Black Number Plates On Modern Cars UK TESLA Model S (5YJS) (09.2012 - ...)

Black number plates on a 2017 Tesla Model S Plaid are controversial in the UK because they break long-standing legal and historical regulations governing number plate colors for modern vehicles. The controversy arises from both safety concerns and attempts to preserve the authenticity of classic or historic vehicles.

Legal Issues:
UK law is very specific about which cars can wear black (with silver or white characters) number plates. Only cars made before January 1, 1980 (and previously, before January 1, 1973 or 1975 depending on rolling exemption cut-offs) and registered as historic vehicles are allowed to display these plates. All modern vehicles—including a 2017 Tesla—must display plates with a white reflective background at the front and yellow reflective at the rear, each with black characters. Modern number plates are also required to be made of reflective material for nighttime visibility and automated enforcement.

Putting black plates on a modern car like the Tesla Model S Plaid is not just an aesthetic decision—it makes the vehicle illegal to drive on public roads. Offenders can face fines, have their plates seized, or even get their car removed from the road. Using non-compliant plates will also cause an MOT (roadworthiness test) failure in the UK.

Historical Reasons:
Black and silver/white plates were the UK’s legal standard until 1973, after which reflective yellow and white plates became mandatory for new cars to improve visibility and road safety. The continued permission for pre-1980 (now-historic) vehicles to run black plates is a nod to enthusiasts and collectors who wish to keep classic cars authentic to their original appearance. That’s why you still see these on vintage cars—but never on anything registered from the 1980s onwards.

Significance for Modern and Electric Vehicles:
For cars like Teslas, which are not historic vehicles, fitting black plates can be seen as an attempt to flout the law or to attract attention, prompting criticism from other drivers and car communities. Electric vehicles are not exempt from these rules—no matter the modernity or eco-friendliness of the car, only the date of registration and tax class eligibility for "historic" status matter.

Summary:
The controversy around black number plates on a Tesla Model S Plaid is primarily legal: UK regulations permit these only on historic vehicles. This preserves the authenticity of classic cars while maintaining safety standards for all others. Displaying black plates on a modern car is illegal and will attract fines, MOT failure, and police attention, regardless of the vehicle being electric or not.