What Makes a Number Plate Legal - The lowdown and the requirements

When it comes to designing and ordering number plates for your vehicle, it's important to understand the legal requirements to ensure that you are compliant with UK regulations. At Nom Plates, we specialize in creating custom 3D and 4D number plates that are both stylish and legally compliant. In this blog post, we'll cover the legal requirements for number plates, changes in BSAU145e vs BSAU145d, and how we can help you create a unique, personalized number plate that meets all legal requirements.

Legal Requirements for Number Plates

Number plates in the UK must comply with the following legal requirements:

Size and Shape

There is no specific requirement for size and shape of the actual plate, however there must be a minimum void space of 11mm between the edge of the lettering to the edge of the plate.

Font

The font used on number plates must be the same or very similar to the image supplied by the government and have dimensions as below:

1. Height: 79mm
2. Width: 50mm (except for the number 1 or letter I)
3. Stroke: 14mm

Material Number

plates must be made of a reflective material, with a non-reflective border.

Spacing

The space between characters on number plates must be in accordance with the requirements set out in the regulations.

• Space between letters/numbers: 11mm
• Centre gap: 33mm

Visibility

Number plates must be clearly visible and legible from a distance of 20 meters in normal daylight conditions.

Changes in BSAU145e vs BSAU145d

BSAU145e is the current British Standard for vehicle number plates, which replaced BSAU145d in 2021. The main changes in BSAU145e compared to BSAU145d are:

• The use of typeface effects utilising 'shades of grey' enabling styles such as Carbon, Hi-Line and 3D (not to be mistaken for raised digit styles). The lettering must be pure black.
• The requirement for number plates to be marked with the name of the manufacturer or supplier, and the postcode of the premises where they were made
• More rigorous and stringent quality testing procedures.

How Nom Plates Can Help

At Nom Plates, we are committed to creating high-quality, custom 3D and 4D number plates that meet all legal requirements. Our team of experts can help you design a unique, personalized number plate that will make your vehicle stand out while ensuring that it complies with all relevant regulations. We use only the highest quality materials, and all of our number plates are made to the exact specifications required by the regulations. We also offer a range of fixing systems to ensure that your number plate is securely attached to your vehicle.

In conclusion, number plates are an important component of any vehicle, and it's essential to ensure that they comply with all legal requirements. At Nom Plates, we can help you create a custom number plate that meets all legal requirements while reflecting your personal style.