[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Read this article to learn how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate, and what you should look out for in these attractive plates.
With the ever-rising popularity of non-standard number plates, you might want to know how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate when you’re walking through a car park. From what they look like to how they feel and what materials are used to make them, 3D gel plates are stylish and classy without being too obvious – only making it more popular for anyone who prefers the more “low-key” look.
At Number Plate Clinic, we consider ourselves the best alternative to Halfords for all of your number plate needs, and like to keep you informed. Here, we will discuss how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate, so that you can keep an eye out when you’re wandering around town.
Also called 3D gel resin or 3D domed gel plates, these number plates are made with an acrylic or aluminium sheet base and the laser-cut characters are secured to it with an industrial adhesive. The characters get covered with polyurethane gel resin, which gives them the attractive raised profile that we all love – and it’s also the reason for the name.
3D gel number plates have grown in popularity over recent years thanks to their glossy and attractive appearance, with more and more people going out of their way to get quality plates that will set them apart from the rest. However, what makes a high-quality 3D gel plate, and how do you spot them in a crowd? What’s more – are you actually allowed to have these plates of vehicles for road use?
As long as you follow the rules and regulations set out by the government, 3D gel number plates are perfectly legal. This allows the plates to be scanned and identified by cameras, ULEZ, and ANPR without any issues – just like 4D plates.
While 3D gel plates are legal, they are deemed a vehicle modification. Because of this, you should declare them when doing your insurance – not every company will care, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. These plates will not have a negative impact on your MOT if they are legal – unlike carbon gel plates, which are illegal in the UK.
Below are the number plate regulations that will determine if a number plate is road legal or not:
Unfortunately, not every number plate you see on the roads or in the car park are high-quality. In fact, if you know what to look out for, you will notice that many – if not most – are sub-par, to say the least. You might notice reflective films that are peeling, white patches in black characters, or an overall rough and unsightly plate.
BS AU 145e : 2018 specifies that all number plates should be tested to ensure that the plates can be read by cameras, but also to test durability and quality. Here are the revised standards:
Looking at the above, it’s incredibly difficult to know how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate without doing in-depth tests in most cases. However, we can focus on things like the appearance of the plate to help determine if it is a quality plate or not.
When looking for 3D gel plates, you need to understand what the characteristics of these number plates are. Luckily, they are notably different compared to other plate types, so spotting them shouldn’t be difficult.
The key characteristics of 3D gel number plates are:
In comparison, these are the characteristics of a standard number plate:
If you want to know how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate among a sea of plates, look for all the characteristics we mentioned above, and have a close look at the base of the plate. A quality plate will be smooth and have characters that are stuck on securely. The gel resin will be accurate over the characters, and have a neat look to them as well as a glossy finish.
Although you can’t easily tell how old a number plate itself is, there are usually clues that you can use to infer this data. You can look for usual signs of wear and tear and what vehicle it’s attached to, but these can’t give you a real answer.
A bad quality number plate will look older than it is, and you can easily attach a 3D gel plate or even a 4D plate to a classic car, which will tell you nothing about its age.
The materials that are used to make a 3D gel number plate include an acrylic or aluminium sheet for the base of the plate, and the lettering is made from black vinyl that gets covered in gel resin. This resin should be clear and result in glossy and clear characters that can easily be seen from a distance.
For the base, the sheet needs to meet the UK guidelines and have the correct reflective material applied to it to ensure that it is road legal. A quality 3D gel plate will be easy to distinguish, with lettering that doesn’t easily fade and discolour over time, provided it is maintained.
Here at Number Plate Clinic, we like to keep you informed and updated with everything in the number plate world. From discussing the most expensive private plate to be sold in the UK and the new private plate laws of 2024 to looking at the difference between legal and show plates and what to do if your number plate falls off, we cover a range of topics. If you want to know why there is no Z in number plates, or which dimensional plates would work with your vehicle, we talk about it all.
If you want to purchase high-quality, DVLA-compliant number plates from us, why not have a look at our terms and conditions, privacy policy and refund policy? While you’re there, feel free to find out more about our affiliate program and workshop, or find out more by speaking with our customer service.
Now that you know how to spot a high-quality 3D gel number plate, are you going to consider getting some, or would you water observe from afar?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
