Black and white number plates

Modern plate rules don't apply if they are as old as you say. Black and white (or silver/alloy) are fine for a 60 year old machine.

"Registration plates may:

- display white, grey or silver characters on a black background - only on motorcycles manufactured before 1 January 1980"

From: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/0-identification-of-the-vehicle

When I saw the MOT inspection information I assumed the B&W number plate cut-off was now a rolling 40 years, to align with historic status. But it seems that a mistake was made drafting the regulations and the B&W date was supposed to be pre-1973 all along, i.e. the plate should be what was legal at the time. But, when the mistake was recognised, they did not try to retrospectively undo the regulations but froze it at the historic qualifying date at that moment, i.e. pre-1980. So all those '76 Mk3 owners who dashed out and bought B&W plates can continue to use them.

Here's the DVLA notice (copied from the BMWOA forum):

This from the DVLA, via Federation British Historic Vehicle Clubs.

Published: 10/12/2020

We have today received information directly from DVLA concerning information on black and silver number plates which will take effect from 1 January 2021.

DVLA kindly requested we share this information with you....

This note is to tell you about important changes being introduced on 1 January 2021 that affect the ability of vehicles registered in the historic tax class to display the old style pre-1973 black and silver number plates.

Following the change in definition of a historic vehicle for vehicle tax exemption purposes in 2015, an issue was identified in the regulatory requirements for the valid display of a black and silver number plate. This resulted in an unintended consequence where any vehicle over 40 years old and registered in the historic tax class would be permitted to display an old style black and silver number plate. This was despite the law previously requiring all vehicles first registered after 1 January 1973 to only display the yellow and white number plates with black characters.

As this was never the intention, we have sought to rectify this through a legal correction which will shortly be implemented. The change seeks to prevent any vehicle constructed after 1 January 1980 from the ability to display the black and silver number plate despite being recorded in the DVLA’s historic tax class. Those vehicles with a construction date prior to 1 January 1980 will continue to be able to legally display black and silver number plates to avoid any undue costs of replacement.

Your members may also wish to note that from 1 January it will no longer be permissible to fix a new number plate displaying a Euro symbol. Number plates already fixed to vehicles are unaffected. We will also be introducing a new British Standard for number plates produced from 1 September 2021 which will mean all current style number plates that are first fixed to a vehicle from that date must meet the technical requirements contained in that standard.

There is still some doubt as to whether stick on numbers are legal on classic bikes. Painted and embossed are fine. Can somebody clarify this point as it seems a lttle ironic that modern vehicle plates are a mix of stickers and plastic?