It is illegal to misspace the characters on your cherished number plates. Even if you bought the registration from the DVLA they will help the police to find and fine you for doing so. Many say it is hypocritical of them to sell numbers which obiously need the characters moving or doctoring for them to read properly. The character spacing should be 11mm with the gap between the two groups of characters in the middle of the plate set at 33mm with borders of 11mm minimum. The authorities consider the problem to be so widespread that they have made it part of the MOT test.