Legal & Compliance
Every plate we make is road legal. Here's how, and what we need from you.
DVLA registered supplier
PlatedUp is registered with the DVLA's Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). By law, only registered suppliers can make and sell number plates, and we must check documents and keep records of every plate we supply.
British Standard BS AU 145e
All of our plates are made to BS AU 145e, which means they:
- Use the legal Charles Wright font with solid black characters, with no shading or two-tone effects
- Use the legal character size and spacing for your registration
- Are reflective, with a white front plate and a yellow rear plate
- Show our business name and postcode, and the British Standard mark
- Are tested to resist weather, abrasion and impact
3D gel and 4D raised characters are legal as long as they are solid black, which is how we make them. We never alter the legal spacing on road-legal plates.
Documents we need
Before we can make road-legal plates, we must see one document from each list.
1. Proof you're entitled to the registration
- V5C vehicle registration certificate (logbook)
- V5C/2 new keeper supplement (green slip)
- V750 certificate of entitlement or V778 retention document
- A hire, lease or company letter of authority for the vehicle
- V948 certificate (authority to buy plates) issued by the DVLA or police
2. Proof of your identity or address
- UK photo driving licence
- Passport or national identity card
- Utility bill or council tax bill from the last 6 months
- Bank or building society statement from the last 6 months
You can upload these at checkout or on our Upload Documents page. We keep records for three years as the law requires and use them only to verify your order.
Show plates
We also make show plates for display and off-road use, such as car shows, private land and photos. Show plates are not road legal and must not be fitted to a vehicle used on the road. Doing so can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, an MOT failure and the registration being withdrawn. Show plates don't carry the British Standard mark and don't need documents.
Badges and flags
You can add the Union Flag (UK) or Cross of St George (ENG) to the left of your plate, or a green strip. The green strip is only for zero-emission vehicles.
FAQs
Are your number plates road legal?
Yes. Every plate we make meets British Standard BS AU 145e, uses the legal Charles Wright font and spacing, and carries our supplier name and postcode as the law requires.
What documents do I need to provide?
Two things: proof you're entitled to the registration (V5C logbook, V5C/2 new keeper slip, V750 or V778 certificate, or a hire/lease agreement) and photo ID or proof of address in your name (driving licence, passport, utility bill or bank statement).
How do I upload my documents?
You can upload them at checkout, or afterwards on our Upload Documents page using your order number. A clear phone photo is fine.
How long does delivery take?
Orders placed before 2pm on a working day (once we have your documents) are made and dispatched the same day. Tracked delivery takes 2–5 working days and is free on orders of £39.99 or more (£4.99 below that), or choose Next Day Delivery for £6.99.
Are 3D gel and 4D plates legal?
Yes. Raised characters are legal as long as they're solid black with no shading or two-tone effect, which is exactly how ours are made.
What is an illegal number plate?
Anything with the wrong font, altered spacing, decorative screws that change how characters look, coloured or two-tone characters, or missing British Standard and supplier markings. You can be fined up to £1,000 and your car can fail its MOT.
Can I buy show plates?
Yes. Choose Show Plate in the plate builder. Show plates are for display and off-road use only (car shows, private land, photos). They are not road legal, so you can't fit them to a car used on the road. No documents are needed for show plates.
What size plates do you offer?
Standard UK car plates (520 × 111mm), which fit the vast majority of cars; hex plates cut to the length of your registration: up to 4 characters (330mm), 5 characters (390mm), 6 characters (450mm) and 7 characters (520mm); motorbike plates (9 × 7 in, 229 × 178mm, on two lines); and square 4x4 / import plates (11 × 8 in, 279 × 203mm, on two lines) for 4x4s and Japanese or US imports with a square plate space. Every size comes in every style.
Are hex number plates road legal?
Yes. UK law sets the size, font and spacing of the characters, the margins around them and the BS AU 145e standard, not the shape of the plate. Our hex plates use the same legal characters, spacing and 11mm margins as a standard plate, with our name and BS AU 145e marked on every plate, so they're fully road legal. The only difference is the pointed ends, which leave no room for a flag or border, so hex plates come without them. They're very popular on short and private registrations, and the shorter sizes suit cars with a small plate recess.
Which hex plate size do I need?
Count the letters and numbers in your registration, not the space. AB12 CDE has 7, so it needs the 7-character hex plate. A private plate like K1 NGS has 5, so the 5-character hex plate fits it perfectly. The plate builder tells you if your registration is too long for the size you've picked.
Do you make motorbike and 4x4 / import plates?
Yes. Motorbike plates are 9 × 7 in (229 × 178mm) on two lines, with the smaller 64mm characters the law sets for motorbikes, and are rear only because motorbikes don't have a front plate. Square 4x4 / import plates are 11 × 8 in (279 × 203mm) on two lines with full-size characters, for 4x4s and Japanese or US imports with a square plate space. Both come in every style. Neither has room for a flag at the legal character size, so they come without one.
What's the difference between standard and premium acrylic?
Both are road legal and BS AU 145e certified. Premium acrylic is thicker with a high-gloss finish, for a more premium look and feel. You choose it in the plate builder after picking your style, for £3.99 extra.
Do the plates come with fittings?
You can add sticky pads, a screws kit with matching caps, or both in the plate builder.
Can you remove the branding from the plate?
No. By law every plate must show the supplier's name and postcode, and the British Standard mark.
Will the plates pass an MOT?
Yes. Our plates meet the standards MOT testers check for.
Can you space my registration differently?
No. Changing the spacing is illegal, so we always use the legal spacing for your registration.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Choose Klarna at checkout to split your order into 3 interest-free payments: the first when you order, then one every 30 days. Klarna runs a quick check when you choose it. 18+, UK residents only. Credit subject to status. T&Cs apply. Late payments may affect your credit score.
Do you offer returns?
Plates are made to order with your registration, so we can't take them back if you change your mind. If anything arrives damaged or we've made a mistake, we'll replace it free. See our Returns Policy.
How long do the plates last?
Our plates are made from high-impact acrylic and tested to resist weather, UV and impact, so they should last for years.