UK MOT Regulations for Imported vehicles?

The previous MOT stations shouldn't have passed it with the wrong number plates, you were just lucky.

Current regs are very specific;

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/inf104.p...

They have recently changed some of the number plate regulations.

Mine just failed because the background has a honeycomb pattern.

They are the same plates which have been on it for at least 7 years.

Pain in the axx but not a lot you can do.

It does not matter if the car is imported or not, the regulations are the same.

Have a look at this http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf

Don't know if it is the latest updated but if not it will be on that site somewhere.

The numberplate regulations have just changed in regard to MOT testing (they've become more stringent unfortunately).

Before I could answer your question I'd need to know specifically why the plates failed (it should say on the VT30 failure sheet you will have been given).

Check Dvla website as import wise as always been funny ground due to the shape of the bumpers for Japanese plates and sometimes changing to a UK plate can upset certain mechanics of some cars,i read about one once where the UK plate in the Right position covered an intercooler too much.

Number plates are now included in the M.O.T. This regulation only came into force in 2008.

If your plates aren't exactly as required by law (size, shape, colour, letter size and spacing, etc.) your car will fail its M.O.T. test.