Are 3D and 4D number plates legal 2022?
The short answer is YES. 3D plates and 4D plates are still legal. You can breathe a sigh of relief. Currently, characters on a number plate can be 3D, so long as you meet the below criteria…
This applies to 3D and 4D number plates too. If your number plates were road legal at the time of purchase, they'll still be legal providing they display the BSAU 145d code on the plate itself. If you have a number plate made AFTER 1 September 2021, it will display the BS145e code and must follow the new DVLA rules.
Essentially, it's not illegal to have raised letters on your number plate, however people with 4D plates can sometimes find themselves in trouble with the police. While it isn't illegal to have a 4D plate, it is illegal to have a plate which isn't readable.
The short answer is yes, but only if these 4D number plates meet the standards in place for other registrations by the DVLA.
Any number plates that contain letters and numbers displayed with 3D or 4D effects are illegal. This two-tone look does not provide a clear display of the registration plate. In turn, it affects the readability of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
They are readable by ANPR systems. DVLA and the government tacitly agree that 4D plates may be supplied as long as they meet the legislation and the British standard. When buying your 4D plates, make sure you use a reputable supplier who has registered with DVLA.
You will fail the MOT test if you display your 3D carbon number plate in another colour or a different font. Also, the number plate becomes illegal when another background pattern is used.
To clear up any confusion, 3D plates are 100% LEGAL if you stick to the outlined rules from the DVLA. The latest update to UK number plate rules was released in 2021.
Unlike 3D-effect number plates, 3D Gel and 4D number plates are legal in the UK; however, they must conform to strict regulations. The individual letters must be fixed onto the number plate's surface and unable to be removed.
You don't need to tell your insurance company when you get a standard printed number plate, so there shouldn't be any reason to tell the insurer about a fancy set of 3D or 4D number plates.
Do you have to declare 4D plates?
So, you do not have to inform your insurer about a fancy set of 3D or 4D number plates. Nevertheless, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, contact your insurer to offer the best advice.
Stealthplate is a self-adhesive, transparent polycarbonate cover that, when placed over your number plate, prevents most infra-red (IR) cameras from imaging your registration.

4D Laser Cut
edges and a blocky, very stand-out effect. These are more eye-catching than the 3D Gel number plates, as they're quite clearly three-dimensional! Indeed, they are three-dimensional, not four-dimensional as the name suggests.
No. You are required by law to display a registration mark on your vehicle. A private number plate should not be considered a vehicle modification and your insurer should not change your premium as a result.
3D plates are easier and faster to make than 4D plates, which also makes them cheaper. Both plates are made by hand using alignment bars. You can tell the difference between 3D and 4D plates by how raised the letters are and how they look. 4D characters are more raised and more rectangular.
Further to that, the characters on the registration must be black, which is where the legality of the coloured '4D crystal' number plates comes into question. These are illegal for use on the road and will not pass an MOT. You cannot have any colour other than white, yellow, or black on a number plate.
Q4 • What was the total amount of fines issued from mis-spaced / illegal number plates, within the years 2018/2019/2020 (Up until March 2020)? The fine for the above two offences is £100, which can then be multiplied by the number of TORs issued for the time period in question on the spreadsheet attached.
As the name suggests, any car that comes into sight of the ANPR camera will have its details checked and any 'relevant' information will be flagged to the cops in the car. The police vehicle does not need to be directly behind a car, the cameras can cover multiple lanes and directions of travel.
This is done to carry out criminal activity or to avoid tickets eg speeding tickets, parking fines, or toll and congestion charges. If have you received a ticket that you suspect is the result of your vehicle being cloned, please report it. You should also notify the DVLA .
These cameras pull number plate information and take adequate images in any light condition of the vehicle and its driver, making them efficient in a manhunt.
Why do people buy 3D number plates?
What are the Benefits? Letters are crystal clear and highly visible, some would say, even more than a standard plate. You can increase the overall aesthetic of the vehicle. 3D number plates are absolutely within the law.
If your number plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black. Your number plates can also: have 3D (raised) characters. display certain flags, symbols and identifiers.
MOT tests insist that your number plate must not be excessively damaged, obscured, delaminated or deteriorated. If the number plate on your car has suffered extensive damage in a collision or has become worn and difficult to read over time, you should replace it before your MOT test or it could result in a failure.
Are 4D number plates legal in the UK? Yes. If the plate meets all other BS AU 145e legal requirements, such as being made from a reflective material with solid-black non-reflective lettering, bearing the name of its supplier and not having a background pattern, then 4D plates with raised lettering are fully legal.
As long as the plate meets all other BS AU 145e legal requirements, are made from reflective material with non-reflective solid-black non-reflective lettering and with no background pattern, 4D plates are legal. Plates should also bear the name of the supplier.
The changes in September 2021 also clarified the position on 3D and 4D plates. The Government said: 'The new British Standard for retroreflective number plates does not state that number plates with raised characters, including 3D gel and 4D number plates, will not be permitted.
Are 4D Number Plates Legal? The DVLA state that characters on a plate can "have 3D (raised) characters", Our '4D' Number Plates are 3D therefore these plates are perfectly road legal and MOT friendly. Why are they called '4D' Plates? Can I smell them?
These are not legal in the UK. It's also worth noting that you can't have different coloured or tinted gel number plates, as these are also illegal in the UK.
Upon receiving the V5C you may legally display your new number plates on your vehicle. Before doing so, please remember to inform your insurance company of the change to your policy. Your road tax and MOT record will be updated automatically and the original expiry dates of these items will remain the same.
According to the new laws passed by the DVLA, both 3D and 4D number plates are legal, however, to pass an MOT vehicle owners are required to abide by certain rules.
What do car insurance assessors look for?
A motor-vehicle assessor evaluates the extent of the damage to your car before deciding whether it's economical to repair or a total loss (i.e. a write-off). If it's repairable, they'll determine the best way to fix the car and how much it will cost.
'Ghost plate' device covers the license plate of a vehicle in Miami. 0:18. The remote controlled contraption is described as being the same as a common Australian licence plate in appearance. Other designs flip the number plate down into a flat position or face the car.
Police Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras may not read improperly spaced number plates, plates with incorrect fonts and those with colour-capped screws.
Cleaning your dirty plates may save you money
Reason being, ANPR cameras are unable to identify with accuracy number plates with dirt on them, thus proving these vital cameras ineffective.
The fact is that "standard" CCTV cameras are not designed to capture number plates most are designed for general monitoring and observation of a wide area and can't accurately capture moving objects very well.
4D letters are made of a similar acrylic to the actual plate, however these are more brittle and sensitive to damage. You must be careful not to attempt to bend these letters, and we strongly advise not drilling through them as you could crack the letters in both instances.
5D LASER CUT GEL PLATE
5D is a combination of 4D and 3D, where the 4D gives a sharp look while the 3D adds a glossy domed finish on top.
As a 4D number plate maker we know the DVLA state that 'number plates can be 3D', therefore 4D plates are fully road legal and made to British Standards (BS AU 145d). We're here for all your 4d licence plate needs.
The V5C Registration Certificate (for the vehicle receiving your private plate) must show the correct registered keeper details (name and address). If you recently bought the vehicle and are not yet the registered keeper, wait until you have the complete V5C (log book).
It is very likely to fetch a higher price if sold in this way, so it's certainly an avenue worth exploring.
Do you have to inform insurance of private plate?
Do I need to tell my insurer if I get a private number plate? It's important to let your insurance provider know you have personalised registration plates. This is because if your car is stolen and you have to make a claim, the insurance provider will become the legal owner of the car and its registration.
There can be no doubt that gel resin number plates can offer a more modern and stylish way to display your car's reg, but are gel number plates legal? Well, the good news is that providing that they adhere to all the regulations outlined in the Motor Car Act, gel-style plates is perfectly legal to use.
To clear up any confusion, 3D plates are 100% LEGAL if you stick to the outlined rules from the DVLA. The latest update to UK number plate rules was released in 2021.
Are 4D number plates legal? As long as the plate meets all other BS AU 145e legal requirements, are made from reflective material with non-reflective solid-black non-reflective lettering and with no background pattern, 4D plates are legal.
3D and 4D plates are a 100% legal alternative to standard number plates. They both have one big difference over standard plates – raised characters, which bring depth to the plates and provide a more premium or upmarket appearance.
Tinted number plates are not legal for road use.
As such, these will not pass the tests required of UK number plates. Furthermore, the DVLA standards regard tinted number plates as obstructing the registration, even when the lettering is in front of the tinted acrylic, as in the case of 3D and 4D number plates.
“Changing the national identifier from GB to the UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
Why Are Number Plates Yellow or White? The reason for the UK having white number plates on the front and yellow on the back is because these two colours contrast the colour black most effectively. That's relevant because black is, of course, the required colour for the digits and letters on a number plate.