What Riders Need to Know
Motorcycle number plates follow stricter rules than car plates. They are one of the most common reasons riders fail MOTs. Whether you ride a superbike, cruiser or commuter – here’s everything you need to know to stay compliant and avoid fines.
Legal Plate Size for Motorcycles
Motorcycles must use a standard rear plate size of 190mm x 165mm. No front plates are required, in fact, only motorcycles registered before September 2001 may still use them. Learn more on the official government website.
Common mistake: fitting smaller “show plates” for aesthetics. These are illegal on public roads.
Font and Spacing Requirements
Just like cars, bikes must use:
- Charles Wright font – No custom fonts or stylised characters
- Standard DVLA spacing – Spacing changes can make your plate illegal, no matter how slight. Your registration should also be on two lines.
Reflectivity & Material
Your plate must meet BS AU 145e standards, meaning:
- Yellow reflective rear background
- Black characters
- No tinted acrylic
- No coloured backgrounds
Mounting Angle
The plate must be:
- Vertical or near‑vertical
- Clearly visible from the rear
- Not obstructed by mudguards or accessories
Why Motorcycle Number Plates Fail MOTs
Look out for these issues when getting your number plates, as they will lead to you failing a MOT:
- Plate too small – sizing is not in line with legal requirements
- Incorrect font – not using Charles Wright font for your registration
- Tinted or smoked acrylic – simply not road legal, used for ‘show plates’
- Cracked or faded plate – lower quality number plates will have shorter life spans and show signs of deterioration which can cause a failed MOT.
- Missing supplier details or British Standard number mark – these are part of the requirements for number plates to be road legal. if your plate doesn’t have them, they are show plates and should not be used on public roads.
Motorcycle number plates are actually easy to get right. Unfortunately they are even easier to get wrong. Choose a supplier, like us, who understands DVLA rules and provides fully compliant plates every time.