Table of Contents
Legal And Illegal Plates In The UK
For individuals navigating the roads in Britain, it is crucial to grasp the criteria defining the legality of a number plate and the factors that could lead to a registration plate being deemed non-compliant.
Failure to discern these distinctions may expose you to potential consequences, such as fines issued by law enforcement.
Background & Latest Regulations
The prevailing British Standard governing UK number plates is BS AU 145e, which was enforced on September 1, 2021. Consequently, all number plates produced, sold, or installed from that day onward are required to adhere to this standard.
The updated British Standard, denoted as ‘e,’ extends and enhances the provisions of BS AU 145d to bolster public safety and security. This is achieved through improved ANPR camera readability and the production of sturdier, more resilient plates.
Here at The Number Plate Hub, our registration plates fully comply with the UK’s road legality and MOT requirements, as they strictly adhere to the aforementioned standards.
More information on the new standard can be found here and also here.
What Criteria Ensure the Legality of Number Plate Characters on the Road?
Number plates are required to feature characters that adhere to the specifications outlined in BS AU 145e. These characters must be in a solid black Charles Wright typeface and must conform to the regulations concerning size, spacing, grouping, and positioning.
Alternatively, number plates may include raised 3D characters in a plain black color, commonly referred to as “4D” number plates. However, for this optional feature, strict compliance with all British Standard requirements is essential.
What criteria render a number plate legally acceptable for road use?
Number plates MUST possess the following features to comply with regulations:
Mandatory Features:
- Correct size as specified in the rules.
- Front plates must have a reflective white background, and rear plates must have a reflective yellow background.
- Reflective properties in accordance with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- Physical resilience properties aligning with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- Solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface that adhere to rules on size, spacing, grouping, and positioning.
- Display of the supplier’s name and postcode, as well as the manufacturer’s mark.
- The current British Standard number, BS AU 145e, must be visible.
Prohibited Features:
- No background color, pattern, or texture, except the specified reflective colors outlined in the rules and British Standard.
- No font or typeface other than the regulated Charles Wright typeface.
- Characters must be solid black with no color variations, shading, effects, or textures.
- Only required or authorized text is permitted.
- No badges, emblems, images, or graphic elements are allowed unless expressly permitted by the rules.
- Prohibition of coatings, treatments, or measures that may impact reflective properties or legibility visually or through number plate recognition technology.
- No screws, bolts, or objects that alter character appearance or interfere with legibility.
Optional Features:
- Raised 3D characters in plain black color, also known as “4D” number plates, are permissible if they meet British Standard BS AU 145e requirements.
- Colored borders as allowed by the rules.
- National flag/emblem as expressly permitted by the rules.
- National identifier letters as specifically allowed by the rules.
Special Provision for Electric Vehicles:
Fully electric/zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles may optionally display the approved green ‘flash’ or panel at the left-hand side.
Which Plate Styles Are Road Legal?
When the registration is properly spaced and complies with the British Standard, the following number plate styles are deemed legally acceptable for road use:
- Standard Printed Plates
- 4D Plates (Acrylic) – Available in 3mm & 5mm depths by Aplates
- 4D Gel Plates – Offered in 3mm & 5mm depths by Aplates
- 3D Gel Plates
Which Plate Styles Are Not Road Legal?
- Krystal Plates with 4D Design (characters feature colored backgrounds)
- Neon Gel Plates with 4D Design (characters feature colored backgrounds)
- Carbon Gel Plates with 4D Design (characters do not have a solid black color)
- Carbon Gel Plates with 3D Design (characters do not have a solid black color)
So, What Are Show Plates?
Show plates are prohibited for use on public roads in the UK and are exclusively intended for showcase purposes, such as car roadshows.
Due to the most recent revision of the British Standard (BSAU 145e), several number plate styles, including 4D Krystal, 4D Neon Gel, and Carbon Gel, are no longer deemed road legal in the UK.
As a result, The Number Plate Hub exclusively offers these as display plates. This entails printing them without our manufacturer details and the British Standard information.