Actually, Euro plates can be legal, provided
1) It uses the font compliant to SGP standards. The German/Europe fonts are smaller than that used in SGP and hence illegal. You can always ask the plate maker to make them to the British version or to use legal fonts.
2) Use the right color combination on the right/rear plates.
black (f) & black (r) or white (f) & yellow (r).
I think the 1st fine for non compliance is $70.
Background :
There are actually 2 versions of the Euro plates
Version 1: British Version
This is pretty much a Singapore-style plate (Cos' the fonts are the same) but with the EU flag and country tag (GB in this case as it follows the same style) on the left side of the plate.
The pros of this is that the font and everything is similar to that of Singapore so less obvious to any discrepancy.
Version 2: German / European Version
This essentially is totally different from the Singaporean/British plate as the font type used is not the same as our standard font. So straightaway, your plate will look different from the majority of plates running on Singapore Roads. Like typical Euro plate, they will have the EU Flag and country tag on the left side of the plate.
Here's something pulled out from a local forum
Dear Sir/Madam ,
VEHICLE BEARING EUROPEAN (EU) LICENCE PLATE
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 428818
Thank you for your feedback of 26/10/2006.
2 We wish to inform you that the technical requirements for vehicle
licence plates permitted in Singapore can be found in Rule 15 and the
Fourth Schedule of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and
Licensing) Rules. In summary, the arrangement of letters and numerical
figures on the licence plate of a motor car must meet the following
requirements:
(a) the letters and numerical figures are 70 mm high, 50 mm wide and 10
mm broad;
(b) the space between adjoining letters and between adjoining numerical
figures shall be 10 mm;
(c) the space between the letters and numerical figures shall be 20 mm;
(d) a margin between the nearest part of any letter or numerical figure
and the top or bottom of the number plate shall be 10 mm;
(e) a margin between the nearest part of any letter or numerical figure
and the sides of the number plate shall be 20 mm; and
(f) where the letters and numerical figures are arranged in 2 rows, the
space between top and bottom row should be 15 mm.
3 In addition, the vehicle licence plates are required to comply with
either of the following requirements:
(i) Letters and figures are white, silver or light grey on a non-
reflective black background for both front and rear; or
(ii)Letters and figures are blackground on a white reflective
background for the front, and on a yellow reflective background for the rear.
4 It is an offence for a person to install licence plates that do not
comply with the requirements. Offenders are liable, upon conviction, to
a fine of up to $1,000 or a jail term of up to three months for the first
offence. Repeated offenders are liable, upon conviction, to a fine of
up to $2,000 or jail term of up to six months.
5 We have no objection to the European Union licence plates as long as it
comply with the above requirements.
Once again, thank you for your feedback.
Yours sincerely,
(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
NEO KHIM HAN PHIL
SENIOR ENGINEER, VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM
VEHICLE ENGINEERING DIVISION
VEHICLE & TRANSIT AND LICENSING GROUP
LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY