What makes a number plate illegal UK?

Number plates (also known as licence plates) must show your registration number correctly. You cannot rearrange letters or numbers, or alter them so that they're hard to read. You could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.

How can a number plate be illegal?

So, what could it be that makes a plate illegal? Well, it could be the font, which needs to be the standard size and type. Or it could be that the plate uses something stylised, like italics, which is not permitted.

What type of number plates are illegal?

Illegal number plates can include drivers displaying number boards with reflective coatings that prevent speed cameras from identifying the characters on the plate when the flash is activated, but also stretch to unlawful fonts and designs, as well as incorrect spacing between numbers and letters for motorists to ...

Are Raised number plates illegal UK?

Raised lettering for 3D and 4D effects will also be banned. The DVLA says, “The agency has not seen any evidence to show that number plates displaying raised plastic, acrylic or Perspex lettering (3D/4D plates) are able to meet the requirements of either the current or new the British Standard.”

What number plates are allowed UK?

As the DVLA has stated that number plates can be 3D, number plates that are 4D are also legal on the road when designed to British Standard BS AU 145d, using the Charles Wright Font.

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

Are 4D plates illegal 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.

Will 4D plates be illegal?

The short answer is yes, but only if these 4D number plates meet the standards in place for other registrations by the DVLA. These legally enforced rules and regulations are covered here, and cover character width, spacing, sizing and materials used.

Are Glitter 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.

Why are 4D plates illegal?

Another issue with so-called '4D' plates is that the characters aren't always built into the structure of the number plate and are instead stuck on with adhesive. This means they can actually fall off over time, leaving the driver with an incomplete, and therefore illegal, plate.

Can you get penalty points for illegal number plates?

Car registration: How to prevent number plate theft

Number plate offenders could soon be issued penalty points in a bid to crack down on an existing loophole which drivers get away with just a simple fine.

Are tinted number plates illegal 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.

Are Glitter number plates legal UK?

As mentioned above, characters in number plates are required to be road legal in the UK. Although technically Krystal number plates do not have any color and only reflect the color of the background. So, it is safe to say colored crystal number plates are road legal.

Are Lambo plates legal?

These look great look on any car, and are the least common style currently about on the roads! The Lamborghini Hex style is 100% road legal, and MOT friendly as they exceed the minimum width that number plates must meet.

Are metal number plates legal UK?

Aluminium pressed number plates are 100% road legal for use in the UK. As a registered number plate supplier all of the number plates that we sell including our pressed metal number plates are made to pass DVLA laws and abide by British Standard (BS AU 145d) regulations.

What are the rules for private number plates?

Are neon number plates legal UK?

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.

Are black number plates legal 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.

Will 3D number plates pass MOT?

You will fail the MOT test if you display your 3D carbon number plate in another colour or a different font. Also, the number plate becomes illegal when another background pattern is used.

Are 3D carbon number plates legal?

Carbon fibre number plates are legal number plates that have a carbon like appearance to the characters and numbers on the reg, the carbon font design gives an almost 3D look however the letters and number are flat to the plate.

What are 5D number plates?

5D LASER CUT GEL PLATE

5D is a combination of 4D and 3D, where the 4D gives a sharp look while the 3D adds a glossy domed finish on top.

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!

Are bold number plates legal?

(f) in such a way as to make a character or more than one character appear like a different character or characters. 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 two tone number plates legal?

From 1 September, it is illegal to use a two-tone finish on number plates to create the effect of three-dimensional lettering. Previously, plate makers could create the illusion of 3D characters by using different shades of black on flat lettering.

Are carbon plates illegal?

You can rest assured that these are legal. Can my number plates have carbon fibre style letters and numbers? Previously, having carbon fibre letters and numbers on your number plates was legal. However, with the new DVLA standard (BSAU 145e) for number plates, these will no longer be legal.