Are 4D Number Plates Legal?

03 Jan

So you’ve been looking at 4D Number Plates and you’re finally ready to purchase a set for your private plates, or even standard registration. You might be wondering what is legal and what isn’t, as you don’t want to land yourself in trouble!

In this blog, we will answer the burning question, Are 4D Number Plates Legal?

DWDPLATES are a leading 4D Number Plate Manufacturer in the UK, so we are fully aware and knowledgeable when it comes to Number Plate Legality. We are also DVLA Registered to supply & manufacture plates in the UK. We are here to answer all of your questions and provide support!

What is a 4D Custom Number Plate?

4D Plates are becoming more and more common, now that drivers are increasing on our UK roads. There has been a lot of confusion surrounding 4D Plates due to the naming convention that Number Plate Suppliers have followed. 4D Number Plates, also known as 4D Acrylic Plates are a type of three-dimensional number plate, which has 3mm black, acrylic characters. Although the fourth-dimension does not exist, the term 4D Acrylic is used to differentiate the plates from the famous 3D Gel also known as 3D Doomed Plates or 3D Resin Gel Plates. 4D number plates are more pronounced, in contrast to 3D plates, which are softer and rounded.

A 4D No Plate is manufactured using acrylic characters which are professionally laser cut from acrylic sheets, for ultimate precision and a premium appearance. Our plates are manufactured in house, in the UK, meaning our quality is second to none. A high-strength industrial grade resin is finally applied on top of these characters which use the BS AU 145e approved Charles Wright font. Through the use of Acrylic Sheets, we have been able to boost the characters to be thicker and more rectangular, for an eye-catching look, whether it’s for your car, van or bike!

If you are looking for a sleek, stand out look for your vehicle, then our 4D Acrylic 3MM Number Plates are perfect for you. If you have a short registration, such as a 6 digit or dateless private number plate, why not check out our Short 16 Inch 4D Number Plates?

Is a 4D Number Plate Legal?

In short, yes. 4D Number Plates are fully road legal & MOT compliant as long as they are manufactured correctly. These plates must meet certain requirements. The plates must meet font type, size and character spacing requirements which are laid out by the BNMA. Due to the complexity of manufacturing number plates, there is a misconception that 4D characters are classified as two-tone 3D fonts, which is incorrect. These two-tone fonts are in fact not allowed as laid out by the governing rules. This rule does not apply to either 3D or 4D Characters.

DWDPLATES are a DVLA Registered Manufacturer and we follow these standards very closely, you can be sure that any Number Plate you purchase from us, whether it’s 3D or 4D will be manufactured to the correct standard (with the exception of show plates). You must ensure that you carry out due diligence and purchase from a trusted seller such as DWDPLATES. If you display an illegally manufactured 4D Custom Plate, you may be liable for fines.

How Can I Be Sure My 4D Number Plates Are Legal?

Over the years, there has been an increase in small shops or private number plate sellers. Unfortunately, these individuals or businesses are often not DVLA registered. This means that the plates they manufacture are not road legal. DWDPLATES are a leading manufacturer in the UK, over the years, we have compiled a list of indicators that you can use to detect whether you’re buying an illegal number plate or not.

Markings

One big indicating factor for illegal number plates is the markings that are present on the base of the plate. In order for 4D number plates to be legal, they must show the manufacturers’ company information/mark and the current British Standard (BS AU 145e) in plain legible text. These markings are almost always located in text on the front of the number plate at the bottom. If you notice your markings say BS AU 145d, don’t panic. Providing your plates were manufactured and were fitted on or before 31st August 2021, BS AU 145d was fully legal & compliant. The new British Standard BS AU 145e only applies to plates supplied on or after 1st September 2021. Plates meeting the previous standard (BS AU 145d) can remain on your vehicle if supplied before then. We have a page highlighting Number Plate legality in more detail, if you’d like to get a better understanding of the legalities.

Fonts

Due to strict guidelines set by the DVLA, number plates are complex to manufacture, this is to ensure that road users and motorists are safe. In order for a plate to be legal, it must comply and use the Charles Wright Font which is mentioned earlier in this blog. Even if a number plate has the relevant markings as above, but a different font, it is completely illegal to display. There are no exceptions to this rule. You may notice the manufacturer has displayed their company information and the BS AU 145e/d markings in different fonts, which is fully allowed. Fancy fonts include, but are not limited to two-tone 3D fonts, creative/colorful fonts, italics and coloured letters.

What Does A Road Legal 4D Number Plate Look Like?

In order to regulate the number plate industry, DVLA release information regarding the correct standards for number plates in hope to educate motorists.

The conditions a plate must meet in order to be road legal are:

Be made from a reflective material – for the purpose of road safety.
Black display characters on a white background (Front Plate)
Black display characters on a yellow background (Rear Plate)
Not have a background pattern – so as not to distort the readability of your plate.
Be marked to show who supplied the number plate – to assist with thefts and sourcing queries.
Be marked with a British Standard Number – this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1-SEP-2021
The characters must not be removable or reflective. If the plates are made after 1-SEP-2021 they must also be a single shade of black.

Your Number Plates Can:

Display 3D or 4D (raised characters)
Display certain flags, symbols and identifiers
Display a green sticker if you have a zero-emissions vehicle

In Summary:

4D Number Plates Are Fully Road Legal and MOT Compliant, As Long As They Are Manufactured Following BS AU 145e Standards Set Out By The BNMA
Ensure Your Manufacturer is DVLA Registered, Such as DWDPLATES.
Always Find A Trusted Seller Like DWDPLATES, For Your Replacement Or Upgraded Custom Number Plates.
Strictly Avoid Sellers And Shops That Are Not Trusted & Registered With The DVLA.