Number Plate Styles
The Next Dimension of Personalised Automotive Design
Adds Incredible Depth
Safe To Pressure Wash
Doesn’t Fade In The Sun
Expertly Laser Cut
BEST SELLERS
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 3D AND 4D?
3D (Gel)
- Gel Resin Characters
- Rounded Style (Domed)
- Smaller Depth
4D (Acrylic)
- Acrylic Characters
- Bolder Style (Solid)
- Greater Depths (3/5mm)
ROAD LEGAL PLATES
SHOW PLATES
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
WHAT SETS OUR PLATES APART
At Aplates, we exclusively use the highest-quality materials available on the market. We combine deluxe acrylic with laser-cut gloss black characters to produce our premium products. This formula has been tested extensively to maximise plate durability and retention.
Unless they’re marked and advertised as Show plates, our number plates are completely legal for use on UK roads. Furthermore, they are also MOT compliant, so you can rest assured your personalised experience will be carefree.
As a DVLA-registered number plate supplier, we ensure our plates conform to the British Standard, BSAU 145e. If the registration has been spaced correctly by the customer and the character type selected is road legal, our plates will be made with the mandatory supplier details and the British Standard printed on the lower-middle and lower-right side areas of the plates.
Our plates undergo vigorous testing procedures to ensure they adhere to each and every legal parameter set out by the DVLA. This includes a state-of-the-art ANPR camera test, so you can rest assured we comply with Police regulations. Our plates have even been tested by our local constabulary, and we’re pleased to say they passed with flying colours.
We use cutting-edge laser technology to bring you the best quality plates available on the market.
Our plates have been tested extensively in order to maximise their durability and premium condition. As a result, the plates are weather-proof, and they can even withstand being jet-washed from distances over 1.5m.
We include a free pack of sticky pads in your delivery for every plate ordered. These 10 strips provide an extremely strong grip which allows for a quick and easy installation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, our 4D number plates are 100% UK road legal and MOT compliant, as they adhere to the current British Standard (BS AU 145e).
What makes 4D characters road legal?
Number plates must have characters which comply with the criteria set out in BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface which complies with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- Number plates may optionally have raised 3D characters of plain black colour (known as “4D” number plates) provided that they meet all requirements of British Standard BS AU 145e.
What makes number plates road legal?
All number plates are governed by the regulations set out in the British Standard 145e.
Number plates must have the following features:
- They must be the correct size as specified in the rules.
- The background of front plates must be the prescribed reflective white colour and rear plates must be the prescribed reflective yellow colour.
- They must have reflective properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must have physical resilience properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface that comply with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- They must bear the supplier’s name and postcode and the manufacturer’s mark.
- They must bear the current British Standard number, BS AU 145e.
Yes, our 3D number plates are 100% UK road legal and MOT compliant, as they adhere to the current British Standard (BS AU 145e).
What makes 3D characters road legal?
Number plates must have characters which comply with the criteria set out in BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface which complies with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- Number plates may optionally have raised 3D characters of plain black colour provided that they meet all requirements of British Standard BS AU 145e.
What makes number plates road legal?
All number plates are governed by the regulations set out in the British Standard 145e.
Number plates must have the following features:
- They must be the correct size as specified in the rules.
- The background of front plates must be the prescribed reflective white colour and rear plates must be the prescribed reflective yellow colour.
- They must have reflective properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must have physical resilience properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface that comply with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- They must bear the supplier’s name and postcode and the manufacturer’s mark.
- They must bear the current British Standard number, BS AU 145e.
Yes, our 4D Gel number plates are 100% UK road legal and MOT compliant, as they adhere to the current British Standard (BS AU 145e).
What makes 4D Gel characters road legal?
Number plates must have characters which comply with the criteria set out in BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface which complies with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- Number plates may optionally have raised 3D characters of plain black colour (known as “4D” number plates) provided that they meet all requirements of British Standard BS AU 145e.
What makes number plates road legal?
All number plates are governed by the regulations set out in the British Standard 145e.
Number plates must have the following features:
- They must be the correct size as specified in the rules.
- The background of front plates must be the prescribed reflective white colour and rear plates must be the prescribed reflective yellow colour.
- They must have reflective properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must have physical resilience properties complying with British Standard BS AU 145e.
- They must display solid black characters in the prescribed Charles Wright typeface that comply with the rules governing size, spacing, grouping and positioning.
- They must bear the supplier’s name and postcode and the manufacturer’s mark.
- They must bear the current British Standard number, BS AU 145e.
No, Show plates are illegal for use on public UK roads – they are strictly intended for Show purposes only.
Following the latest iteration of the British Standard (BSAU 145e) in September 2021, various number plate styles (including 4D Krystal, 4D Neon Gel and Carbon Gel) are no longer road legal in the UK.
Consequently, Aplates strictly sell these as Show plates. This means they are printed without our manufacturer details and the British Standard.
We offer various plate sizes.
Front & Rear plates:
Standard Oblong: 520 mm x 111 mm (20″ x 4.3″)
18-Inch: 462 mm x 111 mm (18″ x 4.3″)
16-Inch: 405 mm x 111 mm (16″ x 4.3″)
14-Inch: 355 mm x 111 mm (14″ x 4.3″)
Rear plates only:
4×4 Square: 279 mm x 203 mm (11″ x 8″)
Range Rover: 533 mm x 152 mm (21″ x 6″)
Motorcycle: 229 mm x 178 mm (9″ x 7″)
We offer the following border styles:
- 4D (3mm/5mm)
- Printed (Black, Red, Green, Blue)
- 4D Krystal (Red, Green, Orange, Blue, Clear)
We offer the following badge styles:
- Electric Vehicle (4D Printed & UK – 4D Printed, Gel & UK – Gel, Printed & UK – Printed)
- 4D Printed (UK, England, Scotland, Wales)
- 4D (UK, England, Scotland, Wales)
- Gel (UK, England, Scotland, Wales)
- Printed (UK, England, Scotland, Wales)
As a DVLA registered number plate suppler, it is our responsibility to check your legal entitlement to the registration you are asking us to manufacture. You will need to provide 2 document reference numbers that prove your name & address, and entitlement to the registration. These reference numbers must be traceable to you (the consumer) and can be obtained from us by the police, the DVLA or the DVSA without notice at any time for any reason. We are required by law to collect this information from you.
You can use the following to confirm your name and address:
- driving licence, with or without a photo (doesn’t have to be issued in the UK)
- utility bill, Council Tax or rates bill in Northern Ireland (from the last 6 months)
- bank or building society statement (from the last 6 months)
- national identity card (issued by the government of a state or territory other than the United Kingdom)
You can use the following to confirm your entitlement to the registration:vehicle registration certificate (V5C)
- new keeper slip (green slip)
- a certificate of entitlement (V750) to the number
- a retention document (V778)
- a renewal reminder for vehicle tax or SORN (V11)
- a temporary registration certificate (V379)
- a number plate authorisation certificate (V948) with an official stamp from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- an electronic number plate authorisation certificate (eV948) or an electronic trailer number plate authorisation certificate (eV948/2)
- UK trailer registration certificate (VTRC)
Yes, all number plate orders come with a free 3-year warranty.
Please see our ‘Warranty Policy’ page for more information.
Customise Your Vehicle Using Our State-of-the-Art Number Plate Builder
Elevate your ride with premium style number plates from Aplates!
Experience exceptional quality, free and fast delivery, road legality, a complimentary fixing kit and 5-star service.
Explore our number plate styles and shop the next dimension of personalised automotive design.
Try our state-of-the-art number plate builder now.
Legality
As a DVLA-registered manufacturer and supplier of number plates, Aplates must ensure all of our road legal plates comply with the British Standard. Thus, please note that by law we must include our company name, postcode and the current BSAU number on our road legal plates.
The font style we use for all our number plates is Charles Wright, which is the standardised legal font in the UK.
The Government/DVLA have confirmed that three-dimensional characters are legal and compliant with motoring laws. This includes ‘4D’ number plates; 4D is just an industry standard name – these plates are still 3D/three-dimensional.
Why Choose Aplates?
We have invested heavily in the equipment required to produce premium, high-quality products. This is exemplified in each and every plate we make, as we ensure the utmost care throughout the production process.
Professionalism is paramount to everything we do here at Aplates. Therefore, we endeavour to provide customers with the very best experience available on the market.
About Us
Founded in 2019, Aplates has undergone intense growth over the past few years.
Consequently, our operation has expanded significantly, and we now boast two premises: a manufacturing workshop and an assembly unit; both of which are located in Westbury, Wiltshire.
With over 50,000 happy customers, we are the UK’s number 1 supplier of 3D and 4D number plates!