What Are the New UK Registration Plates?
You may have noticed on your travels, certain vehicles with registration plates that seem a little different, some have a different shape, and others have a unique look on the plate’s letters, and some are a combination of both. So what exactly is going on?
In this blog, we will be answering the question ‘What are the new UK registration 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.)
Why do we need registration plates?
Registration plates are vital as they are like the fingerprint of your vehicle, it is the factor that identifies the vehicle as yours. You may have the same vehicle in the same colour as other road users, so a registration plate is the easiest way to identify a difference between them all.
Unfortunately, vehicle plates have been known to be stolen or cloned, this allows people with nefarious intentions to use your vehicle’s identifier to commit crime, this could lead to you being questioned. In some instances you won’t know this has happened until authorities have contacted you, but contacting authorities as soona as you know is the best way to combat this.
Do bikes have registration plates?
Yes. Any motorised vehicle that uses public roads to travel on must have a licence, the only exception to this would be cycling bikes. This has raised contention between road users as some believe that if cyclists are using public roads, they should be held under the same scrutiny as a driver, this would include having insurance, taking tests to drive on main roads, etc.
What are the new UK registration plates?
Although not all of these registration plates are new, the fact that these custom plates are legal has only allowed them to surge in popularity. These options all have unique characteristics that make them stand out without being distracting. Here is a list of our custom plate options.
3D & 4D Gel Plates
3D and 4D gel plates are registration plates that have characters that protrude outwards, the result is a 3D looking effect. 3D and 4D plates, although similar in concept, have slightly different outcomes in regard to their execution. However, both are somewhat subtle yet aesthaticlly pleasing options.
Hex registration plates
Hex registration plates are unique as they differ from the traditional rectangular registration plate shape. The ‘Hex’ part of the name refers to the six-sided hexagon, which the Hex plate takes after, although it is an elongated, six-sided version.
Private plates
Private plates are plates that have been changed to convey a specific meaning, it may also differ from traditional registration plates as they don’t follow the regular format of registration plates.
As a registered plate vendor, we only sell private plates have been legally certified, which you can find here.
Are custom 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.
Can I replace my registration plate anytime?
Yes, your plate would have to be the same in terms of characters as your current plate (unless you’ve applied for a private plate). Aside from that, you are only obligated to replace your current registration plate if it is damaged to a point where any of the plate’s identifiers or characters can’t be read.
If your vehicle is rented, or leased, you must speak to the owner before making any cosmetic changes, as you can be liable for damages if it’s not something they agree to.
How can I order a 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.)
- Choose between having a regular plate, or the 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.
Upgrade your registration 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 ‘What are the new UK registration 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
