate MOT failure, leaving drivers facing the extra cost and inconvenience of replacing the plates.

Mr Turner stated: "It needs to be readable by other people on the road, the police and cameras, so anything that makes it harder to identify your car can become a problem."

Despite the potential penalties, tinted, smoked, 3D and 4D number plates are widely available online, with some even advertised as DVLA compliant or MOT friendly.

However, Mr Turner warned drivers not to assume that simply being sold online means a plate is legal to use on the road.

He said: "If you search for tinted number plates online, you'll find them for sale really easily and some are advertised in a way that makes them sound completely fine to use on the road - when they are illegal."

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Some plates have also been designed for shows or display rather than everyday road use, making it important for motorists to check the details before buying.

Drivers buying replacement plates have also been advised to look for the BS AU 145e standard and make sure the registration remains completely clear and easy to read.

Mr Turner also warned motorists to be careful with vehicle modifications more generally, saying: "A poor modification can make a vehicle really difficult to sell and, in some cases, practically unsellable."

Drivers are expected to tell their insurer about relevant modifications, and failing to do so could cause problems if they later need to make a claim.

Mr Turner said: "We see customers who've modified their car, then been involved in an accident and had problems with their insurer paying out because the modification wasn't declared."

He advised drivers to check the rules before buying, make sure the registration is fully visible and tell insurers about relevant modifications.