[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has set out strict regulations for number plates in the UK to ensure they’re visible in all weather conditions so vehicles can be easily identified when needed. Motorbikes face slightly different regulations to four-wheeled vehicles, so if you’re switching from a car to a motorbike, you can’t swap the number plate over, but you can if you’re opting for a car rather than a bike.
Our guide will cover everything you need to know about number plates, from what the regulations are to how you can add a personal touch to your motorcycle.
All number plates for vehicles registered after 1973 in the UK must comply with the following regulations in order to be registered with the DVLA and legal to drive and park on public roads in the UK:
Vehicles registered before 1973 can keep the stylish silver characters on a black background.
All number plates must also have a specific format:
There are exceptions for personalised plates, which can follow one of three different number plate formats we’ll discuss below.
Motorbikes must follow the same colour, character size, and font regulations as all other vehicles, however, there are some small differences. Motorcycles registered after 1 September 2001 should not have a front number plate, while those registered before this date can have one along their front mudguard if they wish. Motorcycles’ back number plate must also have the 7 characters covering two lines rather than one.
Number plates that don’t meet these regulations can face a fine of up to £1000 and fail an MOT test, so it’s important that you get your number plate from an approved number plate supplier when having one made to ensure it complies with the law.
Personalised or custom number plates are available for all kinds of vehicles from caravans to motorbikes, however, they must also adhere to strict regulations to be allowed on UK public roads. Personalised plates are a way of showing off your personality, celebrating you or a loved one or their interests, job or anything unique and – crucially – inoffensive.
The DVLA won’t permit personalised plates that can represent any obscenities, offensive terms, or anything too controversial, so you need to have your licence plate approved before having it manufactured to ensure it will be allowed on the roads. You can use show plates on your vehicle which don’t need to comply with the DVLA’s laws, however, they are not road-worthy, so your vehicle may only be used on private roads and private property if it has show plates.
Most UK number plates follow the format: AB 12 CDE
However, you can also buy specialist plates with the format ABC 123 or A 1 BCD
The latter may be easier to personalise for a motorbike as the characters will have to cover two lines.
You can get your number plates by:
You can also customise your plates further by changing the materials of the characters, such as with the 4D clear krystal effect, or the 4D double clear krystal which makes the characters float in front of the plate.
Standard UK number plates are rectangular and measure 20” x 4” (520 mm x 111 mm), which would not be safe to fit on a motorbike, so motorcycles have square plates. Motorcycle number plates are typically 9” x 7” (228 mm x 178mm), which is not an exact square, but named as such as they’re typically squarer than standard car number plates. Scooters, mopeds and motor tricycles also typically have the same size plates as motorbikes, but there is no exact rule regarding the size of motorbike number plates, as long as the character size, spacing and margins all adhere to regulations.
Japanese vehicles are a popular import to the UK and originally have square number plates, also known as JDM, or Japanese Domestic Market, number plates. However, any vehicle registered in the UK must adhere to the DVLA regulations, regardless of origin, so although original Japanese plates may look stylish, their colour, character font and size don’t match UK regulations and they typically have Japanese characters on the plate as well. So, to be road-worthy in the UK, your Japanese vehicle must get a new registration plate that meets the UK’s regulations.
However, as square plates are legal in the UK, you can choose to have a similar number plate made for your vehicle, such as the square Japanese plate from the Number Plate Clinic.
As with all vehicles, it’s a legal requirement for your motorbike to have lights to be fit for use on the road. Motorcycles must have headlights, rear lights, indicators, brake lights, and reflectors that are operational at all times, regardless of the time of day for the safety of the rider and other road users. Riding a motorbike without the proper lights can result in fines and penalties.
Many motorcycles are also fitted with a white light that illuminates the rear number plate to ensure it’s visible at all times of the day. However, this is not a legal requirement, so if your motorbike or moped doesn’t have one, it’s not an issue. If your bike does have a rear number plate light, however, it must be fully functioning and angled correctly to pass its MOT.
For cars and bikes with rear number plate lights, they can only be white lights; any other colour is illegal in the UK.
You can ride your motorcycle abroad even if it’s registered in the UK, however, you must follow some standard regulations as well as those related to the country you’re in.
GB stickers are no longer valid abroad, so if you have one, you need to replace it with a UK sticker. Some number plates have “UK” on the left-hand side, this is sufficient. However, if your number plate does not have one, you need to put a sticker on your motorbike to ride abroad.
If you want a custom number plate that meets DVLA standards, look no further than the Number Plate Clinic! Get in touch with our team of dedicated customer service professionals and get a new, custom number plate for your car or motorbike from our workshop after just showing us your ID and vehicle registration details.
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