GUIDELINES FOR NUMBER PLATE MAKERS
First, Some information about legal number plates...
Your number plates should be made up by a manufacturer who is registered on the DVLA's Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). They will ask you for documents (V5 logbook, Mot, and personal ID), as proof that you are entitled to use the registration.
If you have just had a private registration number assigned to your vehicle, you won't receive your new registration document straightaway. In which case, you will be given a document authorising you to have the number plates made up.
The DVLA rules for number plates are very specific. Number plates must fit with the British Standard, including the typeface, the size, and colouring. There are alternatives for motorcycles, tricycles and traditional (black and white) plates.
Reputable number plate manufacturers will be aware of these regulations.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS must be displayed in accordance with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (obtainable from HMSO). See http://www.opsi.gov.uk/
The basic rules for number plates:
- You must display a number plate on the front and rear of your vehicle
- Letters should be black on a white plate at the front
- Letters should be black on a yellow plate at the rear
- The background surface should be reflex-reflecting, but not the letters
- Number plates should meet the British Standard
- Rules on character dimensions differ slightly depending on whether your plates were fitted before or after 1st September 2001. Details are below.
-
Rules on character dimensions differ for traditional 'black and white' plates, which may be fitted on vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1973.
Number plates fitted after 1st September 2001
Any number plate made up after 1st September 2001 must meet the dimensions as below:
|
Character Height |
79 mm |
|
Character Width (except the figure 1 or letter I) |
50 mm |
|
Character stroke |
14 mm |
|
Space between characters |
11 mm |
|
Space between groups |
33 mm |
|
Top, bottom, and side margins (minimum) |
11 mm |
|
Space between vertical lines |
19 mm |
Number plates fitted before 1st September 2001
If you fitted a number plate before 1st September 2001, they must meet the dimensions in one of the two groups below:
|
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
|
Character height |
89 mm |
79 mm |
|
Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) |
64 mm |
57 mm |
|
Character stroke |
16 mm |
14 mm |
|
Space between characters |
13 mm |
11 mm |
|
Space between groups |
38 mm |
33 mm |
|
Top, bottom and side margins (minimum) |
13 mm |
11 mm |
|
Space between vertical lines |
19 mm |
9 mm |
Traditional number plates for vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1973
Vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1973 are allowed to display traditional style 'black and white' plates i.e. white, silver, or grey characters on a black plate.
The characters size must meet the dimensions in one of the two groups below:
|
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
|
Character height |
89 mm |
79 mm |
|
Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I) |
64 mm |
57 mm |
|
Character stroke |
16 mm |
14 mm |
|
Space between characters |
13 mm |
11 mm |
|
Space between groups |
38 mm |
33 mm |
|
Top and bottom margins |
13 mm |
11 mm |
|
Side margin |
25 mm |
11 mm |
