Green number plates introduced on UK roads

Green number plates for zero-emission vehicles will be seen on UK roads for the first time from today (December 8), the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. 

The government first proposed the idea of green number plates in October 2019 and following on from a consultation involving the public, local authorities and stakeholders, the number plates can be retro-fitted on any existing vehicle, including cars, vans, buses, HGVs, taxis and motorcycles, as long as they emit no tailpipe emissions. 

It is hoped that the introduction of the new number plates will raise awareness of the growing number of zero-emission vehicles and will help motorists to benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry to zero-emission zones. 

The number plate will have a ‘green flash’ on the left-hand side and can be combined with the Union Flag and any national identifiers that are already permitted by the regulators. 

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: ‘We are going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, improving air quality in our towns and cities in the process and harnessing the power of clean, green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

‘Not only will green number plates raise awareness of the increasing number of cleaner vehicles on our roads, they could also unlock a number of incentives for drivers. It’s clear there has never been a better time to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle.’

Photo Credit – Department for Transport