Short Number Plates

What is a short number plate?

A short plate carries the same registration as a standard plate but on a narrower plate body, with the characters arranged to suit the reduced width. A standard UK car plate measures 520 × 111 mm. We supply short plates at 406 × 111 mm (16") and 457 × 111 mm (18").

Short plates are usually fitted where a full-length plate simply will not sit properly: Japanese and American imports, 4x4s with a narrow bumper panel, and cars with a recessed plate holder that a 520 mm plate overhangs.

Which size do I need?

• 16" (406 × 111 mm) — the smallest short plate we make, for tight recesses and shorter registrations.
• 18" (457 × 111 mm) — a good balance where a full 520 mm plate is slightly too wide.
• Measure the space you have before ordering, and check your registration fits the width you choose.

Finishes available on short plates

• Standard printed — a clean factory-style replacement.
• 3D gel — raised domed gel characters with a gloss finish.
• 4D 3mm, 4D Bevelled and 4D Gel — laser-cut acrylic characters with real depth.
• Ghost — low-contrast tone-on-tone characters for a stealth look.
• Front plate, rear plate, matching pair or a Mix & Match pair.

How to order

Everything is built in one place. Open the plate builder, type your registration, choose your size and style, then pick a front plate, rear plate, matching pair or a Mix & Match pair. You will see your registration on screen in the style you have selected before you pay.

Next-day UK delivery available, with free delivery on orders over £55 (£5.99 below that). Order before 12:00 PM Monday to Saturday for same-day dispatch. Free adhesive pads are included with every plate order, and a fixing kit with colour-matched screw caps can be added in the builder.

Road legal or show plate

Choose road legal and your plates are made to the British Standard layout and spacing required for UK road use, including the correct font, character sizes and supplier markings. Once your order is placed we contact you on WhatsApp to collect your V5C and photo ID before anything is made.

Choose show plate and you can go further with sizes, borders, tints and effects. Show plates are supplied for off-road display, exhibitions and photography, and are not for use on UK public roads.