Replacement number plates: What you need to know

Having number plates displayed on your vehicle is a legal requirement if you wish to drive the roads and motorways of the UK. Displaying your unique registration on the front and rear of your car is done using the familiar yellow and white plastic plates containing a unique combination of numbers and letters. 

For most people, their number plates remain on their vehicle undisturbed for many years. However, there may come a time when you need to think about replacing your number plates.

This could be due to:

• Accident damage

Number plates may become broken or detached due to a road traffic accident

• Loss/theft

Number plates that have become loose and detatch over a period of time, or that are purposely removed or stolen.

• Visibility issues

Older or low quality plates may become faded or hard to read due to age or weather.

• Aluminium Plates

Some older number plates were made of pressed metal. These may be replaced for legal or aesthetic reasons

• Getting a new private plate 

If you’ve invested in a new private registration plate or have been gifted one you need to replace your plate and register the new one. 

When buying a new or private registration it is common to have number plates printed at the time of purchase, this can usually be done at checkout and your new plates will be delivered to you. If you are replacing car number plates that have been damaged or stolen you will need to make a separate order for your new number plates. 

What are number plates made from?

Modern number plates are manufactured using acrylic, a plastic material which is lightweight, durable, and hardwearing. Reflective properties are built in to make the numbers and letters of the registration easily visible against the white and yellow background. 4D number plates have recently become popular with a raised effect making the characters even easier to read. 

Older number plates or those on classic cars are frequently a pressed metal aluminium plate. The characters are raised or pressed from the plate, making them stand out on the plates surface. Drivers of classic cars often prefer the look of aluminium plates on their vehicle over the modern acrylic version. With the introduction of new regulations, aluminium plates no longer meet the standards required due to their lack of reflectivity and flexibility.

Are aluminium plates illegal?

Although not suitable for use on modern cars, aluminium plates are still in use and legal for certain vehicles. Rules around number plates changed in 2001 and acrylic plates became the new standard, however, they are not legal for any cars registered after 2001. Being able to use metal plates on your car will depend on what year the vehicle was first registered. 

Cars that are vintage, registered 40 year ago or or earlier are legally permitted to use pressed aluminium plates. They must conform to DVLA standards in terms of size and character spacing. Letters and numbers must be white, grey, or silver on a black background. Aluminium is not specifically outlawed by the DVLA, but the metal does not meet the flexibility requirements that modern number plates must meet. The 40 year rule is a rolling exemption which updates every year. 

Vehicles from the 1950s and previous years use black and white painted aluminium plates that feature a slightly different letter sizing, and vehicles from the 1930s use an even older version of cast aluminium plates. The original aluminium number plates are legal to use on vehicles from these years.

Where should I get replacement plates?

Fines are issued for displaying incorrect plates or having number plates that are hard to read so it is always best to get your replacement number plates from an approved and registered supplier like Swiftreg. This ensures that your plates legally comply with all the expected DVLA standards and are properly manufactured to legal specifications.