The government is set to change the rules on British number plates for anyone travelling abroad in their car. (Image: Getty Images)
People have been warned over a major change if they're planning on travelling abroad in their car this year.
Currently, Brits must put a 'GB' sticker on their car before travelling to another country, unless they have a number plate that features these initials under the Union Jack.
From Tuesday, September 28, any driver planning a post-pandemic road trip through Europe will have to ditch the GB sticker on their number plate.
The sticker, or magnet, will no longer be valid and will have to be replaced with a 'UK' sticker.
Any driver with GB on their number plate will now also need a sticker or order a new number plate with the UK designation.
The announcement marks the second revamp the UK has had to number plates this year.
In January, Grant Shapps announced UK drivers would be able to drive on the continent without GB stickers thanks to a new registration plate with a Union Flag and GB sign.
He also tweeted an image revealing the updated look of a green number plate, used to signify fully electric vehicles and showcase the incentives of opting for a more environmentally friendly car.
Mr Shapps tweeted: “Brits will be able to drive on the Continent without GB stickers thanks to new reg plate with Union Flag and GB.”
British number plates have previously featured a GB symbol under the cluster of EU stars.
Welsh and Scottish drivers could still travel abroad with number plates displaying the Welsh or Scottish flag, but only if they also placed a GB sticker on their vehicle.
The new rule change however means that the GB sticker will no longer be valid.
The update has been outlined by the United Nations, which said it had received “a notification stating that the United Kingdom is changing the distinguishing sign that it had previously selected for display in international traffic on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom, from ‘GB’ to ‘UK’”.
Every motorist under the new law will either need to buy the new number plate featuring the letters UK, or make sure they have a sticker displaying the same letters to prevent any punishment.
Therefore, people who ordered Mr Shapps’ new design earlier this year must now purchase a UK sticker to put alongside it to make it legal.
The rule change means that, on or after September 28, drivers will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of their vehicle.
Drivers will need the UK sticker if their number plate has a GB identifier with the Union Jack, a Euro symbol, a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales or numbers and letters.
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