Replacement Saab Number Plates for the 900, 9000, 9-3 and 9-5
If you still drive a Saab, we make replacement Saab number plates for it in one size, 520mm x 111mm, front and rear, from £25 to £64 a pair depending on the finish. The maker has gone, but your car has not, and a plate only needs your registration, not a parts catalogue. Below we test four common assumptions about Saab plates, then show you what to measure before you order.
Can a Saab 900 or 9-3 have raised 4D number plates?
Myth: raised plates are for new cars.
Fact: the law looks at the plate, not at the age of the car. If your Saab was built on or after 1 January 1980, which covers most Saabs on the road, it needs a white front plate and a yellow rear plate in the BS AU 145e layout. Inside that rule you can pick a flat finish or a raised one, and our road legal plates come in all seven of our styles. Age does matter in one place: the holder. Years of sun, washing and parking knocks can leave the plastic around the plate tired, so look at it before you pick a deep finish.
Does an old Saab get black and silver number plates?
Myth: any classic can wear black and silver.
Fact: only a vehicle built before 1 January 1980 may display them, and it must also be recorded in the historic vehicles tax class. Every other car follows the standard layout set out in the gov.uk number plate rules.
For Saab that narrows to the oldest cars. Some 99s were built before 1980, and so were the very first 900s, which date from 1978. A 9000 only began in 1984, so it can never qualify. A 900 built in 1985 may look like a classic, but it still wears white at the front and yellow at the back. Work out the build date first, then read our black and silver plate rules article. If you want a period look on a later car, a flat finish gets closer than anything raised, and our advice on choosing plates for classic cars goes further.
Will any number plate fit my Saab's plate holder?
Every plate we make is 520mm x 111mm, but the holder or recess it sits in is not the same from one Saab to the next. The position of the plate and the depth of the surround differ between the 900, the 9-3 and the 9-5, so a ruler on your own car is the only measure worth trusting. Flat plates like Standard 2D need the least depth. Raised finishes sit thicker, and some holders are snug, so check before you order a deep finish such as 5D Gel.
Which number plate suits a Saab 99, 900, 9000, 9-3 or 9-5?
| Model (years built) | Best finish from our seven | Why it suits this car | Who it is wrong for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saab 99 (1968 to 1984) | Standard 2D | The oldest Saab here, with plastic bumpers from 1972. A flat plate suits its age and adds the least bulk. | Anyone wanting a deep raised look, or assuming every 99 may use black and silver. |
| Saab 900 classic (1978 to 1994; hatchback, saloon, convertible from 1986) | Standard 2D, or 3D Gel for a touch of depth | The nose was restyled from the 1987 model year, so measure your own car. | An owner with a brittle surround who wants 5D Gel. |
| Saab 900 NG (1994 to 1998; hatchback, convertible from 1995) | 3D Gel | A 1990s hatchback or convertible. Gel is a quiet upgrade for £13 more a pair. | A restorer chasing a period-correct flat plate. |
| Saab 9000 (1984 to 1998; hatchback and saloon) | Standard 2D, or 4D 3mm on an Aero | A big hatchback or saloon where a flat plate looks right. The Aero (1993 to 1997) is the sporty version, so it can take a raised finish. | Anyone expecting black and silver. The 9000 began in 1984. |
| Saab 9-3 first generation (1998 to 2002; hatchback and convertible) | 3D Gel, or 4D 5mm on a Viggen | The Viggen (1999 to 2002) is the version people cherish, so a stronger shadow makes sense. | A daily driver on a tight budget, where Standard does the job. |
| Saab 9-3 second generation (2002 to 2012; saloon, convertible from 2004, SportCombi estate from late 2005) | 3D Gel for daily use, 4D 5mm on a dark saloon or convertible | Dark paint shows the shadow of raised characters best, while a family SportCombi suits calmer 3D Gel. | Anyone with a snug holder choosing 5D Gel without measuring. |
| Saab 9-5 first generation (saloon 1997 to 2009, estate to 2010) | Standard 2D or 3D Gel | A large saloon or estate. Flat and lightly raised plates are the simplest to clean. | An owner who wants the deepest finish on a car that never gets polished. |
| Saab 9-5 second generation (2010 to 2011; UK Vector SE and Aero for the 2012 model year) | 4D 5mm or Black Diamond | Very few were built, so yours is rare. A premium finish matches a car like that. | Someone who prefers a plain factory look. Standard 2D suits them better. |
What does a Saab registration take up on a 520mm plate, and what do the finishes cost?
Take a registration in the current format with no 1 or I in it, such as AB12 CDE. Seven characters at 50mm wide come to 350mm. Between them sit five gaps of 11mm and one gap of 33mm after the age identifier, which adds 88mm. That is 438mm of lettering. Add 11mm margins at each end and you reach 460mm, leaving about 60mm of a 520mm plate free. A 1 or an I is narrower and leaves more. Our builder applies the legal spacing for you.
Now the money. A pair of Standard 2D is £25, 3D Gel is £38, 4D 5mm is £50 and 5D Gel is £64. Moving from Standard to 5D Gel costs £39 more a pair. If you order two fronts and one rear, it is £37.50 against £96, a gap of £58.50. Moving to 3D Gel costs £13 more a pair, which for most daily cars is the sensible step up.
Should I skip 5D Gel and other raised number plates on my Saab?
We would talk you out of 5D Gel in four cases. Your old plate was a tight fit in the holder. Your 900 or 9000 is being kept period-correct. Your Saab is white or silver, where flatter finishes often read more cleanly. Or the car lives outside and rarely gets cleaned, because raised finishes need gentler washing than flat ones.
On a daily car in all weathers, the extra £39 over Standard buys depth you will mostly see in good light. We would also talk you out of any show plate for the road.
Three Saab number plate scenarios, worked through
A cracked rear number plate on a 2008 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
The car is a daily driver, only the rear plate is damaged and the budget is tight. A single Standard plate is £15 and a single 3D Gel is £20, but both sit under the £30 line for free delivery. A pair of 3D Gel at £38 clears it, and the front and back then match. Check the holder lip when you take the cracked plate off, because a split holder can crack the new plate too.
Restoring a 1991 Saab 900 convertible: which number plates?
The owner wants it to look right among period cars. It was built after 1980, so black and silver is not allowed. Standard 2D, white front and yellow rear, is the closest thing to a factory look. Bumper plastic on a car this age can be brittle, so screws are the better fix and pads are best left off.
Saab 9-3 Viggen number plates for the road and the show stand
The owner wants to drive to the meet on road legal plates and then park the car beside a display plate carrying the Saab logo. For the road, a 4D 5mm pair at £50 gives the shadow that dark paint shows well. The display plate stays on the stand and never goes on the car.
Is there a green flash number plate for a Saab?
No. Only genuinely zero-emission, pure battery electric vehicles qualify, and no Saab sold in the UK has been one. NEVS built a few petrol 9-3 Aeros in 2013 and 2014, and the electric version it planned never went on sale. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids do not qualify either.
Road legal Saab number plates and the BS AU 145e numbers
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. The standard sets black reflective characters on a white front and a yellow rear. Each character is 79mm high and 50mm wide, except 1 and I, with a 14mm stroke. There are 11mm gaps between characters, a 33mm gap after the age identifier and 11mm margins.
A plate that breaks the rules can fail an MOT and bring a fine of up to £1,000, as the gov.uk guidance on displaying number plates explains. Show plates are never road legal.
Fitting and cleaning your new Saab number plates
Screws are the more reliable fix, and on older bumper plastic we would always choose them. Sticky pads work best on smooth, flat panels in normal weather. A fitting kit can be added to your order, and the fitting guide takes you through each method.
Raised finishes need gentler cleaning than flat ones. Use a soft cloth and plenty of water, and skip hard brushes. Forcing a plate into a snug holder is the mistake that does the most damage, so stop and re-measure if it will not sit.
How quickly are Saab number plates dispatched, and is delivery free?
Delivery is free on Tracked24 for orders over £30. Order before 2pm and most plates are dispatched the same day. We send to the UK and Ireland, and you can pay by card or PayPal. A Standard pair at £25 sits just under the free delivery line, while every other pair clears it. Our delivery and returns page has the full details.
Which number plates should I put on my Saab?
Verdict: for most Saabs still on the road, a daily 9-3 or 9-5, choose 3D Gel. It costs £38 a pair and is a subtle step up from Standard. If your 900 or 9000 is kept original, choose Standard 2D at £25. Save 4D 5mm for a dark, cherished Aero or Viggen, and only after the measuring checks above. Whatever you pick, road legal plates go on the road and the Saab badge plate stays on the stand.
Why buy from Legal & Show Plates
We're a Bradford-based online plate maker shipping UK-wide, 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.
Saab owners' questions about ordering number plates
Q: What size number plate does a Saab need?
We make one size, 520mm x 111mm, for both front and rear, so there is no other size to choose between. If the space on your Saab is clearly different from that, call us on 07747 744407 before you order and we will talk it through.
Q: Can I put 4D number plates on a Saab?
Yes, as long as you order them in road legal mode, which makes them to BS AU 145e with a white front and yellow rear. Choose 4D 3mm for a lower profile or 4D 5mm for a stronger shadow. Both use raised gloss acrylic, so check the depth of your holder first.
Q: Where can I buy a replacement number plate for an old Saab?
You can order from us online. Enter your registration in the builder, choose road legal or show, pick a style and quantity, check the preview and go to the basket. Check the registration against your V5C first. We check ID and entitlement documents before we make a road legal plate.
Q: How much do Saab number plates cost?
A pair costs from £25 for Standard 2D up to £64 for 5D Gel. Buy two or more plates and each one costs less, from £12.50 to £32. Badges, borders and bottom text are free. You pay only for the style and the quantity.
Q: Can I order a single front or rear plate for my Saab?
Yes. Set the quantity for the other end to zero. A single plate runs from £15 for Standard 2D to £33 for 5D Gel. Only the single 5D Gel at £33 passes the £30 line for free delivery, so a pair is often the better buy.
Q: Can I put a Saab badge on my road legal number plate?
No. Road legal mode offers a side badge of GB with EU stars, UK, ENG, CYM or SCO, or no badge at all, plus a border in black, red or grey. The Saab maker logo is available only on show plates, which are for display and never for the road.
Q: Which number plates look best on a dark or white Saab?
Dark paintwork shows the shadow of raised finishes most clearly, so 4D 5mm and 5D Gel stand out on a black or dark blue car. On a white car, flatter finishes such as Standard 2D and 3D Gel often read more cleanly.
