Do Electric Cars Have Special Number Plates?
For electric car users, or those looking to use an electric car, you should be aware of any of the major differences that can arise, so you can save yourself from any difficulties down the line.
With electric vehicles becoming more and more popular and accommodated for in public spaces, its about time we got some clarity on them, but did you know this also relates to its registration plate?
In this blog, we will be answering the question ‘Do electric cars have special number plates?’
As an established registration plate maker, we at Bespoke Plates know how to add a unique and distinctive finish to your vehicle registration plate, further stating a level of individuality that can be the finishing touch to a vehicle you have already customised.
Bespoke Plates is a renowned and legally certified registration plate maker and installer, with options of 3D Plates, 4D plates, Show plates, and regular / electric vehicle plates and more. We are the one-stop shop for all things registration plates!
Whether it’s a private plate, gel plate, standard registration plate or plating accessories, we have you covered.
As a certified and experienced team of plate fitters and makers, our plates are installed to the specification of UK law, provided alongside the appropriate paperwork you need. (The only exception to this is show plates.)
What is an electric car?
An electric car is a vehicle that uses electricity as its only source of power, they have to be charged in order to operate, similar to our smartphones or laptops. Electric vehicles had been made way back in the 1830s, of course not to the level of power that we have now. But in terms of being mass-produced, this came to be in 2010.
Why are electric cars a thing?
Electric vehicles are coming to the forefront of automobiles in our current times due to the necessity for carbon neutrality. Similar to the obligation to recycle certain materials, we should find options that offset the level of pollution through greenhouse gases we contribute to the world.
Are electric cars the same as hybrid cars?
No, regular vehicles use fuel such as petrol and diesel, electric vehicles only use electricity, and hybrid vehicles are a mix of both. Unless specified, most hybrid vehicles don’t require manual charging.
Do electric cars have special number plates?
Yes, every electric vehicle has a unique plate that has a green stripe on its left-hand side. The green stripe marks this vehicle as an electric or green vehicle. There are other indicators that can tell you a vehicle is electric. This can be the fact they are much quieter or have an indication within the name of the model itself.
Obviously, there has to be a way to know if a vehicle is electric or not at a glance, rather than spending time trying to work it out. Hence why the green stripe on the registration plate is there, it is the easiest way to recognise an electric vehicle.
Do hybrid vehicles have normal registration plates?
Yes, hybrid vehicles have regular registration plates without the green stripe, even though they partly use electricity. The reason they don’t have these plates is because they still emit pollutants and therefore can’t be called a ‘green’ vehicle.
Can you customise electric vehicle registration plates?
Yes! We at Bespoke Plates offer our 3D/4D gel plate options, including the Hex plate shape option for anybody looking to get a unique electric vehicle registration plate.
How can I order an electric registration plate?
Whether you want to replace your registration plate because of physical damage, or you just want a different style of plate, we at Bespoke Plates make the process easy and efficient. Here is the process.
By following these steps you will also have the option to see the plate before making a decision.
Visualising how your plate can look in real-time, with the characters from your actual registration plate, saves time and makes it easy for you to know what you want before you get it. Let us walk you through the process of choosing your plate through us.
- Head to the Bespoke Plates website
- Select the plate style you want under the “Build Your Plate” tab. Alternatively, you can follow this link.
- Enter your registration (You can press ‘preview’ to see your registration with all of the modification options you have selected.)
- When selecting an electric plate you can opt for 3D/4D options, a Hex plate, and whether or not you want a legal plate or a show plate.
- Select preferred optional accessories.
- Choose if you are collecting with installation, or if you want it to be delivered.
If you choose to install through us, we can remove and replace your old registration plate, taking the hassle and hard work out of your hands. Of course, you can opt to remove your plate yourself.
Are customisable plates legal?
To clear up any confusion, plate modification, whether that be Hex plates, or gel plates (3D & 4D) are 100% LEGAL if you stick to the outlined rules from the DVLA.*
*Please do your due diligence and research, some unverified registration plate providers may not be making their plates to the legal specification, which could become an inconvenience for you. Visiting Bespoke Plates is the best way to avoid this trouble.
Alternatively, using the government gateway to find licenced and approved plate makers is the best option for peace of mind and finding plate makers close to you. Enter your postcode on the government gateway website.
What are the legal requirements for a registration plate?
The legal terms that a registration plate must adhere to are:
- be made from a reflective material – for road safety
- black display characters on a white background (front plate)
- black display characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
- not have a background pattern – so as not to distort the readability of your plate
- be marked to show who supplied the registration plate – to assist with thefts and sourcing queries
- be marked with a British Standard number – this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021
- Characters must not be removable or reflective. If your registration plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.
You can find the full list of legal requirements here.
Is it better to have an electric vehicle?
In terms of your carbon footprint, it is better to have an electric vehicle. Performance wise, it may take some getting used to if you haven’t driven an electric vehicle before, but with advancements in technology, electric vehicles are developing at a fast rate.
Electric vehicles may not be the best option for you, if you don’t have easy access to charging points, understandably.
Whether your vehicle is electric or not, just know that any registration plate needs that you have, we can sort out for you!
Purchase an electric vehicle number plate today
In this blog, we have highlighted our plate options, and all the information you need in order to our stylish customisation option to your vehicle. We aim to have answered the question ‘Do electric cars have special number plates?’
We hope that we provided all the right answers and options for all of your plate modification needs.
Bespoke Plates have all the options you can ask for, as an approved registration vendor we can guarantee your modification abides by the DVLA rules whilst offering same-day collections and full fitting service.
To get in touch and discuss the full fitting service we offer with our plates you can talk to one of the members of our team by:
Email info@bespoke-plates.co.uk
Phone 0333 006 7878
Visit in-store
36A Broughton Street,
Manchester,
England,
M8 8NN
