Number plate guides

Plain-English answers on UK number plate law, written by a DVLA-registered supplier. No scare tactics, no vagueness — what the rules actually say, with sources.

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Are 4D number plates legal? (2026 guide)
Yes — 4D number plates are road-legal in the UK if they meet BS AU 145e. The definitive guide: what the DVLA rules actually say, what makes a 4D plate fail an MOT, and how to buy one that's genuinely legal.

All guides

Are 3D gel number plates legal? — 3D gel number plates are legal in the UK when they meet BS AU 145e — raised characters are explicitly allowed. What the rules say, the MOT position, and what to check before you buy.
UK number plate rules explained (BS AU 145e) — Every rule a road-legal UK number plate must meet: BS AU 145e, the mandatory font and character sizes, plate markings, flags and the green flash — and the penalties if a plate breaks them.
What documents do you need to buy a number plate? — UK law requires proof of entitlement and identity before a registered supplier can make your plate. The full accepted-document list — V5C, new-keeper slip, V750, V778 and more — and how the check works.
3D gel vs 4D number plates: what's the difference? — 3D gel plates have domed, glossy raised characters; 4D plates use thicker laser-cut acrylic with crisp flat tops. Real photos of both, how each is made, legality, and which suits your car.
How to fit number plates (undrilled) — A practical guide to fitting undrilled number plates: adhesive pads vs screws, prep that makes pads actually hold, drilling without cracking acrylic, and the legal bits to keep visible.
Number plate spacing rules (and why they matter) — How UK registrations must be grouped and spaced — current, prefix and suffix formats — with the DVLA character sizes, why 'custom spacing' is illegal, and how our builder applies the legal spacing for you.
Private plate retention & transfer (V750 / V778) — How to take a private registration off a vehicle, keep it on retention, and put it on another car — V317, the V750 and V778 certificates, fees, and when you'll need new physical plates made.
Why do number plate suppliers ask for ID? — Asking for documents isn't red tape — it's the law for every DVLA-registered plate supplier, and it exists to stop plate cloning. What suppliers must check, what happens to your documents, and the red flag when a seller doesn't ask.
Show plates vs road-legal plates — A 'show plate' is any plate that breaks the road rules — fonts, spacing, tints, badges. What show plates are actually for, the penalties for driving on one, and how to tell if a plate you're buying is genuinely road-legal.