With so many cars on the road in the UK, many car owners want their cars to look unique and special. Aside from customising the cars, number plates can also be one of the things that can be customised to positively impact the overall look of a car. One type of number plate that is becoming more and more popular is the 3D number plate. However, the laws and regulations for a number plate in the UK can be very strict and sometimes overwhelming. Several rules must be followed, ranging from the size and shape of the numbers and letters to the colour of the plates themselves.
If you violate the rules and regulations of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) — even unintentionally — you will be subject to fines and penalties. To prevent penalties and fines that can reach up to £1,000, it’s crucial to understand the regulations regarding number plates before choosing to personalise them. To help you understand better about 3D number plates and make an informed decision regarding 3D number plates for your car, this article will provide you with knowledge and additional information about 3D number plates and whether they are legal or not.
What Are 3D Number Plates?
As the name suggests, 3D number plates are made to appear three-dimensional. Compared to regular number plates, 3D number plates stand out because the registration lettering is written in a distinctive bevelled font. Another way to have a 3D effect on the number plate is by using a 3D gel. It’s a number plate that has raised polyurethane characters that are adhered to an acrylic backing. The text appears to be rendered in gel due to its shiny appearance and curved surface. Although the letters and numbers are still flush with the surface of the number plate, 3D number plates provide the sense that the writing is three-dimensional.
Are 3D Number Plates Legal?
As of September 1, 2021, personalised number plates with 3D fonts and lettering are banned in the UK. This is due to the possibility that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and authorities may have difficulties distinguishing the vehicle in certain scenarios. Since the varying colours of 3D plates can occasionally make it difficult to make out the numbers, there is a potential that criminals or other individuals may be able to escape the reach of the law due to their number plates.
What will happen if you have a personalised 3D number plate? The DVLA still allows 3D effects on number plates as long as they follow very strict regulations and format. In other words, if they adhere to the DVLA’s standards and regulations, 3D number plates are still legal.
How Can You Display 3D Number Plates?
The most important thing to remember is that the number plate’s 3D effect shouldn’t make the letters difficult to see. So, a 3D number plate would be illegal if it has 3D fonts and lettering, such as embossing, raising, or otherwise modifying the letters, such as with pressed plates.
A number plate can have a 3D effect as long as you follow DVLA regulations:
- The material of the number plate is reflective.
- No backdrop pattern is displayed.
- The letters on the front plate are black on white.
- The inscriptions on the back plate are black on yellow.
- Number plate characters must meet certain requirements for height and size: the minimum character height is 79mm. Except for the number 1 or the letter I, they must be 55 mm wide.
- These black characters must have 14mm-thick strokes.
- They must be separated by 11mm.
- The 3D number plate must be marked to show who supplied the number plate.
- The 3D number plate must be marked with a British Standard number — this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021.
Even with a 3D effect, a number plate must not be handled in a way that makes the characters of the registration mark harder for the eye to detect or that would make it impossible to capture a true photographic image of the plate using a camera and film or any other equipment. The text on number plates needs to have a solid black colour for ANPR systems to read them more easily.
What Makes 3D Number Plates Illegal?
To prevent making a mistake with a 3D number plate, here are the most typical 3D number plates that are prohibited and could result in penalties or fines from the DVLA:
- Fonts in italic script
- Using a font, other than italic script, in which the characters are not vertical
- Using a font in which the curvature or alignment of the lines of the stroke is substantially different from the prescribed font
- Using multiple strokes
- Using a broken stroke
- Using fonts in such a way as to make a character or more than one character appear like a different character or characters.
Bottom Line
Although the DVLA has rigorous regulations on 3D number plates, many car owners still favour 3D number plates to give their vehicles a more distinct and appealing appearance. Making your cherished car more attractive and interesting to look at is perfectly alright, but you also need to be aware of governmental laws and regulations. Remember that strict rules and regulations about number plates are implemented for a specific purpose, such as safety and better car monitoring, which can be advantageous to everyone on the roads.
If you already have a 3D number plate that was manufactured before September 2021, you don’t need to worry and can continue to display it on your vehicle. Just make sure your existing 3D number plate complies with all applicable laws and regulations. It’s important to always be knowledgeable about the laws and regulations governing number plates and to stay informed of any relevant news to prevent penalties and fines and have the peace of mind that you’re displaying your number plate legally.