27/11/2018
Hello.
I have been answering lots of questions about Glo Plates, and happy to do so.
I will attempt to give some explanations here to the most burning questions. I know most peeps don't like to read all this stuff, but the info is informative and here for you.
First of all, the #1 Question: Are Glo Plates legal?
Answer: YES! Absolutely LEGAL. The product was inspected by the Chief Licensing Officer who asserted that they conform to the Regulations. They will NOT be affected by the changes in the new Regulations.
1. Glo Plates are not made from metal, so no rust. They are made from the same Acrylic used by most plate manufacturers. However, the standard number plate industry is ultra-competitive, and most of them use the cheapest Vinyl they can find to keep their prices competitive - 2-Year Indoor Grade Vinyl intended for temporary indoor signs. So the uninformed customer thinks they are getting the best price but is duped into having to replace the plates every two years. The sun's UV rays "cook" the cheap Vinyl, giving them their rusty colour. They could use 10-Year Outdoor Grade Cast Vinyl, but as one of them told me "That too expensive, and we need people coming back for new plates". True! And some of them have the nerve to tell people that Glo Plates are not legal.
I do not use Vinyl in my plates. I use a special high-grade paint which is UV resistant, so it will not fade or discolour in the foreseeable future. I have no way of knowing just how long, but the paint manufacturers describe it as highly UV-stable and suitable for long-term outdoor use beyond ten years. It is made for long-term outdoor signs.
2. The Law mandates ONE legal font, so no user preferences allowed. No Italic digits allowed. Again, some manufacturers IGNORE the legal specifications as outlined in the Road Traffic Regulations and give you whatever you want. Under the latest Amendments, they can now be banned from being registered as a manufacturer and the owner can be charged for having the wrong fonts/sizes. I will not manufacture plates which do not conform to the legal specifications. The MTW is very happy with Glo Plates and enthusiastically supports their use.
3. The plates have LED lights built in. They are connected to your vehicle's park lights so they come on when ever you turn your lights on, and go off when you turn them off.
4. Your vehicle is not in any way adversely affected by Glo Plates. They consume very little power - less than the standard number plate light the vehicle comes with. I do not have to cut any wires to install, they are clipped onto existing wires without damaging them. A tiny pin on the connector pierces the insulation and draws power from the existing wire.
5. During the day Glo Plates appear just like a standard plate. You will not see any difference apart from the fact that they are slightly thicker than standard.
6. Glo Plates are manufactured via a complex process over two days. Unlike standard plates, it is not a simple matter of sticking Vinyl on acrylic. They are machined and painted.
Glo Plates are manufactured to overcome the short-comings of cheap standard plates and are clearly superior. You can buy with confidence.
Do you want it cheap? Or do you want it durable? You get what you pay for!
