Numberplate spacing

Numberplates must be displayed in accordance with The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

Number plates fitted after 1st September 2001

Any number plate made up after 1st September 2001 must meet the dimensions as below:

Character Height

79 mm
Character Width (except the figure 1 or letter I)

50 mm
Character stroke

14 mm
Space between characters

11 mm
Space between groups

33 mm
Top, bottom, and side margins (minimum)

11 mm
Space between vertical lines

19 mm

Numberplates fitted before 1st January 1973

Vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1973 are allowed to display black and white numberplates

The characters size must meet the dimensions below:

Character height

89 mm

79 mm
Character width (except the figure 1 or letter I)

64 mm

57 mm
Character stroke

16 mm

14 mm
Space between characters

13 mm

11 mm
Space between groups

38 mm

33 mm
Top and bottom margins

13 mm

11 mm
Side margin

25 mm

11 mm

Motorcycle and Tricycle number plates

All motorcycles and tricycles must display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles and tricycles registered before 1st September 2001 may display a number plate at the front of the vehicle but are not required to.

If you have a two or three wheeled motorcycle or tricycle that has a body type of a four-wheeled vehicle, you MUST display a number plate at the front and back of the vehicle.

Motorcycles registered on or after 1st September 2001 must display a two-line number plate. Motorcycles registered before 1st September 2001 may display a three-line number plate.
One-line number plates are illegal, regardless of the date of registration.

Here are the character sizes:
Character Height

64 mm
Character Width (except the figure 1 or letter I)

44 mm
Character stroke

10 mm
Space between characters

10 mm
Space between groups

30 mm
Top, bottom, and side margins (minimum)

11 mm
Space between vertical lines

13 mm

Number plate font

All number plates made after 31st August 2001 must display the same mandatory font.

numberplate mandatory font charles wright

British Standard for number plates

The British Standard requires each number plate to be permanently and legibly marked with the following information:

* The British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d)
* The name, trademark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or numberplate supplier
* Name and postcode of the supplying outlet.