DS Automobiles Number Plates: Replacements for the DS 3, DS N°4, DS 7, DS 9 and N°8

We make replacement DS number plates as a front and rear set, each 520mm x 111mm, from £25 a pair. DS has renamed several models, and its E-Tense badge means different things on different cars, so we start there. Once you know the name and the power type, the finish, the green flash and the order are easy to settle.

Which DS number plates do I need? The DS names that have changed

You need the plate that matches your registration, not your model name. The names matter because owners search for them in different ways. Here is the current map:

• DS 3: sold as the DS 3 Crossback, and now simply DS 3. It is a compact crossover, not the 2009 hatchback of the same name.
• DS N°4: the car that replaced the DS 4 in 2025. The new names carry a degree sign, as in N°4 and N°8. Owners type DS4, DS 4, DS N4, DS No4 and DS N°4 and mean the same family.
• DS 7: originally called the DS 7 Crossback.
• DS 9: an executive saloon, with no name change.
• N°8: a large all-electric SUV.

The plate size is the same for all of them. What changes is the paint, the age of the car and the power type. DS cars are modern, built from 2009. The 1955 to 1975 Citroën DS is a different car. Black and silver plates are allowed only on vehicles built before 1 January 1980, and DVLA historic vehicle conditions also apply, so if you own that classic, read our article on the black and silver rule.

Does E-Tense mean electric? Green flash DS number plates explained

No. E-Tense is DS's label for its electrified cars, and it covers both pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Only the pure electric ones can have a green flash. Here is how it splits:

• Battery electric, can have a green flash: the DS 3 E-Tense, the DS N°4 E-Tense (the electric version) and the N°8.
• Plug-in hybrid, no green flash: the DS 4 E-Tense, the DS 7 E-Tense 4x4 and the DS 9 E-Tense. They carry a petrol engine as well as a battery.
• Not electric at all: petrol and diesel cars, the DS N°4 mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid, and the DS 5 Hybrid4.

Plugging a car in each night does not change this. If yours also has a petrol tank, it is a hybrid and a green flash is not for it. Check your V5C, the charging port and the badge, not just the word E-Tense. If you qualify, build a road legal plate and pick the plain green flash from the badge list. It costs nothing extra. Our page on green flash plates has more.

DS Automobiles number plates by model: power, green flash and finish

My V5C says Citroën. Do I need different DS number plates?

No. A plate follows your registration, not the badge or the make on the paperwork. The mix-up is common on older cars, because DS began in 2009 as a Citroën sub-brand and only became its own make in 2014. The first DS3 wore Citroën badges until its 2016 update, and the DS5 launched as the Citroën DS5. Before you order:

• Type the registration exactly as it appears on the V5C, whatever make the document names.
• Look closely at any O or I. Swapping the letter O for the number 0, or the letter I for the number 1, is the mistake we catch most often before dispatch.
• Read the registration back once more on the live preview, then pay.

Which finish suits DS number plates on dark, white or silver paint?

Raised finishes tend to suit dark paint, and flatter ones often suit pale paint. A raised character casts a shadow, and dark paintwork shows that shadow most clearly, so the extra depth shows best on black, navy or deep grey. On white or silver it reads less, and a flatter plate often looks cleaner. Our article on number plates for black, white and silver cars says more. Here are the styles in order of depth and price, with our advice on where each one fits:

• Standard 2D, £25 a pair: printed characters, a factory look. Best for a daily DS 3 or an older car.
• 3D Gel, £38 a pair: raised black gel resin characters. A subtle step up from Standard.
• 4D 5mm, £50 a pair: 5mm raised gloss acrylic with a stronger shadow. We would look at it for a dark DS 4, N°4 or DS 7.
• 5D Gel, £64 a pair: the deepest and glossiest, with a black gel topcoat. Needs the most room behind the plate.
• Black Diamond, £60 a pair at the introductory price, usually £75: diamond-cut detail on each character that catches the light. A style we would suggest for a luxury saloon such as the DS 9.

Two DS number plate scenarios: a white DS 3 E-Tense and a black DS 9

These are worked examples with real constraints, not customer stories.

• Scenario 1, a white DS 3 E-Tense used for commuting. It is pure electric, so a green flash is allowed. A Standard pair at £25 sits under our £30 free delivery line. A 3D Gel pair at £38 clears it and adds a little texture on pale paint.
• Scenario 2, a black DS 9 saloon kept for long runs. The owner wants the deepest look. 5D Gel is £64 a pair, and Black Diamond is £60 at the introductory price (usually £75). Measure the recess depth first. If the space is tight, 4D 5mm at £50 is the safer choice.

Are 4D and gel DS number plates road legal, or show plates only?

It depends on the mode you build them in, not on the style alone. Our road legal plates are made to the DVLA's published rules (BS AU 145e), and we check ID and entitlement documents before we make one. Show plates are for display and never for the road. The gov.uk rules for number plates set out what a road plate must follow. In practice:

• For a car you drive, choose road legal plates. The builder applies the legal spacing and font for you, and your only free options are a side badge and a border.
• For a meet, a stand or a photoshoot, show plates give you your own spacing, a wide badge list, borders and bottom text.
• A plate that breaks the rules on a road car risks an MOT failure and a fine of up to £1,000, as the gov.uk page on displaying number plates explains.
• You cannot pick a font in either mode.

How much space does a DS registration use on a 520mm number plate?

A seven-character registration leaves a fair amount of the plate spare. Under BS AU 145e, each character is 79mm high and 50mm wide, apart from the 1 and the I, which are narrower. Take a seven-character registration with no 1 or I, such as DS25 RTK:

1. Seven characters at 50mm each, plus five gaps of 11mm and one 33mm gap after the age identifier, make 438mm.
2. Margins of 11mm at each end add 22mm, for 460mm in all.
3. That leaves 60mm spare on the 520mm plate.

How do I fit and clean DS number plates?

Measure first, fix with screws where you can, and clean raised plates gently. Our fitting guide shows both methods. In short:

1. Measure the recess and the plate surround against 520mm x 111mm. If you want a deep finish such as 5D Gel, measure the depth too.
2. Choose screws or sticky pads. Screws are the more reliable fix. Pads work best on a smooth, flat panel in normal weather.
3. Add a fitting kit to your order if you want one. Fitting is a simple screwdriver job, and our fitting guide shows how.

When will my DS number plates arrive, and what does delivery cost?

We send DS number plates across the UK by Tracked24, and delivery is free on orders over £30. Every pair from 3D Gel upwards clears that line, but a Standard pair at £25 and most single plates do not. Order before 2pm and most plates go out the same day. You can pay by card or PayPal. Our delivery and returns page has the rest.

Why buy from Legal & Show Plates

We're rated 5.0 on Google from over 300 reviews and 4.6 on Trustpilot. Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch, with a tracked 24-hour Royal Mail option available.

DS Automobiles number plate questions: green flash, size, finish and fitting

Q: Can I put a 4D number plate on my DS 3?

Yes. 4D 3mm is £38 a pair and 4D 5mm is £50, both with raised gloss acrylic characters. Build it in road legal mode if it is for the road, and measure the recess depth if you choose the thicker 5mm style.

Q: Does a DS 7 E-Tense get a green flash number plate?

No. The DS 7 E-Tense 4x4 is a plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine, and a green flash is only for pure battery electric cars. Plugging it in at home does not change that, and the same goes for every DS 7, whatever the badge says. Fit a plain plate or pick one of the national badges instead.

Q: How do I know if my DS can have a green flash number plate?

Check the V5C, the charging port and the badge. If the car has a petrol tank as well as a battery, it is a hybrid and does not qualify. Only a car that runs on its battery alone does, such as the DS 3 E-Tense, the electric DS N°4 E-Tense and the N°8.

Q: What size number plate does a DS need?

We make one size, 520mm x 111mm, for the front and the rear. Before you order, hold a tape to the recess and the plate surround and compare. If the gap looks smaller than the plate, ring us on 07747 744407 before you order.

Q: Does my number plate change if my DS 4 became a DS N°4?

No. The plate comes from your registration, not the model name. A DS 4 and a DS N°4 are ordered the same way. Enter your registration as shown on the V5C, pick road legal or show, choose a style and check the live preview before you pay.

Q: Should I use screws or sticky pads on a DS number plate?

Screws are the more reliable fix, so we suggest them first. Sticky pads can work on a smooth, flat panel in normal weather. Whichever you pick, you can add a fitting kit if you want everything in one basket.

Q: Can I order just one DS number plate?

Yes. Set the other quantity to zero in the builder. A single Standard plate is £15, a single 3D Gel plate is £20 and a single 4D 5mm plate is £26, so all three fall under the £30 free delivery line.