Manufacturer's plate: everything you need to know in 5 minutes

A manufacturer's plate, whether made of metal, plastic or adhesive, is a label attached to a vehicle, machine or product. Its main role is to provide precise technical data on the vehicle, thus ensuring its compliance with safety standards and regulations in force.

Usually located in the engine compartment, on the driver's side door pillar or in the door frame, the vehicle manufacturer's plate is easily accessible but securely attached to prevent tampering.

Its location varies depending on the vehicle, for example: moped plates are generally fixed to the frame or directly to the engine, while tare plates are affixed to the outside of trailers.

Note that there are different names depending on the type of plate, here are some examples: identification plate, manufacturer label, lead plate, frame plate, chassis plate, tare plate, frame label, etc.

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Manufacturer's plates are full of crucial information. Here are the main data you will find there:

VIN: Vehicle Identification Number, or chassis number;
This is the unique identifier of your vehicle, made up of 17 characters in letters and numbers.
It allows the history of the vehicle to be traced and its legitimacy to be verified. The English term is sometimes used WINE (Vehicle Identification Number), as in this Wikipedia article.

PV : Empty Weight (in tonnes or kg);
This is the weight of the vehicle without cargo or passengers.

TPC Or GVW: Total Authorized Weight (in tonnes or kg);
This is the maximum weight your vehicle can support, including cargo and passengers.

ACWP : Authorized Total Rolling Weight (in tonnes or kg);
It represents the maximum weight of the vehicle + trailer assembly.

Reception number by type;
It certifies that the vehicle complies with European standards.

Example of a Honda motorcycle plate with type, year, serial number and GVW.

See our different motorcycle plates.

Example of trailer plate printed with manufacturer, serial number, PTAC and PV.

See our different tare plates.

Other more general information may also appear there, such as:
Brand, manufacturer name and address, model, body type, tire pressure, year of manufacture or country of origin. Sometimes also compliance standards or technical specifications (power, capacity, dimensions, voltage, etc.).

This information may vary depending on the country of registration, some may be absent or arranged differently, remember to respect the laws and regulations in force in your country.

During the technical inspection

The manufacturer's plate is carefully checked. Inspectors ensure its presence, legibility and consistency of the information with that on the registration document.

A missing, illegible or inconsistent plate may result in a second inspection or even immobilization of the vehicle. It is therefore crucial to ensure that your manufacturer's plate is in good condition before going for the technical inspection.

Legal and regulatory aspects

In France, the presence of a legible and compliant manufacturer's plate is mandatory for all vehicles put into circulation after 1968. This obligation is governed by Article R317-8 of the Highway Code.

The falsification or illegal reproduction of a manufacturer's plate is considered a crime. It can result in legal proceedings and immobilization of the vehicle.

Please note that the manufacturer's plate provides technical information about a vehicle, it complements the registration document which is an administrative document attesting to the ownership of the vehicle. It is necessary to have both in order to be in compliance.

A damaged or missing manufacturer's plate may cause a problem during the technical inspection. Here is the procedure to follow in order to resolve this problem and avoid a second inspection:

Procedure to follow

Tutorial on how to properly install a plate with rivets.

If your old plate is missing and you are not sure which model to order, do not hesitate to meet friends who might have the same vehicle as you or search for photos of your model on the internet.

For any questions, do not hesitate to write to us: [email protected].
This article will be updated with the answers to your various questions.

In conclusion, a manufacturer plate is a label or plate attached to a product that plays a crucial role in the life of your vehicle. It guarantees its conformity, safety and legality on the roads.

As the owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is in good condition and legible. When purchasing a product, it is advisable to check the presence and integrity of the manufacturer's plate to ensure a reliable and safe purchase.

For more information on manufacturer plates and their customization according to your specific needs, do not hesitate to Contact us. We are here to meet all your industrial identification plate requirements.

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