By law, when you order your number plate, you are required to provide current proof of identity and proof of entitlement to order a new or replacement number plate.

The process is quick and easy. Before you place your order, make sure you have a copy of the following documents:
1. Proof of identity:

• Valid UK driving licence (full or provisional)

2. Proof of entitlement:

• A vehicle log book aka Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) (please be aware only the new red V5C certificates are accepted, and not the old blue V5 certificates).
  
  Once you have selected your number plate, you will be asked to upload a photo of each of these documents, as well as a selfie to our secure verification portal in order to authenticate your identity. Once your identity has been confirmed, you will be able to complete your order.

Registration numbers are allocated to vehicles during the process of registration and taxing. The registration number is given to the vehicle, rather than the registered keeper, and it will usually stay with the vehicle until it is destroyed, broken up or permanently exported out of the country. The registered keeper can however apply to transfer it to another vehicle, or onto a retention certificate (V778).

A number plate, also known as a licence plate or a registration plate, is a sign fixed to the front and rear of a vehicle displaying its registration number for identification purposes.

Number plates differ from country to country but they’ve been used in the UK since 1904. They’re also a legal requirement for most motor vehicles which are used on public roads.

The UK uses two numbering and registration systems; one for Great Britain (GB), which is administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and one for Northern Ireland (NI), administered by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). From 28th September 2021, the UK changed its mark from GB to UK, both in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Did you know?: You could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail it’s MOT test if you drive with an incorrectly displayed number plate.

All of our number plates are road legal and fully compliant with DVLA number plate rules.

According to Gov.uk, the number plates on your vehicle must:

• Be made from a reflective material
• Display black characters on a white background (front plate)
• Display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
• Not have a background pattern
• Be marked to show who supplied the number plate
• Be marked with a British Standard number - this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021

The characters must not be removable or reflective. 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
• Display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle

There are also strict rules on character spacing, size and style.

In 2020, the UK Government approved plates with a green badge at the side of their number plates for use on zero-emission vehicles. These aren’t (yet) required by law, but if you’ve seen them and wondered what the green patch was for, you can find out more on our blog discussing everything you need to know about green number plates.