Make Your Number Plates Online
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4.9
Out of5 Stars
5 out of 5 stars
John V - 29 May 2026

Great service and plates arrived on time. Plates exactly as advertised. Would highly recommend.

5 out of 5 stars
Tom S - 29 May 2026

Absolutely brilliant! Colourful, different, stands out with my personal plate & legal. The ordering service couldn’t have been easier.

5 out of 5 stars
George P - 29 May 2026

I’ve ordered at least 4 times over the years from Car Plates Direct. I can not fault the easy of ordering, quality and turnaround time. Will always order only through them. Highly recommended company

5 out of 5 stars
Alan T - 29 May 2026

Ordered a set of plates, came exactly how I ordered in good clean condition with the personalisation I ordered. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Car Plates Direct for a fast friendly service. Thank you

5 out of 5 stars
Robertson C - 29 May 2026

Exactly what I ordered. Good quality product, very professional and courteous service and a quick delivery. Highly recommended company.

HIGH QUALITY PLATES

4D Plates



3D Gel Plates



Standard Plates

Make Your Number Plates Online

Design road-legal or display number plates in minutes. Choose from standard, 3D gel, 4D laser-cut and more — manufactured in the UK and delivered to your door.

✓ BS AU 145e Compliant
✓ Free UK Delivery
✓ Same-Day Dispatch Available

Choose Your Plate Style

We offer four main plate technologies — all manufactured in-house using premium materials.

Standard Flat Plates

Printed on high-quality reflective acrylic using UV-stable inks. Crisp, clean characters in the legal Charles Wright typeface. The classic choice for a replacement plate.

Road Legal

3D Gel Plates

A domed polyurethane gel resin is applied over each character, creating a rounded, high-gloss raised effect approximately 1.7–2mm deep. Hugely popular with car enthusiasts.

Road Legal

4D Laser-Cut Plates

Individual acrylic letters are precision-cut by laser and bonded to the plate face with 3M adhesive. The sharpest, most distinctive look available — typically 3–5mm deep.

Road Legal

Show Plates

Not road legal — but fully customisable. Any text, any style, any size. Perfect for displays, gifts, photography and garage décor.

Display Only

Built to the Highest Standard

🏛️

DVLA Registered

We are a DVLA-registered number plate supplier. All road-legal plates are made only after verifying your entitlement.

🔬

BS AU 145e Certified

Current British Standard for vehicle number plates. Correct font, reflectivity, sizing, and spacing — guaranteed to pass your MOT.

🇬🇧

Made in the UK

Every plate is manufactured in our UK workshop. No overseas outsourcing — we control quality at every stage of production.

🚚

Free Fast Delivery

Free tracked delivery on all orders. Most orders dispatched same day and arrive next working day.

Everything You Need to Know About Making Number Plates

Making a new number plate for your vehicle in the UK is straightforward, but there are important legal requirements to understand before you order. The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, updated in line with British Standard BS AU 145e, govern every aspect of how a legal plate must be produced — from the typeface used to the reflectivity of the backing material. At Car Plates Direct, every road-legal plate we produce is built to meet these standards, so you can order with confidence.

When you use our plate builder, you’ll first choose whether you need a road-legal plate (for a vehicle used on public roads) or a show plate (for display purposes only). Road-legal plates require us to verify your entitlement — you’ll need a V5C logbook, new keeper supplement (V5C/2), or a certificate of entitlement for a personalised registration. This is a legal requirement for all DVLA-registered suppliers and is designed to prevent number plate fraud. The process takes less than two minutes and can be completed entirely online by uploading a photo of your document.

UK Number Plate Legal Requirements at a Glance

The table below summarises the key specifications for a standard road-legal car number plate fitted after 1 September 2021:

Requirement Specification
Typeface Charles Wright only — no custom fonts
Character height 79mm
Character width 50mm (except I and 1)
Stroke width 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between groups 33mm
Top, bottom & side margins 11mm minimum
Front plate colour White reflective background, black characters
Rear plate colour Yellow reflective background, black characters
Character colour Single shade of black (post September 2021)
Standard plate size (car) 520mm × 111mm (oblong)

Plates made before September 2021 may still legally carry the old-style GB identifier, but any new plate made today must follow the current regulations. Green-background plates are only permitted for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) as a voluntary identifier introduced in 2021.

How to Order Your Number Plates

1

Design in the Plate Builder

Enter your registration number, choose your plate type (standard, 3D gel, 4D laser-cut), select your size, and optionally add a national flag, border or badge. You’ll see a live preview as you design.

2

Upload Your Documents

For road-legal plates, upload a photo of your V5C, V5C/2 or entitlement certificate. We verify quickly — usually within minutes during business hours. Show plates don’t require documentation.

3

Receive Your Plates

We manufacture your plates in our UK workshop and dispatch via tracked courier. Most orders arrive the next working day. Fitting is simple — plates come ready to fix with the standard screws or adhesive pads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a number plate online without visiting a shop?
Yes — and that’s exactly how we work. Our entire ordering process is online. You design your plate in the builder, upload your proof of entitlement documents, pay securely, and we post your plates directly to you. You never need to visit a physical shop.
Do I need my V5C to order replacement plates?
Yes, for road-legal plates. As a DVLA-registered supplier we are legally required to verify that you are entitled to use the registration. Accepted documents include: V5C (logbook), V5C/2 (new keeper supplement), or a DVLA certificate of entitlement for a personalised registration. We cannot produce road-legal plates without one of these documents.
Are 3D gel and 4D laser-cut plates road legal?
Yes. Both 3D gel and 4D laser-cut plates are road legal when manufactured to BS AU 145e using the correct Charles Wright typeface, dimensions and reflective materials. The raised characters are permitted under the standard as long as they do not obscure or distort the registration. All our 3D and 4D plates are fully MOT compliant.
Can I choose a different font for my number plate?
Not on road-legal plates. The Charles Wright typeface is the only font permitted by UK law. Any plate using a different font — even a stylised version that looks similar — is not road legal and will fail an MOT. However, show plates (not for road use) have no font restrictions, so you can use any style you like.
What size number plate do I need for my car?
The standard UK car plate size is 520mm × 111mm (oblong). Most passenger cars use this size front and rear. Some vehicles (particularly older or smaller cars) use a square rear plate at 279mm × 203mm. Motorcycles use different sizes entirely — see our motorcycle plates page for details. If you’re unsure, check the current plate on your vehicle or refer to your vehicle handbook.
How long does it take to get number plates delivered?
Once your documents are verified (usually within a few minutes during working hours), your plates are manufactured and dispatched the same day if ordered before 2pm on a weekday. Standard delivery is free and tracked, with most orders arriving the next working day. Express upgrade options are available at checkout if you need them urgently.
Can I add a national flag or badge to my number plate?
Yes. UK law permits a national identifier on the left-hand side of the plate displaying one of the following: the Union Flag, the Cross of St George (England), the Cross of St Andrew/Saltire (Scotland), the Red Dragon (Wales), along with the corresponding country identifier (GB, ENG, SCO, or CYM/WAL). A euro symbol is no longer a legal identifier on new plates.