Can Your Number Plates Make You Fail Your MOT?

Number plates are part of every MOT test, and problems with them are a surprisingly common reason for a fail. The good news is that they're also one of the easiest things to fix.

What the MOT tester checks

• Both plates are present and securely fitted.
• They're the right colours: white at the front, yellow at the back.
• The characters are in the correct font and spacing, with nothing altered or rearranged.
• The registration matches the vehicle's records.
• The plates aren't cracked, faded, peeling or dirty enough to be hard to read.
• Nothing like a tow bar or bike rack blocks them.

Common reasons plates fail

• Stylised or italic fonts
• Spacing changed to spell a word
• Two-tone or shaded "3D effect" printing on new plates
• Badges or flags that aren't allowed
• Cracks from car washes or stones

Will 3D gel or 4D plates pass?

Yes, as long as they're made to BS AU 145e with solid black characters, the legal font and spacing, and the supplier's markings. All our 4D and 3D gel plates are made this way.

MOT coming up?

If your plates are tired, cracked or questionable, replace them before the test. Order before 2pm on a working day and we'll dispatch the same day, with free tracked delivery on orders of £39.99 or more. Start your order.