Replacement Number Plate for Genesis
Genesis is Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand, and while it launched in the UK in 2021 selling only online and through shopping-centre "studios," it has since 2024 been adding proper dealership showrooms too, so today you can buy a Genesis either way. None of that changes what a road legal replacement plate needs to meet. Whether you drive a G70 saloon, a GV80 SUV or a fully electric GV60, the same BS AU 145e rules apply, and the right finish depends on which car you actually own.
Which Genesis Models Need a Replacement Number Plate?
The current UK Genesis range runs from the G70 saloon (also sold as a Shooting Brake estate) through the G80 saloon, up to the GV70 and GV80 SUVs, alongside the standalone electric GV60. The G80 and GV70 each come in two power forms: a conventional petrol mild hybrid, and separately a fully electric Electrified version. The G90 flagship saloon, sold in other markets, is not currently offered new in the UK, so an example on UK roads will almost certainly be a private import, which still needs a correctly specified plate like any other vehicle. A fully electric GV90 has been announced but hadn't gone on UK sale at the time of writing.
Whether you bought your car from a Genesis studio, a new dealership showroom, or you're the second or third owner of one, a plate that's cracked, faded, scraped on a kerb or simply gone missing needs a replacement number plate made to the correct BS AU 145e format, regardless of how or where the car was bought.
Genesis Number Plate Sizes and the BS AU 145e Rules, Explained
Every plate we make, for a Genesis or any other car, is the single UK-standard 520mm x 111mm oblong, front and rear. We don't offer short, small or square formats. Within that one size, BS AU 145e fixes the character dimensions regardless of finish: 79mm character height, 50mm width (except the figures 1 and I), a 14mm stroke width, 11mm spacing between characters, a 33mm gap before the age identifier, and 11mm margins around the edge, on a white front and yellow rear retroreflective background with solid black characters only. Every plate also carries the supplier's name and postcode. You can read the government's own position on plate display at gov.uk.
Where the finish makes a visible difference is against Genesis's own design language, which splits fairly cleanly into two camps. The G70, G80 and GV70/GV80 petrol models all wear Genesis's "Crest Grille," a wide, heavily chromed nose with plenty of surrounding brightwork, so a flatter finish like Standard or a shallow 4D character doesn't fight for attention against everything else going on at the front of the car. The GV60, by contrast, has almost no conventional grille at all, just a smooth, closed EV fascia, which is exactly where a raised 4D Gel or faceted Black Diamond character throws its own shadow line rather than competing with chrome trim. Neither look is more road legal than the other; the spacing, margins and age-identifier gap are fixed by BS AU 145e whichever finish you choose, so this is purely a question of what suits the car.
Which Number Plate Finish Suits a Genesis? (Suitability Table)
The table below is our own editorial judgement, based on how each finish reads against each model's actual design and typical use, not a claim that any finish is more or less road legal than another. Every option listed is available in the correct road legal character style.
| Genesis model | Recommended finish | Why it suits this car | Who it's wrong for |
|---|---|---|---|
| G70 saloon and Shooting Brake | 4D Gel (3mm) | The G70 is Genesis's sportiest model, and a raised, glossy character matches its more aggressive styling without overwhelming the compact grille it sits below. | Company car or fleet-run G70s that get washed hard and often at unattended jet washes, where the raised edge takes more wear than a flat plate would. |
| G80 saloon (petrol mild hybrid) | Standard or 3D Gel | The G80 is Genesis's formal executive saloon, and its deep boot plinth suits an understated finish that reads as factory rather than aftermarket. | Owners chasing the boldest possible show look; Black Diamond or 5D Gel can look slightly out of place against the G80's conservative rear styling. |
| Electrified G80 | 3D Gel, with a genuine green flash | A subtler raised finish keeps the plate in proportion with the Electrified G80's smoother, grille-reduced front end, and it's one of the few Genesis models that actually qualifies for the flash. | Anyone assuming the standard petrol G80 shares this eligibility. It doesn't, see the section below. |
| GV60 | 4D Gel (3mm) or Black Diamond | The GV60's clamshell bonnet and near-grilleless nose are Genesis's most futuristic design, and a faceted or gel-coated character complements that without needing extra bulk. | Buyers who'd rather the plate disappeared visually against the car; Standard suits that preference better. Also worth avoiding for anyone using unattended, close-range jet washes weekly. |
| GV70 (petrol mild hybrid) | 4D (5mm) | The GV70's larger SUV fascia and higher-mounted plate recess can carry a deeper acrylic character without looking oversized the way it might on a smaller saloon. | Owners doing regular off-road or muddy-track driving who'll be pressure-washing the car weekly; Standard will show that wear less. |
| Electrified GV70 | 3D Gel, with a genuine green flash | Same shell and proportions as the petrol GV70, but this is the version that's actually zero-emission and eligible for the flash. | Petrol GV70 owners assuming the same badge and boot script means the same eligibility. It doesn't. |
| GV80 (including the coupe) | 5D Gel (5mm) or Black Diamond | The GV80 is the largest fascia in the current UK range, and its deep boot plinth genuinely carries the most dramatic finish we sell without it looking forced. | Family GV80s doing the school run and weekly supermarket trips, where frequent petrol-station jet washing favours a lower-maintenance finish; see care advice below. |
If none of that matters to you and you just need a straightforward, road legal replacement at the lowest price, Standard plates at £25 do exactly the same legal job as our £64 5D Gel or £60 Black Diamond. The finish is a styling choice, not a compliance one, and the price difference (up to £39 a pair between our cheapest and most expensive style) buys you a look, not extra legality.
It's also worth being direct about who none of our seven finishes suit: anyone who wants a size other than the standard 520mm x 111mm oblong, or a plate built outside road-legal spacing for use on the public road. We don't make either, whatever car you drive.
Which Genesis Models Qualify for a Green Flash Number Plate?
Currently, three models in the Genesis range are genuinely zero-emission and can carry a green flash: the GV60, the Electrified G80 and the Electrified GV70. All three are pure battery electric vehicles with no petrol engine at all. Every other current Genesis, the G70, G70 Shooting Brake, standard G80, standard GV70 and GV80, uses a petrol engine with Genesis's own mild-hybrid assistance. A mild hybrid still burns petrol and still produces exhaust emissions, so it is not zero-emission and does not qualify for a green flash, however the marketing badge on the boot is worded. Our full guide to the scheme is at everything you need to know about green number plates.
Real-world scenario: take an Electrified GV70 owner based near the centre of Bradford, close to our own workshop, who charges overnight on a driveway and wants a genuine green flash both because the car earns it and because they've heard it might help with local low emission zone treatment. That's a fair reason to order one. What we'd tell them honestly is to ring Bradford Council directly and check current local policy before assuming a specific saving or exemption, because any concession is decided area by area, never guaranteed nationally, and it can change.
How to Fit a Number Plate on a Genesis GV70 or G80
Fitment across the current Genesis range is generally straightforward. The G70 and G80 saloons use a conventional rear boot recess and front bumper mounting with no unusual bracket or curve to account for. The GV70 and GV80 SUVs mount the rear plate on the tailgate, and both carry front and rear parking sensors close to the plate area, so if you're using screws rather than adhesive pads, check fixing points against your handbook first to avoid catching a sensor wire behind the panel. The GV60's front fascia is the most enclosed of the range, with the plate sitting in a shallower recess than the saloons, so adhesive pads are usually the tidier option there. Our full fitting guide covers both methods step by step, including temperature advice for pad adhesion.
Real-world scenario: a G80 owner who's had a minor reversing knock outside their office, cracking the rear plate but leaving the car otherwise undamaged, with an MOT booked in ten days. That's a common reason for a same-week order, and the fix is simple: order the same finish and registration, fit it with the existing screws or fresh adhesive pads, and there's nothing else to adjust before the test.
How to Clean and Care for Number Plates on a Genesis
A soft sponge, warm water and a small amount of car shampoo is enough for every finish we sell, from Standard through Black Diamond. Avoid abrasive pads on a raised or gel finish specifically, since scouring dulls the gloss faster than ordinary washing would. This matters more on a GV80 or GV70 used for the school run, where the plate goes through a petrol-station jet wash far more often than a driveway-washed car. The raised edge on 4D, 4D Gel, 5D Gel and Black Diamond is the first thing a close-range jet wash nozzle catches, so if that's your routine, Standard or 3D Gel will show less wear over time. Our full cleaning and maintenance guide covers this in more depth.
Common Mistakes Genesis Owners Make When Ordering Number Plates
The mistake we see most often with Genesis orders is assuming any model with an "Electrified" badge, or indeed any Genesis at all, automatically qualifies for a green flash. As covered above, only the GV60, Electrified G80 and Electrified GV70 genuinely do; a standard petrol GV70 or GV80 does not, whatever trim it carries. The second is assuming there's a choice of plate size for a bigger SUV like the GV80 versus a smaller G70; there isn't, every plate we make is the same 520mm x 111mm size. Third, some owners pick a show-only character style, assuming it's fine because the rest of the plate is compliant. It isn't: the character style has to meet BS AU 145e regardless of finish, and show spacing is for static display only, never the road. Our top mistakes people make when ordering number plates article covers several more of these.
Genesis Number Plates: Our Verdict
Verdict: Genesis's UK range splits neatly into two design languages, chrome-fronted petrol saloons and SUVs that suit an understated finish, and the near-grilleless GV60 that can genuinely carry a bolder, more faceted look. Go plain and formal for the G80, a touch sportier for the G70, bolder for the GV80's large fascia, and only fit a genuine green flash if you drive the GV60, Electrified G80 or Electrified GV70, not any petrol mild hybrid in the range however it's badged. Whatever you choose, build it through our plate builder, and get in touch via our contact page if you're not sure which finish fits your specific Genesis.
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Genesis Number Plates: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are 4D number plates legal on a Genesis?
Yes. Any of our seven finishes, including 4D, is road legal when built in our standard spacing mode to BS AU 145e, on any Genesis model. The raised character depth doesn't affect legality; character size, spacing, colour and reflectivity do.
Q: Can I get a green flash number plate for my Genesis GV70?
Only if it's the Electrified GV70. The standard petrol mild hybrid GV70 is not zero-emission and doesn't qualify for a green flash, whichever trim or badge it carries.
Q: What size number plate does a Genesis need?
The same size as every car we supply for, 520mm x 111mm front and rear. We don't offer short, small or square formats for any Genesis model.
Q: Is the Genesis GV70 mild hybrid eligible for green flash plates?
No. Mild hybrid still means a petrol engine doing most of the work, with electric assistance for efficiency rather than zero-emission driving. Only the fully electric Electrified GV70 qualifies.
Q: Do I need proof of ownership to order a Genesis number plate?
Yes, we ask for proof of entitlement, typically your V5C, before making a road legal plate for any registration, Genesis included.
Q: What is the best number plate finish for a Genesis GV80?
Our own editorial view is 5D Gel or Black Diamond, since the GV80's large boot plinth carries a deeper, more dramatic finish well. If the car does frequent petrol-station jet washing, Standard or 3D Gel will show less wear over time.
Q: Can I fit gel number plates myself on a Genesis?
Yes, most owners fit them at home using either self-adhesive pads or a screw and cap kit, following the same method as any other finish. Our fitting guide covers both, and on GV70 and GV80 models it's worth checking fixing points against parking sensor positions first.
