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Pressed Metal Number Plates

Buy Your Pressed Metal Plates

Pressed metal plates are the go-to choice for classic car lovers, vintage bike owners, or anyone chasing a timeless, durable finish. Made from high-quality aluminium with deep embossing and a premium painted finish, these plates offer rugged charm with lasting performance.

Our manually pressed aluminium black and silver car plates come in standard oblong and ‘square’ 12″x8″ plates.

Whether you’re restoring a vintage vehicle or creating a show plate with old-school flair, Plate Mate makes it easy to design and order pressed plates that meet your style, and, where eligible, compliance needs.

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Pressed Metal Plates

What Are Pressed Metal Number Plates?

Pressed metal number plates, sometimes called metal stamped number plates or metal pressed plates, are made by embossing characters into an aluminium plate and finishing them with a high-quality painted coating.

Metal number plates offer a tougher, more vintage or classic look that still stands up to the elements.

They’re especially popular with:

Classic car owners looking for black pressed number plates
Vintage motorcycle restorers in need of metal motorbike plates
Enthusiasts aiming to match an authentic period style

These plates are typically black with silver or white raised characters. They’re mostly seen on show cars or pre-1980s vehicles that legally qualify for historic registration plates.

At Plate Mate, we use commercial-grade machinery to create each metal number plate with precision, ensuring every character is sharp, consistent, and road-ready (if applicable).

The Process Behind Pressed Metal Number Plates

Each of our pressed metal number plates is carefully hand-pressed in-house using a traditional manual press. Every character is individually indented using a metal registration template to ensure perfect alignment.

The process is hands-on from start to finish. Each plate is laid into a pre-layered template, then manually pressed character by character to create that crisp, raised finish. This means every plate gets the attention to detail it deserves.

Are Metal Pressed Number Plates Legal in the UK?

Yes, but only in specific cases.

Metal number plates are legal only for vehicles registered as “historic” with the DVLA. That means:

Your vehicle must be over 40 years old
It must be registered in the historic tax class
It must have no substantial modifications

If your car qualifies, you’re allowed to use black pressed number plates with white or silver embossed characters. If your vehicle is newer, using metal number plates (no matter how stylish) is not road compliant in the UK.

However, many enthusiasts still choose pressed metal number plates for show plates, exhibitions, or off-road use.

Important note: Pressed plates can’t feature reflective backgrounds or the mandatory font required for modern road use, so always check whether your vehicle qualifies before fitting a set.

Looking for a metal car number plate purely for display? You can use our pressed number plate builder to help you create a stunning custom design that stands out. Just make sure to keep it off public roads if it’s not compliant.

Pressed Metal Plates

Who Can Use Pressed Plates Legally?

It’s easy to get a little confused about where you can display pressed plates and if/when you can drive with them.

You can install pressed metal plates onto your vehicle if:

Your Vehicle Was Registered Before 1 January 1975

If your car or motorbike was first registered before this date, you’re legally allowed to use black pressed metal plates with silver characters. These must still comply with size, spacing, and material requirements, but they are fully road-compliant.

Your Vehicle is Recognised as a ‘Historic Vehicle’

If your classic vehicle is officially recognised as a “historic vehicle” by the DVLA, you may also qualify to use black and silver pressed metal plates – even if it was registered slightly after 1975.

However, you must check with the DVLA to confirm your eligibility.

Check whether your car can be recognised as a ‘historic vehicle’.

Pressed Number Plates are NOT Legal for Modern Vehicles

Pressed plates in black and silver are not legal for vehicles registered after 1 January 1973. Modern cars must use the current reflective acrylic style with the required font (Charles Wright), yellow rear plate, and white front plate. These can’t be made from metal or finished in black and silver.

That said, pressed metal plates can still be used on newer vehicles for:

Show plates
Display purposes
Off-road or garage-kept vehicles

Just be sure they’re not fitted while driving on public roads.

We Don’t Offer Pressed Plates for Motorbikes

We also often get asked about pressed metal plates for motorbikes. At the moment, we only produce pressed plates in standard UK car sizes. However, if you’re looking for a smart plate for your bike, check out our plastic options.

These are a great, compliant alternative that still look the part without the added cost of metal. You’ll find our standard bike sizes available through our plate builder.

Buy Your Pressed Metal Plates Today

Pressed metal plates are great if you’re after a vintage finish for your classic car, a tougher plate for your motorbike, or simply prefer the premium, embossed look.

You can build and buy your pressed plates through our plate builder – and if you have any questions, you can contact our team and we’ll be happy to help.

Alternatively, if you’re after the classic look but want to keep costs down, our black and silver plastic number plates are a great alternative. They’re lightweight, affordable, and still deliver a sleek, vintage-style finish.

Explore black number plates

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