Illegible number plates
If you drive on Queensland's roads, your vehicle must be fitted with official number plates — it's the law. Number plates help to identify your vehicle and the person responsible for it in cases of accident or theft. Number plates can also aid in recovery of your vehicle if it is stolen.
To do their job properly, number plates must be in good condition and legible. Legally, the characters on the number plate must be visible from 20 metres away at any point within an arc of 45 degrees from the surface of the plate, above and to each side of the vehicle. Number plates must be permanently attached to a vehicle so that when it is on level ground the plates are upright, horizontal, and not more than 1.3 metres above the ground.
Current campaign (2009)
The 'Plates you can read are fine' campaign launched on 26 July 2009. The campaign encourages motorists to voluntarily replace their illegible number plates with new ones — this is for motorists' own safety, and it could help to avoid a A$320 fine.
The campaign features the
'Plates you can read are fine' brochure (PDF, 389 KB) and print media. The brochure promotes the message that if your number plates look like any of the ones shown below, you should replace them now or you could be breaking the law and risking a fine of A$320. Most number plates cost around A$23 to replace.
Greying
Crazing
Peeling
Damaged
General wear and tear
Previous campaign (2006)
Outdoor advertisement 'How to spot a fine from 20 metres'
More information
For further information about illegible plates, phone the department on 13 23 80b or visit your nearest customer service centre.
bOperates Monday to Friday 8am-5pm EST (GMT +10) excluding public holidays. Local call charge in Australia. Higher rates apply from mobile phones and payphones. For international callers phone +61 7 3834 2011 this service operates Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm EST (GMT +10) excluding public holidays.
