First look at new Union Jack number plates as EU flag vanishes from UK cars in the wake of Brexit
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European Union flags have been removed from British number plates and driving licences and replaced with the Union Jack.
The move was confirmed by Transport Secretary Grant Schapps who tweeted an image of how the UK’s cars will look without the EU symbol on a green number plate for an electric vehicle.
Drivers will see the new look from new batches issued from January 1.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: ‘UK driving licences and number plates have been given a makeover to signify the beginning of a new chapter for the UK.
Transport Secretary Grant Schapps poses with a new look green number plate for electric vehicles and confirmed the new number plates will have GB flags
Mr Schapps tweeted out how the new look number plate design will look on new batches
‘The new designs coincide with the beginning of a number of agreements recently made between the UK and member states for British drivers, making it easier for Britons to drive in the EU when existing restrictions end.’
The deal with the 27 EU states plus Switzerland and Norway will make it simple for Britons to drive abroad and forgoes the need for a £5.50 international driving permit.
Grant Shapps also pioneered the push for electric cars to display number plates with the green flash on the left hand side, which were launched towards the end of 2020.
This will be used as an incentive for drivers to switch to zero-emissions vehicles, like the Tesla Model 3 Mr Shapps owns.
Conventional petrol and diesel cars will have the Union Jack displayed on plates without the green flash.
In a statement by the transport secretary, he said: ‘Changing the designs of our driving licences and number plates is a historic moment for British motorists and a reassertion of our independence from the EU one year on from our departure.
‘Looking to the future, whether it’s for work, or for holidays abroad, these changes mean that those who want to drive in the EU can continue to do so with ease.’
He also tweeted a picture of a new look number plate, writing: ‘How the new UK number plate looks with the Union Flag and GB replacing the EU symbol. The green background on this one signifies a fully electric vehicles.’
Old plates will still be valid to use on the continent.
New driving licences now display ‘UK’ in the top left corner instead of the EU flag
The Department for Transport also shared an image of how revised driving licences now look.
Like number plates, the EU flag has been removed from the top left corner of the pink plastic cards, replaced by ‘UK’. A Union Jack was already displayed on the right-hand-side of the photocards before 1 January.
While the old style driving licences are still valid, the new versions will be issued to everyone renewing their photocard or getting one for the first time.
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