Are 4D Number Plates Legal in the UK?

It's the question we're asked more than any other: are 4D number plates legal? The short answer is yes, but only when they're made to the current British Standard. Here's what that means in plain English.

The rules changed in September 2021

Every number plate fitted to a car from 1 September 2021 must meet the British Standard BS AU 145e. The new standard made plates tougher and clearer, and it put an end to "two-tone" 3D effects, where letters were printed with shading to look raised.

What it did not ban is characters that are genuinely raised. A 4D plate is legal when:

• The characters are one solid shade of black, with no shading, outlines or two-tone effects.
• The letters use the Charles Wright 2001 font at the correct size and spacing.
• The front plate is white and the rear plate is yellow, both reflective.
• The plate shows the name and postcode of the supplier and the BS AU 145e mark.
• There's no background pattern or picture behind the characters.

What makes a 4D plate illegal?

Plates sold as "show plates" often break the rules: wrong fonts, letters squashed together, coloured characters, or missing supplier details. Using those on the road can mean a fine of up to £1,000, an MOT failure, and in serious cases the DVLA can even withdraw a registration number.

How to make sure yours are legal

Buy from a DVLA registered number plate supplier. Registered suppliers like PlatedUp must check that you're entitled to the registration before making road-legal plates, and every plate we make is built to BS AU 145e.

Not sure which style to pick? Read our guide to 3D gel vs 4D plates, or jump straight into the plate builder and see your 4D plates come to life.