Short Number Plates

Road legal short number plates in 13", 16" and 18" sizes and short hex, in every 3D, 4D and printed style, with short show plates too. Made to order in our UK workshop. Order by 8am Mon–Fri for same-day dispatch.

✓ Road legal   ✓ Made in the UK   ✓ FREE next day delivery* – order by 8am Mon–Fri

Short number plates that are still road legal

A short plate is any plate shorter than the standard 520mm car plate. They're popular with private registrations, which often have fewer characters, and on cars with a small or curved plate recess. Every road legal short plate we make meets BS AU 145e, is MOT compliant and is made by us as a DVLA registered number plate supplier.

You can have any of our road legal styles as a short plate: 3D gel, 4D acrylic, 4D gel, ghost, Retro Bevel, Elevate, Shadow, Two Tone or 2D printed. Pick a style below, then choose your size in the plate builder.

Short plate sizes and prices

Size Length Fits up to (as a guide) Extra cost
Short 13" 340mm 5 characters, e.g. AB 123 +£2.50
Short 16" 406mm 6 characters, e.g. ABC 123 +£2.50
Short 18" 470mm 7 characters, any current-style reg such as AB12 CDE +£2.50
Short Lambo hex 405mm or 460mm Depends on your reg; check it in the builder +£7.50

Prices start from £35.99 for a front and rear set, plus the size upgrade. You can choose a different size for the front and rear plate, for example a short front and a standard rear.

Are short number plates legal?

Yes. There's no minimum plate size in UK law. What the law fixes is the size of the characters and the gaps around them, so a short plate is legal as long as your registration fits on it at full size. That means:

  • Characters 79mm tall and 50mm wide (except the number 1 and letter I)
  • 11mm between characters and 33mm between the two groups
  • At least 11mm of plate around the edges
  • The standard Charles Wright font, with no squashed letters or closed-up spacing
  • Reflective white front and yellow rear, with our supplier name, postcode and the BS number

A plate made shorter by shrinking the letters or moving them closer together isn't road legal and can fail an MOT. We always keep your characters at full size, which is why a 7-character reg needs at least the 18" plate. Read more in Are short number plates legal in the UK?

What is the smallest legal number plate?

It depends on how many characters your registration has. Because the characters and spacing are fixed, the smallest legal plate is the one that just fits your reg with the 11mm margins. As a guide:

  • A 7-character reg like AB12 CDE needs about 460mm, so our 18" plate
  • A 6-character reg needs about 400mm, so our 16" plate
  • A reg of 5 characters or fewer fits our 13" plate

Narrow characters such as 1 and I take up less room, so some regs fit a smaller size than this. Enter yours in the plate builder to see it at the real size before you order.

Short show plates

Our show plates can be made short too, in the same 13", 16" and 18" sizes and short hex. Because show plates are for shows and display only, you can choose show plate spacing and space your reg your way to suit a shorter plate. Show plates aren't road legal and can't be used on public roads.

How we make your short plates

Every set is made to order in our UK workshop. We cut the plate to the size you choose, lay out your registration to the DVLA spacing rules and bond the laser-cut acrylic or gel characters with industrial-grade 3M adhesive. The plates are UV resistant, can be pressure washed and come with our 1-year warranty.

Add-ons and delivery

You can add a printed border and fixings such as sticky pads or our magnetic fitting kit. A flag takes up extra room on the left of the plate, so on a short plate it may only fit with a shorter registration. For road legal plates we need to see ID and proof that you're entitled to the registration, such as your V5C. See our documentation guide. Delivery is free on orders over £20, otherwise £2.99.

Short number plates: your questions answered

Are short number plates legal in the UK?

Yes, as long as the characters are full size and correctly spaced, and the plate meets BS AU 145e. Our road legal short plates are MOT compliant.

What sizes do short plates come in?

13" (340mm), 16" (406mm) and 18" (470mm), plus short Lambo hex plates at 405mm and 460mm. A standard car plate is 520mm.

Will my registration fit on a short plate?

As a guide, up to 5 characters fit the 13" plate, 6 fit the 16" and 7 fit the 18". Enter your reg in the plate builder to check.

Can I have a short front and a standard rear?

Yes. Choose the front and rear sizes separately when you design your plates.

Will a short plate pass an MOT?

Yes, if it's made to BS AU 145e with full-size characters and the correct spacing, as ours are.

Can I get short 4D or gel plates?

Yes. Every road legal style comes in all our short sizes, including 4D and gel.

Can I add a flag to a short plate?

Often, yes. The flag needs extra room on the left, so it depends on how long your reg is. Flags aren't available on hex plates.

Do short plates cost more?

Short sizes are £2.50 extra and short hex plates are £7.50 extra.

Can I get short show plates?

Yes. Every show plate style, including Neon, Krystal and Carbon, comes in our short sizes, and you can choose show plate spacing. Show plates are for shows and off-road display only.

Are short plates the same as motorbike plates?

No. Motorbike plates use smaller characters on two lines and are only for bikes. See our bike plates.

What do I need to order road legal short plates?

Proof of ID and proof that you're entitled to the registration, such as your V5C. You can upload them when you order.