Top 10 Most Asked Questions About Number Plates
We speak to a lot of customers every single day. And over the last few months, we’ve been keeping track. We asked our team to jot down the most common questions they get asked over email, phone, social, and even at car events. After hearing from hundreds of people and going through the notes, here are the top 10 questions we get asked most often.
If you’ve wondered about any of these, you’re definitely not alone. Here’s what people really want to know (and how we answer them).
1. Are 3D gel plates legal?
Yes. When made properly, they’re 100% road legal. Ours follow all DVLA rules including font, spacing, black lettering, and reflective backgrounds.
2. Can I make my own number plate?
You can design one, sure. That’s exactly what our Online Plate Maker is for. But it still has to match a reg you legally own. You can’t just make one up.
3. Are short plates allowed?
Yes, if you’ve got a short reg like “A1 ABC”, you can get a shorter plate to match. Just make sure spacing and letter size still follow the rules. We sort that out for you automatically.
4. Can I put my number plate in the window?
Nope. We get asked this a lot, especially by classic car owners. But your plate has to be fixed on the outside of your car, not in the windscreen or back window.
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5. What’s the difference between 3D gel and 4D plates?
Quick version? 3D gel is soft and domed, made with resin. 4D is sharp-edged and cut from acrylic. 4D can be paired with gel too. Depends what look you prefer.
6. Are tinted plates legal?
No. They’re not allowed on the road. Might look cool but not worth failing your MOT or getting pulled.
7. Do you get points for a dodgy plate?
You can, yes. Especially if your plate can’t be read by cameras. Most people just get a fine or a warning but points are possible. Don’t risk it.
8. Are 4D gel plates DVLA approved?
Same as 3D gel. As long as they follow the rules (correct font, colour, spacing, etc), they’re legal. We only make road legal plates unless you choose a show-only option.
9. Can I space my reg how I like it?
No. Spacing has to follow DVLA format. We know people want to spell names or words, but spacing it wrong makes the plate illegal.
10. What plates are banned in the UK?
The DVLA bans loads of plates every year. Anything rude, offensive, or political usually gets blocked before it’s even sold. If you're not sure, ask us and we’ll help check.
We’ve built Legal Show Plates around answering questions just like these. When you use our online plate builder, we make it clear what’s legal and what’s not.
Got a question that’s not on the list? Drop us a message and we’ll answer it, and maybe include it in our next edition.
🚗 Ready to design your own legal number plate? Try it now and we’ll get it made and posted same day.