Number Plate Colours and Sizes

Current number plates have black characters on white reflective material on the front of the vehicle and black on yellow reflective material on the rear.

Front number plates are 520 mm x 111 mm (20.5" x 4. 3/8 ") in size. Rear number plates may be 520 mm x 111 mm (standard), 285 mm x 203 mm (square) or 533 mm x 152 mm (large). Regfinder displays these types of number plates using a modified number plate font.

Earlier British number plates had white, grey or silver characters on a black background, front and rear, that were originally pressed out of aluminium. This style of number plate was phased out in 1972, and is now only legal on vehicles built prior to 1 January 1973.

Motorbikes formerly had double-sided number plates on top of the front mudguard which curved to follow the contour of the wheel and so was visible from the sides. The requirement for the front number plate was dropped in 1975 because of the severe danger these number plates presented to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

Specialist HM Forces vehicles still use the old black number plates with white or silver lettering.