Struggling to find custom plates that comply with legal standards?
3D plates are guaranteed to make you stand out, but if they don’t meet specific criteria, they’re not road legal. Choose the wrong custom plate provider and you risk costly fines, failed inspections, and potential legal trouble.
The prospect of wasting time and money takes the fun out of customising your plates, especially when non-compliance can get them confiscated. Our 3D number plates are 100% road legal, MOT friendly, and meet all inspection standards, allowing you to drive away worry free.
Design the plate you want today without any extra costs or hassle tomorrow.
3D PLATES THAT MAKE A STATEMENT
Does your vehicle lack flair and style? Generic plates sap the life out of your car. They’re dull and uninspiring, making even the most beautiful cars blend in.
With our bold 3D plates, you’re guaranteed to stand out on the road. We offer a wide selection of premium quality plates, including car model specific sizes, all available with fast delivery.
Customise yours today and make a lasting impression on every drive.
WHAT IS A 3D NUMBER PLATE?
3D number plates feature raised, 3D text that appears to float above the plate’s surface. They’re also known as 3G domed gel number plates or 3D gel resin plates, as they’re made by covering the sheet cut characters with a polyurethane gel resin. This creates the raised profile.
ARE 3D GEL PLATES LEGAL?
3D plates are legal if they meet specific criteria set by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This includes specific standards for size, font, spacing, and material, so that the plates are easily readable. The characters on the plates must also be of a single, solid black colour to conform with mandatory specifications.
Select the legal option on our number plate builder to ensure your 3D plates meet all UK regulations.
The legal requirements for 3D number plates
To ensure that 3D number plates are legal, they must comply with several key regulations set by the DVLA. These regulations are designed to ensure that number plates are easily readable and do not obstruct vehicle identification. Here are the essential requirements:
- Reflective material:Plates must be made from reflective material to enhance visibility, particularly at night.
- Character colour and background:Front plates must have black characters on a white background, while rear plates must have black characters on a yellow background.
- No background patterns:The plates must not have any background patterns that could interfere with the readability of the characters.
- Legal markings:Plates must display the supplier’s name, postcode, and the British Standard number (‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021).
- Character dimensions and spacing:The characters must adhere to specific size and spacing guidelines to ensure they are legible from a distance.
- Single shade of black:Characters on the plate must be of a single shade of black. This rule ensures that the 3D effect does not compromise the readability of the plate.
By adhering to these requirements, you can ensure that your 3D number plates are legal and roadworthy.
Can you be fined for 3D number plates?
While 3D number plates can be legal, failing to meet the DVLA’s standards can result in fines and penalties. If your plates do not comply with the specified requirements, they can be deemed illegal number plates. Here are some potential consequences:
- Fines:Non-compliant number plates can lead to fines. The police can issue a fixed penalty notice for having illegal number plates, which typically involves a fine of up to £1,000).
- MOT failure:Vehicles with non-compliant plates may fail their MOT test. The MOT test includes a check to ensure that number plates meet the required standards for legibility and condition).
- Vehicle seizure:In severe cases, repeated use of illegal number plates can result in the vehicle being seized by authorities.
To avoid these penalties, it is crucial to ensure that your 3D number plates comply with all legal requirements.
HOW TO MAKE 3D GEL NUMBER PLATES?
- Firstly, we print and cut legally sized characters.
- Then, we apply our premium grade resin that recognises the cut lines of the letters and numbers.
- To remove bubbles, we place these finished characters into a purpose made low heat oven.
- When we are happy with the results, we remove them and allow them to cool.
- Once solidified, we can peel off the high strength 3M adhesive backing and place them on your plates.
- Lastly, we roll them through our airtight rollers and they’re ready for dispatch!
WHAT 3D NUMBER PLATES CAN I DESIGN?
You can add 3D characters to a range of number plates with Number 1 Plates. Add them to any shape, including our 4X4 or large rear plates. As long as the characters comply with legal motorbike sizes, you can add your 3D private plates to your motorcycle too.
This text style would look amazing on your very own personalised registration mark. Shop our huge range of 50M+ DVLA number plates to find what you’ve been looking for. If you can’t find the perfect plate, get in touch and we’ll be able to help.
Previously, we were able to create 3D looking characters without the raised gel appearance. This two-tone font effect gave the appearance of a 3D registration plate without the full premium domed effect. Unfortunately, this style of 3D reg plates is no longer road legal, and so we no longer sell them.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 3D AND 4D NUMBER PLATES?
Both 3D and 4D plates feature raised characters. The main difference lies in the materials and methods used to manufacture the characters.
3D gel number plates are made using a polyurethane gel resin, which leaves a smooth, raised profile. Whereas, 4D plates are made from solid acrylic, which makes for a precise and ‘boxed’ cut around the characters.
This means 4D plates offer a completely different style to 3D plates.
DO YOU OFFER 3D EFFECT NUMBER PLATES?
No, we no longer offer 3D printed number plates, as these are not legal under the BS AU 145e standard.
DO YOU SELL 3D CARBON NUMBER PLATES?
No, we do not sell 3D gel carbon number plates, or indeed any form of carbon style plates.
ARE 3D CARBON NUMBER PLATES LEGAL?
3D carbon number plates and 3D carbon gel number plates are not road legal, and therefore we do not sell them. By law, characters must be solid black, and not have any sort of effect, including carbon and honeycomb, over the letters.
The only option we offer when it comes to 3D car reg plates is our resin gel plates.
HOW MUCH DO 3D GEL REGISTRATION PLATES COST?
We offer front and rear 3D gel number plates from £50.98, making them some of the most affordable high-quality plates available.
We have a range of additional customisation options to choose from, including borders, slogans, and plate sizes.
We also stock a wider collection of plate types, including:
- Replacement Number Plates
- 4D Number Plates
- Show Plates
- Motorcycle Number Plates
- Private Number Plates
- Plates for Cars
Design your own with our plate maker today, or contact us if you’d like to learn more.