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What is the legality regarding Number Plates in the UK?

Apr 12, 2023

What is the legality regarding Number Plates in the UK?

The registration or number plates on vehicles must display the correct registration number and cannot be modified to make it difficult to read. Failure to comply can result in fines up to £1,000 and an MOT test failure.

The number plates must be made of reflective material, have black characters on a white background (front plate), black characters on a yellow background (rear plate), and not have a background pattern. The plate must be marked to show the supplier and have a British Standard number. Characters must not be removable or reflective, and for plates fitted after 1 September 2021, they must be a single shade of black.

Number plates can have 3D characters, certain symbols, flags, and identifiers, and a green flash for zero-emission vehicles. Motorcycles and motor tricycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must only display a number plate at the rear, while those registered before can display a number plate at the front.

Trailers must display the same number plate as the towing vehicle, with the plate fixed to the back of the trailer. If the trailer needs to be registered abroad, the trailer registration plate must also be fixed to the back and as far away as possible from the towing vehicle's number plate.

The characters on the number plate must be of a certain height and size, and there are specific guidelines for trailers as well.

At Sweven Plates, we ensure that our Road Legal Number Plates meet the above Guidelines. Have a look through our Road Legal Number plates here.