Motorbike number plates: Everything you need to know

Even though it’s not the most thrilling element, a number plate is a key part of your motorbike setup as different sizes and colour plates on the roads in the UK can cause confusion around what is and isn’t legal. 

Whether you want to personalise your number plate or are hoping to invest in a new bike, it’s important to know the laws around your motorcycle registration plate. Let’s set the record straight with our ultimate guide to motorcycle number plate laws in the UK.

Why do we need number plates?

As soon as you get your licence and purchase a new motorcycle, you’ll need a valid number plate by law. Number plates are used by the police and government to identify your vehicle – from motorcycles to scooters and mopeds. Police can use a vehicle’s registration number if the bike has been stolen or involved in a crime, plus the government can use it for tax and registration purposes.

The plate is actually registered to the vehicle and not to its owner – therefore the number will remain associated with the vehicle until it’s broken up, destroyed or permanently exported. The owner of the vehicle can, however, apply to remove the number and place it on another vehicle or a DVLA Retention Document V778. 

The document allows you to hold a private registration of the number plate that appears on the certificate until you are ready to transfer it to another vehicle. You cannot have a retention certificate if your plate is still registered to your vehicle.

What does the law say about number plates?

If your bike was registered on or after 1st September 2001, the vehicle’s registration plate must only be displayed on the back. If your bike was registered before the cut-off point, you may display your registration number on the front and back of the vehicle if you wish to do so, but there is no legal obligation to do this.

What does the law say about number plates?

If your bike was registered on or after 1st September 2001, the vehicle’s registration plate must only be displayed on the back. If your bike was registered before the cut-off point, you may display your registration number on the front and back of the vehicle if you wish to do so, but there is no legal obligation to do this.

1. The British Standard

The British Standard sets the requirements for the plate’s visibility, strength and reflectivity. To meet the standard, every plate must be permanently and legibly marked with the:

British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d)

Name, trademark or other way of identifying the manufacturer or supplier

Name and postcode of the supplying outlet.

2. UK number plate size

There is no specific legislation in place that determines the size of your motorcycle number plate, but all motorcycle plates must be rectangular. 

For many, the size remains important, but what size is a standard UK motorcycle number plate?

Since 2001, the law states that each letter and number on your number plate must be 64mm tall and 44mm wide. This excludes the letter ‘I’ and the number ‘1’. 

The character stroke (the thickness of the line) must be 10mm, and the spacing between each character must also be 10mm.

The age identifier and the random letters must be 30mm apart, while the vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 13mm. The space between the margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be at least 11mm wide.

It should be noted that the standard number plate size is designed to accommodate the largest amount of space needed, whether you have an electric motorcycle or a 50cc motorbike. 

When it comes to the smallest legal number plate size in the UK, your plate will need to be 64mm tall and 44mm wide as a number plate with ‘I’s and ‘1’s will not need as much space as plates with other numbers and letters.

Fitted before 1st September 2001

If your number plate was fitted before 1st September 2001, it must comply with different sizing standards. The character height must be 89mm and the width must be 64mm – excluding ‘I’ and ‘1’ – while the character stroke should be 16mm.

The space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 38mm, and the vertical space between them must be 19mm. The top, bottom and side margins must all be a minimum of 13mm, as well as the space between characters.

Fitted before 1st January 1973

There were different specifications for classic motorcycle number plates – classic or traditional number plates are deemed to be on vehicles made before 1 January 1973. The character height and width (excluding ‘I’ and ‘1’) must be 79mm and 57mm respectively, while stroke must be 14mm.

Motorcycle number plates law states the space between characters and the margins be 11mm, as well as the space between the age identifier and random numbers be 33mm. The vertical space must be 19mm.

Fitted before 1st January 1963

There was less standardisation for number plates fitted before 1963, meaning these plates would often include very few characters. This, in turn, meant that number plates could be smaller as they didn’t need to accommodate as many letters or numbers.

For those fitted as vanity or historic plates, the minimum legal size of the plate is potentially further reduced too.

Northern Ireland plates

Many people have opted for Northern Ireland number plates, which have a slightly different format compared to the rest of the UK as they don’t include the date. 

This makes them an attractive option for those wanting to disguise the age of their bike. As a result of this difference, Northern Ireland number plates tend to have more character width at the bottom of the plate.

New number plate guidelines

A newer rule, referred to as British Standard BS AU 145e, aims to improve automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) legibility, as well as the durability of the plate itself. Under these guidelines, it will no longer be permissible to have plates with gradient, two-tone, or 3D effects.

According to the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association (BNMA), your number plates need to be a single shade of black if they were fitted after 1st September 2021. They can’t be reflective or removable either.

3. Lettering

For standard plates (not custom), the current system, which was introduced in September 2001, uses a combination of letters and numbers. 

The first two characters are letters which refer to the region in which your vehicle was registered. These letters are followed by two numbers, which represent when the plate was issued. Finally, three random letters are assigned.

If your vehicle was registered on or after 1 January 1973, the lettering on your number plate must be spread onto two lines. All number plates use the Charles Wright font.

4. Number plates for classic motorcycles

Motorcycle number plates made on or after 1 September 2001 must be yellow with black text. However, if your vehicle was registered before 1 January 1973 or more than 40 years ago (due to the 40-year exemption date that rolls forward on 1 April every year), your plate can be ‘black and white’. This includes either white, silver or grey characters on a black background. 

For this plate to be legal, though, you must have applied to DVLA and be registered under the ‘historic vehicle’ tax class.

5. Flags

You can display one of the following flags on your number plate, as long as it doesn’t exceed 50mm wide:

Union flag

Cross of St George

Cross of St Andrew (Saltire)

Red dragon of Wales.

You can display the following national identifiers, as long as they do not exceed 50mm in width:

GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain or GB

UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom or UK

ENGLAND, England, ENG or Eng

SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco

CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym

WALES or Wales.

You may also feature the European symbol and GB national identifier on your plate, which means you will not need a separate GB sticker if travelling in the EU. This may be subject to change following the UK’s departure from the EU.

According to the EC Council Regulation 2411/98, the symbol must:

Be at least 98mm tall

Be between 40mm and 50mm wide

Have a reflective blue background with 12 reflective yellow stars at the top

Feature the ‘GB’ in reflective white or yellow.

What happens if you break the law?

If your motorcycle’s number plate does not comply with UK laws, you could face a fine of up to £1,000. Additionally, if you take your motorbike in for an MOT, you will not pass.

How can you check a motorcycle plate number online?

If you need to check information about a motorbike, yours or someone else’s, with the number from the plate, you can check on the DVLA website.  

Can I get a custom plate?

Yes, you can have a custom number plate made. The government specifies that any number plate must be made by a registered number plate supplier (RNPS). 

You can find your nearest RNPS here. Any number plate that has been created must comply with all the above regulations.

Can you use a motorcycle number plate for a car? 

In the case of literally taking your motorbike number plate and putting it on your car, no you can’t do that. What you can do is transfer the registration from one vehicle to another.

Motorcycle number plates are treated in the same way as car number plates so, if both of your vehicles have MOT certificates, you can transfer a number plate from a motorbike to a car, or from a car to a motorbike. 

Need insurance for your motorbike?

Bikesure provides affordable, specialist motorcycle insurance for riders. Whether you’re a learner or an experienced rider, we’ve got a policy to suit you.

Call 0800 369 8580 for a quick and easy quote or book a callback at a time that suits you.