Are dark number plates legal UK?

Tinted number plates are not legal for road use.

As such, these will not pass the tests required of UK number plates. Furthermore, the DVLA standards regard tinted number plates as obstructing the registration, even when the lettering is in front of the tinted acrylic, as in the case of 3D and 4D number plates.

Can you have black number plates in the UK?

Due to a correction made by the DVLA on 1^st January 2021, vehicles constructed after 1^st January 1980 are not allowed to display a traditional number plate, i.e., with white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.

Are tinted plates allowed in the UK?

It is therefore illegal to have tinted number plates on your vehicle in the UK. The DVLA considers a tint to obstruct the registration, and the entire reason for a yellow or white reflective background on black characters is that the black offsets against these colours the most, making them easy to read.

Are tinted number plates legal UK 2021?

The law on UK number plates

The backgrounds should not be patterned in any way. Both plates are required to display black characters. These black characters need to be one single shade of black – if they were fitted after September 1st 2021 – and the characters themselves cannot be reflective or removable.

Are black metal number plates legal UK?

Any vehicle registered in 1973 or later must comply with the current standards that apply to number plates. Cars made in 1972 or earlier are permitted to use black pressed aluminium plates, as long as they conform to the exact requirements outlined by the DVLA.

UK REGISTRATION PLATE LAWS - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 3D/4D, SHORTENED PLATES AND MORE!

Can I have black plates on my car?

Can I Put Black and Silver Number Plates On My Car? The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency explained that in 2015 that vehicles manufactured more than 40 years ago were eligible to display the traditional black and silver number plates.

Are dark number plates legal?

Tinted number plates are not legal for road use.

Number plates need to meet strict criteria on each of their characteristics, and one of these is the reflective levels. A tinted number plate uses a darkened/tinted acrylic in front of the reflective, which affects the output of the reflective material.

Are 4D gel plates legal UK?

Unlike 3D-effect number plates, 3D Gel and 4D number plates are legal in the UK; however, they must conform to strict regulations. The individual letters must be fixed onto the number plate's surface and unable to be removed.

Are 3D plates illegal UK?

3D number plates and the law

The good news is that while they must conform to the rules laid down by the Motor Car Act, 3D plates are fully legal on UK roads as long as they were manufactured before the latest changes in September 2021.

Are 4D plates legal UK 2021?

The next question you may have, is are 4D number plates legal in the UK and in the eyes of the DVLA? The short answer is yes, but only if these 4D number plates meet the standards in place for other registrations by the DVLA.

Will tinted plates fail MOT?

You will be breaking the law if your vehicle's number plate is obscured, which means tinted number plates might not pass the MOT test. The same goes for cracked or damaged plates.

Are grey plates legal?

The legality of darkened number plates

Additionally, darkened number plates have even been used by irresponsible drivers to bypass speed cameras and traps, as again, their dark tint means cameras have a harder time reading the numbers. Since September 1st 2021, however, this grey area is no more.

Are Coloured reg plates legal?

You cannot have any colour other than white, yellow, or black on a number plate. Some companies have been seen to falsely promote their 4D coloured crystal number plates as road legal, however this is not the case and could result in trouble with the Road Traffic Policing teams!

What colour number plates are legal in UK?

UK plates used today must be white and yellow with black alphanumeric characters, but there are still ways to put some colour on your plate while keeping to the laws. It's possible to add one of the UK's national flags for a little colour on your number plates.

Can I display black and silver number plates?

Those vehicles with a construction date prior to 1 January 1980 will continue to be able to legally display black and silver number plates to avoid any undue costs of replacement. Your members may also wish to note that from 1 January it will no longer be permissible to fix a new number plate displaying a Euro symbol.

Are 4D gel plates legal?

Yes. '4D' style number plates are fully road legal, as long as they follow some important rules. To be road legal, your number plates must: Have a backing made from a reflective material.

Are bold number plates illegal?

As there is no mention of 3D lettering – or indeed any alteration to the shading of the letters – it is safe to say that the format is indeed legal.

Are black gel resin number plates legal?

Are 3D gel resin number plates legal? In their standard form, 3D gel resin number plates are fully legal; the DVLA has specified that it is acceptable to have 3D lettering on number plates.

Are gel plates legal?

There can be no doubt that gel resin number plates can offer a more modern and stylish way to display your car's reg, but are gel number plates legal? Well, the good news is that providing that they adhere to all the regulations outlined in the Motor Car Act, gel-style plates is perfectly legal to use.

Are 3D plates legal DVLA?

The DVLA website does state that your number plates can have raised 3D characters. However, the characters must not be removable, reflective or stand out so much that they can't be read from a particular angle.

Are neon plates legal?

The legality of 4D neon plates is a delicate issue. However, there are special precautions that must be taken when dealing with 4D neon plates. It is worth noting that most suppliers provide 4D neon plates only for automotive shows. Consequently, they are not for road use and are not road legal.

Will 3D number plates become illegal?

Under new rules both 3D and 4D plates have been made illegal. The new revisions to number plates have been made to reflect changes to our roads.

What is classed as an illegal number plate?

Number plates become illegal if there has been an attempt to rearrange or misrepresent the numbers or letters, such as or using large bolts to secure the plate to the car to make a numbers or letters appear different.

How do I report an illegal number plate UK?

You can report illegal numberplates to your local police or if you'd like to do it anonymously Crimestoppers. Use this phone number 0800 555 111 – available 24/7. If you find yourself in here there is a good chance you have been reported to the police. '

When did black number plates finish?

These black and silver plates were used frequently up until the 1970s, and now of course we use the yellow and white plates, which have been around since 1968.