Not all number plates are road legal. In the UK, number plates must meet specific requirements set out by the DVLA and British Standard BS AU 145e.
Correct characters and spacing
Your registration must use the correct font, character size and spacing. The characters must not be altered, rearranged or made difficult to read.
Required markings
Road-legal plates must display the required BS AU 145e marking and the manufacturer or supplier details.
Correct colours
Vehicles must display a white number plate at the front and a yellow number plate at the rear, with black characters.
Visibility and reflectivity
The registration must be clearly visible and readable. Plates must use the correct reflective material and must not have anything covering or obscuring the characters.
MOT and police checks
An incorrectly made or displayed number plate can cause problems at your MOT. A registration plate that does not meet the required standards can result in an MOT failure.
Police can also take action against vehicles displaying illegal or incorrectly formatted plates. Depending on the circumstances, you could receive a fine of up to £1,000, and an incorrectly displayed registration can also result in your vehicle failing its MOT.
Avoid illegal alterations
Tinted, smoked or otherwise modified plates that make the registration harder to read can be illegal. Incorrect fonts, altered spacing and decorative characters can also cause a plate to fail to meet legal requirements.
At Redline Plates, we manufacture number plates to the required standards, using compliant materials and specifications.