A custom number plate is the physical plate that carries your registration. You choose the finish, the size and any flag, and a registered supplier makes it to the legal standard. That is what we do: we do not sell registration marks, we make the plates that go on the vehicle.
What you can customise
- Finish: Standard 2D, 3D Gel, 4D Acrylic or 4D Gel characters.
- Plates: a pair, front only or rear only.
- Size: standard, short, large rear, 4x4 square rear or motorcycle.
- Badge: Union flag, Cross of St George, Saltire or Welsh dragon with UK, ENG, SCO or CYM, plus the green flash for zero-emission vehicles.
The four finishes
Standard 2D
The characters are printed flat, the same way most factory plates are made. Crisp, simple and the cheapest way to replace damaged plates.
3D Gel
Raised characters with a domed resin layer over the top. The doming catches light, so the characters read as glossy and slightly rounded.
4D Acrylic
Characters laser-cut from 3 mm black acrylic and bonded to the plate. They sit proud of the surface with sharp, solid edges and no gel.
4D Gel
Laser-cut 4D characters with gel over the top: the depth of acrylic and the gloss of gel. Our most premium finish.
All four are road legal when they are made to the right standard. See 4D number plates for a direct comparison of 3D and 4D.
Which size do you need?
Most cars take the standard 520 x 111 mm plate front and rear. Short plates, large rears, 4x4 squares and motorcycle plates exist because bumpers, recesses and bike mounts are not all the same shape. Our number plate size guide lists every size in millimetres.
Flags, badges and the green flash
Road legal plates can show a national flag with a matching identifier: the Union flag with UK, the Cross of St George with ENG, the Saltire with SCO, or the Welsh dragon with CYM. The GB identifier stopped being valid for driving abroad in September 2021, so choose UK if you take the car overseas.
The green flash on the left of the plate is only for zero-emission vehicles. Adding it to a petrol or diesel car is not legal.
What makes a plate road legal
Plates fitted from 1 September 2021 must meet BS AU 145e. In practice that means:
- The legal plate font, with no italics, symbols or altered characters.
- 79 mm characters on cars (64 mm on motorcycles), with the correct stroke width, spacing and margins.
- A white front plate and a yellow rear plate, both reflective.
- The supplier name, postcode and BS AU 145e printed on the plate.
Screws, bolts or a coloured border must not change how a character reads. Our number plate rules guide covers this in detail.
Ordering custom plates
- Enter your registration in the plate builder.
- Pick the finish, plates, size and badge. The price updates as you go.
- Check out and upload your photo ID and proof of entitlement when the link arrives.
- We make the plates and send them by tracked UK delivery.
Custom plates for a private registration
If you have just bought a private reg, the process is the same. Read private number plates for what DVLA needs before the plate can be displayed.
Build your custom number plates
Published 24 October 2026