
5D Number Plates
Are 5D Number Plates Legal?
There’s usually a bit of confusion around whether 5D number plates are road legal. So, let’s clear this up.
In the UK, number plates must meet DVLA regulations, including rules on font, spacing, and visibility.
The good news? Our road-legal 5D plates fully comply with BS AU 145e standards, meaning they meet the necessary requirements for:
- Correct Charles Wright font – Ensuring easy readability.
- Legal spacing and sizing – To remain compliant with ANPR cameras and law enforcement.
- Reflectivity standards – Ensuring the plate is visible in low-light conditions.
- Securely bonded characters – Unlike some suppliers, our 5D characters are securely layered over a printed version of your registration, ensuring compliance even in the unlikely event of damage.
On that note, it’s important to remember that not all 5D plates on the market are road-legal.
Some sellers offer plates with illegal font styles, incorrect spacing, or non-reflective materials. With Plate Mate, you can trust that your 5D plate is made to fully meet UK road laws.
What About 5D Show Plates?
If you’re looking for a fully custom 5D plate without legal restrictions, we also offer show plates. These plates can be customised however which way you want. Unique fonts, colours, spacing, borders and additional design elements, you name it. 5D show plates are typically made for exhibitions, garage displays, and promotional use.
Just keep in mind that show plates are not road-legal!