BS AU 145e Explained: The UK Number Plate Standard

If you've looked at buying number plates, you'll have seen BS AU 145e everywhere. It's the British Standard that every number plate fitted to a car in the UK since 1 September 2021 must meet. Here's what it actually means.

Tougher plates

Plates must pass tests for:

• Reflectivity, so they're easy to read at night
• Colour fastness, so the colours don't fade in the sun
• Abrasion and impact resistance, so they survive stones, car washes and bad weather
• Temperature and humidity, so they don't warp or peel

Clearer characters

• Characters must be solid black, with no two-tone or shaded "3D effect" printing.
• The font must be Charles Wright 2001, the only legal font for UK plates.
• Sizes and spacing are fixed: each character is 79mm tall, with set gaps between characters and groups.

The markings

Every legal plate must show:

• The BS AU 145e mark
• The name and postcode of the supplier who made it

If your plates don't have these marks, they're not legal.

What about raised letters?

Raised characters, like on our 4D plates and gel plates, are allowed, as long as they're one solid black colour and meet everything above.

Why it matters

Plates that don't meet the standard can get you a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT failure. Every plate PlatedUp makes is built to BS AU 145e and marked correctly, so you can fit them and forget about them. Design yours here.