Complete Guide to UK Number Plate Sizes and Regulations

Understanding UK Number Plate Sizes and DVLA Regulations

Choosing the right number plate size for your vehicle is crucial for both legal compliance and aesthetic appeal. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about UK number plate sizes, DVLA regulations, and which plates are right for your vehicle.

Standard UK Number Plate Sizes

The UK has specific regulations governing number plate dimensions to ensure consistency and readability across all vehicles.

Standard Oblong Plates (520mm x 111mm)

This is the most common number plate size in the UK, used on the majority of cars, vans, and motorcycles.

• Dimensions: 520mm wide x 111mm high
• Character Height: 79mm (Charles Wright font)
• Character Width: 50mm (except number '1' and letter 'I')
• Character Stroke: 14mm
• Space Between Characters: 11mm
• Margin: 11mm top and bottom, 11mm sides
• Suitable For: Most cars, vans, light commercial vehicles

Our standard road legal plates and 3D gel road legal plates are manufactured to these exact specifications.

Square/Motorcycle Plates (Various Sizes)

Motorcycles and some imported vehicles may use square or near-square plates with different dimensions, though they must still meet DVLA character size requirements.

Jap/JDM Import Plates (330mm x 178mm)

Japanese import vehicles often require a different plate size to fit their mounting points.

• Dimensions: 330mm wide x 178mm high
• Character Height: 79mm (for road legal versions)
• Suitable For: Japanese imports (Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi)
• Compliance: Must still meet DVLA character specifications

We offer both road legal Jap/JDM plates and show plate versions in this size.

Shortened Plates (406mm x 111mm - 16")

Shortened plates are designed for vehicles with limited mounting space or for 6-digit registrations.

• Dimensions: 406mm wide x 111mm high (16 inches)
• Maximum Characters: 6 digits only
• Suitable For: Shorter registrations, limited mounting space
• Note: Only suitable for registrations with 6 or fewer characters

Browse our shortened plates collection including road legal and show plate options.

DVLA Character Size Regulations

Regardless of plate size, all road legal number plates must comply with strict DVLA character specifications.

Road Legal Character Requirements:

• Font: Charles Wright (mandatory for road legal plates)
• Height: 79mm
• Width: 50mm (except '1' and 'I' at 14mm)
• Stroke Thickness: 14mm
• Spacing: 11mm between characters, 33mm between groups

Show Plate Character Options:

Show plates offer more flexibility in character sizing, particularly with metro font styling.

• Metro Font Sizes: 60mm, 55mm, 50mm, 40mm, 30mm
• Spacing: Condensed/custom spacing allowed
• Styling: 3D gel, tinted, various effects
• Legal Status: Display and photography only - not road legal

Explore our metro font plates available in multiple sizes, including printed and 3D gel versions.

Material and Construction Requirements

Road Legal Plates Must Use:

• Material: Reflective acrylic (BS AU 145e approved)
• Thickness: Minimum 3mm
• Reflectivity: Must be retroreflective
• Colours: White front, yellow rear, black characters only
• Finish: Non-reflective characters on reflective background

Show Plates Can Feature:

• Non-reflective materials
• Tinted finishes
• 3D gel raised lettering
• Custom colours and effects
• Various thickness options

View our tinted plates collection and 3D gel plates for show use.

Legal Markings Required on Road Legal Plates

All road legal number plates manufactured in the UK must display specific information.

Mandatory Markings:

• Manufacturer Details: Company name and postcode
• British Standard Mark: BS AU 145e (or BSAU 145d for older plates)
• Location: Bottom of plate (manufacturer details centre, BS mark right)

All our road legal plates feature: "THE PLATE WIZARD BT20 4JB" and "BSAU 145e" markings as required by law.

Show plates do not include these markings as they're sold for display purposes only.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Vehicle

Standard Cars and Vans:

✅ 520mm x 111mm oblong plates
Most common size, fits standard mounting points on UK vehicles.

Japanese Imports (Evo, Impreza, Skyline, etc.):

✅ 330mm x 178mm Jap/JDM plates
Designed to fit Japanese vehicle mounting points. We also offer combination sets for Mitsubishi Evo.

Vehicles with Limited Space:

✅ 406mm x 111mm shortened plates (6 digits max)
Perfect for shorter registrations or limited mounting areas.

Motorcycles:

✅ Square or custom sizes
Must still meet character size requirements (79mm height for road legal).

Metro Font vs Standard Font Sizing

Standard Font (Road Legal):

• 79mm character height (fixed)
• Standard spacing (11mm between characters)
• Charles Wright font only
• MOT compliant

Metro Font (Show Plates):

• Multiple sizes: 60mm, 55mm, 50mm, 40mm, 30mm
• Condensed spacing for modern look
• Not road legal
• Perfect for car shows and photography

Compare our 60mm metro plates with 50mm metro plates to see the size difference.

Common Size-Related Questions

Can I use smaller characters on road legal plates?

No. Road legal plates must use 79mm character height as specified by DVLA regulations. Smaller characters are only permitted on show plates for display purposes.

Will shortened plates fit my 7-character registration?

No. Shortened 16" plates (406mm) are only suitable for registrations with 6 or fewer characters. Standard 7-character registrations require full-size 520mm plates.

Do 3D gel plates meet size requirements?

Yes! Our 3D gel road legal plates use 79mm characters and meet all DVLA specifications. The raised gel overlay doesn't affect compliance.

Can I use different sizes front and rear?

Both front and rear plates must meet the same character size requirements (79mm for road legal). However, you can use different plate dimensions if your vehicle requires it (e.g., Jap front, standard rear).

Measuring Your Current Plates

Not sure what size you need? Here's how to measure your existing plates:

1. Width: Measure the full width of the plate from edge to edge
2. Height: Measure from top edge to bottom edge
3. Character Height: Measure the height of a single character (should be 79mm for road legal)
4. Mounting Points: Note the distance between mounting holes if applicable

Installation and Mounting

All our number plates include 10 FREE professional adhesive mounting pads (5 per plate) for secure installation.

Installation Tips:

• Clean the mounting surface thoroughly
• Use all 5 pads per plate for secure adhesion
• Press firmly for 30 seconds
• Allow adhesive to cure for best results

Need extra pads? We sell adhesive mounting pads separately.

Northern Ireland Number Plate Regulations

Number plate regulations in Northern Ireland follow the same DVLA standards as the rest of the UK:

• Same size requirements (520mm x 111mm standard)
• Same character specifications (79mm height)
• Same material requirements (reflective acrylic)
• Must display manufacturer details and BS mark

All our plates are manufactured in our Northern Ireland workshop to full UK DVLA standards.

Replacement Plates - Single Front or Rear

Need to replace just one damaged plate? We offer individual replacement plates:

• Replacement FRONT plate (white, road legal)
• Replacement REAR plate (yellow, road legal)

Both are manufactured to standard 520mm x 111mm dimensions with 79mm characters.

Summary: Quick Size Reference Guide

Order the Right Size Plates Today

Now that you understand UK number plate sizes and regulations, you can choose the perfect plates for your vehicle:

• Road Legal Plates: Browse our standard plates collection
• Show Plates: Explore metro font, 3D gel, and tinted options
• Japanese Imports: Check our Jap/JDM collection
• Shortened Plates: View our 16" plates for 6-digit registrations

All plates are made to order in our Northern Ireland workshop with same-day production and next-day dispatch via Royal Mail Tracked 48hr or 24hr service.

Still Have Questions?

Visit our FAQ page for answers to common questions about number plate sizes, regulations, and ordering. You can also contact our team for expert advice on choosing the right size and style for your vehicle.

Remember: Road legal plates must use 79mm characters in Charles Wright font. Anything smaller or in metro font is for show use only and not legal for road use.