[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why are people getting 4D number plates, and what makes them so popular? Read this to find out what you need to know and get your new plates.
Looked around the car part or roads lately and noticed a lot of dimensional plates? Have you started asking yourself, ‘why are people getting 4D number plates?’?
The truth is more simple than you might imagine. There are no conspiracies and nothing strange is going on – people just love the look of 4D plates, so they are becoming more and more popular! If you don’t understand why people are opting for these plates, or you just don’t know a lot about these types of number plates, we will walk you through what you need to know in this blog.
By the end, who knows – maybe you will want some 4D number plates for your vehicle as well.
You might be familiar with 3D plates, but 4D plates are a step up from these. They have gained a lot of popularity over recent years since becoming road legal, and continue to take the country by storm. With nothing to suggest that they will become illegal, they are the best alternative to traditional number plates and are a fantastic option for high-end vehicles, or if you want to enhance your car’s overall look.
These plates are laser cut with acrylic and are three-dimensional (not four-dimensional, sorry), adding some added class to your vehicle’s overall look. The characters on these plates stand directly out of the background instead of being flat. This means that if you were to shine a light on the plate, the characters would cast a shadow.
Unsurprisingly, 4D plates will not make you fail your MOT and are perfectly visible to cameras, ULEZ, and ANPR, and they are made using fully DVLA-compliant and legal materials – provided you get them from a registered seller like us. However, as getting these plates is considered a modification to your vehicle, you should declare them when doing your vehicle insurance. Any plate other than the standard printed plate should count as a modification, so always keep this in mind when looking at dimensional plates.
Yes, 4D plates are perfectly road legal – if they follow the rules and regulations set out by the UK government. Any type of plate can be illegal if these rules aren’t followed, so don’t think that 4D plates are the only ones under constant scrutiny.
According to the government website, these rules must be followed in order for 4D plates to be legal:
As long as you follow these rules, plus a few more you can find on the government website, you should have nothing to worry about, and your plates are perfectly legal.
So, why are people getting 4D number plates, and why should you consider upgrading your vehicle with 4D plates? Like we said, the answer is simple – 4D plates are modern and stylish, and can elevate any car’s look with a small change.
There are different kinds of 4D plates, with the most popular being 4mm and 5mm plates, but there are also 4D hex plates that will add something a bit different.
The 4D gel plate is a combination between the laser cut characters that the 4D plate uses and the gel effect that 3D gel plates use. These plates also come in 4 and 5mm depth options, but with the added gel style to make the characters glossy and stand out that much more.
It looks like 4D plates are going to stay popular for a good while yet. Or, at least until something new and more attractive comes along.
Although trials are ongoing for E-Plates in the US, it will probably still be a while yet before these new, technologically advanced plates with radio frequency identification (RFID) will become accessible to most. This means that you can enjoy your 4D plates for years to come, so you don’t need to worry about splashing out only for them to suddenly become unpopular.
The reason why so many people are getting 4D number plates is because they are modern and stylish, but also because they are now legal, readily available, and easy to install. Not only that, but there are also fun customisation options that you can look into while still keeping the plates legal – it’s hard to beat that.
You will probably spend less time cleaning your plates, since 4D plates are more resistant to being obscured thanks to their raised characters. So, if you live somewhere that forces you to drive on dirt roads, 4D plates could actually save you from fines from obscured characters.
Besides the slightly higher cost, the only real disadvantage of 4D number plates is the possibility that you might be wrongfully fined for having them by officers who have not stayed up-to-date with new licence plate laws. If your plate is legal (as in, it follows all the rules and regulations set out by the government), you have not cut it down, and it is not obscured, you should dispute this fine.
You should stay updated on new private plate laws that came into effect in 2024, and make sure that you follow regulations accordingly. Not only that, but remember that there are number plate variations that are illegal, like carbon gel plates.
Unless being modern and stylish is a crime, there are no other real disadvantages to 4D number plates. If there were, would they be as popular as they are now?
At Number Plate Clinic, we like to keep you posted on everything you should know in the number plate world. From news posts about 4D plates replacing carbon gel plates to why there is no Z in number plates, you might find something useful in our collection.
As the best alternative to Halfords for all your number plate needs, we also want to give you the tools to do some of the work yourself – like how to fit number plates (spoiler: it’s easier than you think) or even picking the perfect plate for you.
So… Why are people getting 4D number plates more and more often? Their attractive style and modern look can pull any car together and enhance its overall look. They are readily available, with interesting (and legal) customisation options, and they make you stand out from the crowd.
If you weren’t convinced about 4D plates before, do you think you would want to try them out now?
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