UK Number Plate Legal Requirements Guide
If you are displaying registration plates on a vehicle driven on public roads in the UK, they must follow rules set by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
These regulations ensure registration plates are readable by police, cameras, and other road users.
Below is a guide to the current legal requirements for UK number plates.
1. Correct Number Plate Format
Vehicles registered in the UK must display their registration number exactly as issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
For modern vehicles (registered from 2001 onwards), the format is:
AA00 AAA
Example:
AB21 CDE
The spacing must remain correct and cannot be altered to make the registration look like a different word or name.
Incorrect spacing is illegal and may result in fines.
2. Number Plate Colours
UK number plates must have the following colours:
Front Plate
• White background with black characters
Rear Plate
• Yellow background with black characters
Any other colour combinations are not road legal for standard vehicles.
3. Character Font
UK number plates must use the mandatory font called:
Charles Wright 2001
This font is designed to ensure registration numbers can be easily read by cameras and enforcement systems.
Stylised fonts or altered characters are not legal for road use.
4. Character Size and Spacing
Legal UK number plates must follow strict sizing rules.
Standard character dimensions:
• Character height: 79mm
• Character width: 50mm (except the number 1 or letter I)
• Stroke width: 14mm
• Space between characters: 11mm
• Space between groups: 33mm
• Margin around the plate: 11mm
These measurements ensure plates are readable at distance.
5. British Standard Mark
All road legal number plates must display the British Standard mark showing they meet manufacturing regulations.
Current standard: BS AU 145e
This confirms the plate meets durability and reflectivity requirements.
6. Supplier Details
UK law requires that road legal number plates display:
• The name of the number plate supplier
• The postcode of the supplier
This information normally appears in small text along the bottom of the plate.
7. Flags and National Identifiers
Drivers may choose to include approved national identifiers such as:
• UK flag
• St George’s Cross
• Scottish Saltire
• Welsh Red Dragon
These must appear on the left side of the plate and follow approved sizes.
8. 3D and 4D Number Plates
3D and 4D number plates may be legal if they meet current regulations.
The characters must:
• Be black
• Not obstruct readability
• Not appear patterned or textured
• Follow correct spacing and sizing rules
Raised characters such as 3D gel plates or 4D acrylic plates can be road legal when manufactured correctly.
9. Show Plates
Show plates are plates designed for:
• Car shows
• Exhibitions
• Photography
• Off-road vehicles
• Decorative display
These plates may not follow legal UK plate regulations and must not be used on public roads.
10. Penalties for Illegal Plates
Driving with illegal number plates can result in:
• A £100 fixed penalty fine
• Vehicle failing its MOT test
• Requirement to replace the plates
• Possible confiscation of the registration number in serious cases
Buying Legal Number Plates
When purchasing road legal plates, suppliers must verify:
• Proof of identity
• Proof of entitlement to the registration number
This requirement is set by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
At RegLab, we manufacture premium road legal plates that follow UK regulations, as well as show plates for off-road use.