Todays dispatch deadline...
3 Year Manufacturers Warranty
92% Delivered Next Day
Decades of Production Experience

A number plate is required for a motorbike to be legally on the road in the UK. However, some people consider number plates as an eyesore that detracts from the aesthetic of the motorbike. Many people prefer not to have a number plate on their motorbike to preserve the attractive appearance, while some people prefer to utilise smaller number plates and different colours to minimise the aesthetic impact on the motorbike’s overall appearance. The question is: Is it legal?

If you own a motorbike, it is critical to be aware of the regulations governing your motorbike’s number plate. Number plates with different sizes and colours on UK roadways can make it unclear what is legal and what is not. To provide you with a better understanding and clear up any confusion, this article will provide comprehensive information on the UK motorbike number plate sizes and laws.

What UK Law Says About Motorbike Number Plate

Number plates are very important for security and safety on the road. The police and government entities recognize and identify vehicles by their number plate, including motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds. The authorities utilise a bike’s number plate if it has been reported stolen or has been associated with criminal activity or even accidents.

Motorcycles whose registration started on or after September 1, 2001, can have the number plate displayed on the back. If you registered your bike before the deadline, you are not required to display your registration number on the front and back of your bike, although you are welcome to do so if you so like.

What Size Number Plate Can You Legally Put on a Motorcycle?

Since the number plate is important in recognizing any vehicle on the roads of the UK, the number plate on a motorcycle needs to be large enough so that law enforcement and other road users can see it clearly and easily. There is no set size requirement for the plate itself as long as it has the right-sized lettering on it. In other words, the actual size of the number plate for a motorbike is not subject to strict regulations, however, the DVLA does have strict requirements for the lettering on the plate.

No matter how big or small a number plate on your motorbike, the following are the requirements for motorcycle number plate lettering:

  • Each character must have a 10mm stroke or line thickness.
  • Characters must have 10mm space between each character.
  • The vertical distance between the age identifier and the random digits must be 13mm.
  • The distance between the age identifier and the random letters must be 30mm.
  • There must be at least an 11mm gap between the top, bottom, and side edges of the plate.
  • All text on the number plate should use the Charles Wright font.

It should be highlighted that the size of a typical number plate is intended to provide the most space possible. Number plates with “I” and “1” characters will take up less room than those with other numerals and letters, which need to be 64 mm tall and 44 mm broad, respectively. As long as the text size on the plate itself complies with the DVLA’s standards and regulations, you can have any size number plate that fits your motorcycle.

How To Display Number Plates on Motorbikes

It can be a fantastic start if you purchase a number plate with the appropriate sizes and spacing that complies with DVLA regulations. However, it is crucial to be aware of the laws governing how to legally display a motorcycle number plate.

The following guidelines must be followed by all vehicles, including motorcycles, to display a legal number plate:

  • The number plate for your motorbike should be made from a reflective material.
  • If you have a front plate on your motorbike, it should display black characters on a white background.
  • The rear plate of the motorbike should display black characters on a yellow background.
  • The number plate on the motorbike should not have any type of background pattern.
  • The number plate should display who supplied the number plate.
  • The number plate of your motorbike should be marked with a British Standard number: ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021.
  • The characters and lettering on the number plate must not be removable or reflective.

If you want to display a flag on your motorcycle’s number plate, you can do so as long as it is no wider than 50mm. However, the flag should be regulated by the DVLA. Here is the list of flags that are allowed to be displayed on the number plate for your motorbike:

  • Union flag
  • Cross of St. George
  • Cross of St. Andrew (Saltire)
  • The red dragon of Wales

You can also display the following national identifiers, as long as they do not exceed 50mm in width:

  • GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain, or GB
  • UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom, or UK
  • ENGLAND, England, ENG, or Eng
  • SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO, or Sco
  • CYMRU, Cymru, CYM, or Cym
  • WALES or Wales

For the lettering on number plates made on or after September 1, 2001, yellow and black are necessary. If your car was registered before the 40-year exemption date or more than 40 years ago, your number plate can be “black and white,” which contains characters that are either white, silver, or grey on a black backdrop. However, you must have made an application to the DVLA and have your vehicle registered as a “historic vehicle” tax class for this plate to be legal.

Bottom Line

Number plates are designed to increase security and safety for all UK road users. If you wish to boost the overall look of your motorcycle through number plates, you can have a personalised number plate that perfectly matches the style and design of your motorbike. Just make sure you are adhering to the appropriate letter sizes and standard character spacing on the plate to have a number plate that is legal to use on the roads. Always keep in mind that if a number plate does not adhere to the DVLA’s standard regulations, that number plate will be considered illegal and could result in penalties and fines.