At the start of the month, a change to licence plates were introduced with drivers being warned that if they don't adhere to them, they could be breaching the law.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) announced the changes stating the update would affect how car plates are designed as of March 1.
It comes as a new batch of 2022 registration plates were just launched - and there are some differences you'll need to be aware of.
These include changes to the lettering type allowed on plates, materials used, location identification and identifiers.
The plates have been created to resist wear and tear and are said to be easier to track with surveillance equipment, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Because of this, drivers have now been told to check their plate falls under the new rules to avoid getting caught out.
Here's everything you need to know about the changes...
The lettering of number plates
Plates will now need to display solid black lettering and comes following a ban of number plate lettering effects that give registrations the appearance of being 3D.
Lettering on plates will still be permitted to be made of Perspex or acrylic, provided all other criteria are being met.
The change is being made to make it easier for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to pick up and identify vehicles with drivers being warned to check their plate to ensure they meet the correct criteria.
Location identification
The new number plates will also have to include the supplier's business name and postcode as well as the name of the number plate manufacturer and the new standard.
It will also need to show the name of the licence plate manufacturer.
Changes to the identifier now that we have left the EU
Now that we have officially left the European Union (EU), plates will now have the Union Jack rather than the EU flag.
In addition to this change, they must also have the 'UK' written on them rather than 'GB'.
Drivers who fail to display their plates correctly could be slapped with a nasty fine with the DVLA warning: "Number plates (also known as licence plates) must show your registration number correctly.
"You cannot rearrange letters or numbers or alter them so that they’re hard to read.
"You could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates."
How do number plate codes work?
New plates are released every six months with the new '72' batch due for release this year around September.
The first two letters of your plate reflect where the vehicle was registered. LA – LY plates, for instance, mean the car was registered in London.
Digits three and four reflect the year the car was registered, with this system set to be in place until February 2051.
