Need a replacement plate for a Ford? We build road legal plates to BS AU 145e for every current Ford, plus the Fiesta and Focus, in seven finishes from £25, with same day dispatch before 2pm. Every plate is the standard UK size, 520mm x 111mm, front and rear.
Which Ford models we cover
Ford's current UK range splits into two groups, which matters mainly for the green flash option below. The Puma and Puma Gen-E share a bodyshell but not a drivetrain, the regular Puma is petrol and the Gen-E is fully electric. The Kuga is sold as petrol or hybrid, not a pure EV. The Mustang exists as a petrol coupe and convertible, alongside the unrelated electric Mustang Mach-E. The Explorer and Capri complete the range as electric SUVs, the Capri leaning more coupe.
We also build plenty of plates for cars Ford no longer sells new. The Fiesta ended production in 2023 after 47 years and remains one of the most common cars on UK roads, so a genuinely large share of our replacement orders are for Fiestas. The Focus followed it out of production in November 2025 and is still everywhere. Replacement plate eligibility is tied to your registration, not to whether Ford still sells that car new, so a discontinued model gets exactly the same compliant plate as a current one.
Fitting a replacement plate on a Ford, step by step
Fitting across the current and recent Ford range is straightforward, and we have not found any Ford-specific bracket or recess quirk worth flagging beyond the usual checks.
- Check how your existing plate is fixed. Most Fords use screws on a plastic surround, though some trims use adhesive pads instead. Look before ordering fixings.
- If drilling, use the existing holes as a guide, keeping any new holes clear of the characters and the supplier marking.
- Standard number plate screws are typically 4mm to 5mm. Check what is already fitted rather than assuming.
- If your old plate was adhesive-fixed, clean the panel thoroughly first, and avoid fitting in cold, damp conditions where adhesive cures slowly.
- Once fitted, check the plate sits flat with no flex and remains clearly legible from a normal distance and angle, front and rear.
Which finish suits which Ford
The Mustang and Capri are styling-led cars, bought by people who want them to look distinctive, so a 4D Gel 3mm, 5D Gel 5mm or Black Diamond finish suits that intent, adding visible depth and shine against a car already designed to draw the eye. The Mustang Mach-E and Explorer sit in similar territory while being electric, so many owners pair a raised finish with the green flash for a coherent look. Puma, Puma Gen-E and Kuga owners are usually running a car for daily, practical use, and a Standard or 3D Gel finish suits that brief, giving a clean, factory-correct look. There is no technical reason a Puma or Kuga cannot carry a 4D or 5D finish, it comes down to how much presence you want.
The EV green flash option for electric Fords
A green flash is a small green rectangle on the left of the plate, reserved for genuinely zero emission vehicles, meaning fully electric only. On the current Ford range that means the Puma Gen-E, Mustang Mach-E, Explorer and Capri qualify. The petrol Mustang, the Kuga and the discontinued Fiesta and Focus do not, since none are zero emission. Whether a green flash gets you anything locally, such as reduced parking or clean air zone treatment, is set by individual councils and varies, so check locally rather than assuming a benefit.
Caring for your plate on a Ford
Keep the plate clean with normal car shampoo and a soft cloth, avoiding anything abrasive on raised or gelled finishes. If you jet wash, keep the nozzle back from raised 4D and 5D characters rather than blasting at close range, since the edges are the most exposed part of the design. Check periodically that fixings have not worked loose, and wipe the plate dry afterwards so water does not sit around any adhesive pads.
Common mistakes Ford owners make when ordering a replacement plate
- Assuming the standard Puma qualifies for a green flash because it looks similar to the Puma Gen-E. Only the Gen-E is electric.
- Thinking a discontinued Fiesta or Focus cannot get a proper replacement plate. It can, production status has no bearing on compliance.
- Ordering without checking whether the current plate is screwed or adhesive-fixed, then finding the new plate does not match the existing holes.
- Choosing a raised finish purely on looks without considering that weekly close-range jet washing will show wear on the edges sooner.
Road legal compliance
BS AU 145e is the mandatory standard for UK number plates, in force since 1 September 2021. It sets out 79mm character height, 50mm character width (except the numeral 1 and letter I), 14mm stroke width, 11mm character spacing, a 33mm gap before the age identifier, 11mm margins, white retroreflective background at the front and yellow at the rear, and single solid black characters only. A raised, gel or diamond cut finish is dimensional rather than a colour effect, so it stays within the standard. Getting these dimensions and the reflective background right is not just about passing an MOT check, correct spacing, font and reflectivity are also what keep a plate reliably readable by ANPR cameras used for enforcement and traffic monitoring. Every plate we supply carries our name and postcode, as required.
We are not a DVLA registered supplier. Our plates are built to DVLA's published rules under BS AU 145e.
Pricing
All seven finishes are available in the one standard UK size, 520mm x 111mm, front and rear.
| Finish | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | £25 |
| 3D Gel | £38 |
| 4D 3mm | £38 |
| 4D 5mm | £50 |
| 4D Gel 3mm | £54 |
| 5D Gel 5mm | £64 |
| Black Diamond | £60 (introductory price, usually £75) |
Why buy from Legal & Show Plates
We are rated 5.0 on Google from over 300 reviews and 4.6 on Trustpilot, with same day dispatch before 2pm and a tracked 24 hour option if you need it faster.
FAQs about replacement plate on a Ford
Q: Can I get a compliant replacement plate for a discontinued Fiesta or Focus?
Yes. A replacement plate is tied to your registration number, not to whether Ford still sells that model new, so a Fiesta or Focus gets exactly the same compliant plate as any current Ford.
Q: Is the Mustang Mach-E eligible for a green flash but the petrol Mustang isn't?
Yes. The green flash is reserved for fully electric vehicles, so the Mach-E qualifies and the petrol Mustang does not, despite sharing a name.
Q: Will a 4D or 5D plate fit my Ford the same as a Standard plate?
Yes, all seven finishes are made to the same 520mm x 111mm size, so fitment is identical whichever you choose.
Q: Does the Kuga qualify for a green flash?
No. The Kuga is sold as petrol or hybrid in the UK, not as a pure EV, so it does not meet the zero emission requirement.
Q: How quickly will my Ford plate arrive?
Orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the same day via Royal Mail, arriving in 1 to 3 working days, with a tracked 24 hour option available.
