I’ve just been by the port at Ouistreham & there were 2 tankers parked up heading south.
What I noticed was that they were both on trade plates.
Now about 25 odd years ago the recovery firm I worked for had to tow a smashed up artic to France in 2 parts. I didn’t go but I remember we had to put “real” plates on (neither were registered) as we had been told trade plates were not legal outside the UK.
Question being, law change or are these 2 breaking some law?
Just interested.
Dont know about France, But in the early eighty eightys I used to fly over to the MAN factory in Munich and drive new trucks back to Swindon via Zeebrugge-Dover on UK trade plates. All legal. We also used to deliver second hand cement pumps generally on mercedes chassis from Germany to UK on trade plates no probs. 
Trade plates only cover the UK road tax element and cannot be used to carry passengers or for hire or reward. Doubtful whether they are legal in Europe if they are not fitted permanentally or at least fitted.
I had an issue in Germany many years ago with a caravan transporter and the Polizei wanted my number plate fitting to the caravan rather than stuck in the rear window.
DaveL:
I’ve just been by the port at Ouistreham & there were 2 tankers parked up heading south.
What I noticed was that they were both on trade plates.
Hi DaveL, What nationality were the 2 tankers?
The old style Belgian (proper) number plates might be confused with UK trade plates, cos they do look similar at first glance.
Dave
Don’t see why they would be illegal ,after all France has temporary departmental trade plates before registration ,ie WW in the middle of the numbers.
kerbut:
Dave
Don’t see why they would be illegal ,after all France has temporary departmental trade plates before registration ,ie WW in the middle of the numbers.
Hi kerbut I’m not sure whether the OP meant that he’d seen UK trade plates on the tankers. As I mentioned above, these might be confused with “proper” Belgian plates of the old model.
My only query on this would be whether it’s legal to use trade plates for an international journey. Not sure about that.
I’ve seen French plates with “WW” on them, without realising their meaning, so thanks for that info.
The Germans also have some red writing on registration plates, usually this is for dealer use, like ours, but they also use red writing for “Oldtimers” too.
dieseldave
They were ex Wincanton tankers (RHD) & the plates were trade plates.
kerbut.
The WW plates can only be used internally in France, I’ve had to swap trailers going to the UK when using them.
DaveL:
dieseldave
They were ex Wincanton tankers (RHD) & the plates were trade plates.
kerbut.
The WW plates can only be used internally in France, I’ve had to swap trailers going to the UK when using them.
Hi DaveL, thanks for that, I hope (guess) that whoever was moving the tankers around had done their homework before they set off.
Blimey, just imagine the grief you’d get if the Police weren’t satisfied with the plates.