4D plates
4D Number Plates from £17.45 per plate
Laser-cut acrylic characters, bonded to the plate — single plates or matching pairs, made to order.
- DVLA-registered supplier(RNPS 75449)
- Royal Mail deliveryUK-wide
- Ilford collection availableReady within 3 hours
- Order by 2pm Mon–FriSame-day dispatch aim
Replacement plates
Replacement 4D Number Plates
Need to replace a damaged, lost or worn 4D plate? We make like-for-like replacements in the correct legal format, using the same high-quality laser-cut acrylic finish from our range.
Cracked acrylic, damaged backing or missing characters
If a character has come loose, cracked, or the backing plate is damaged, the fix is a full replacement plate — we don't sell individual replacement characters as a repair for a plate that's already on the road, since a plate with mismatched or re-applied characters may not meet the display requirements.
Replacing a lost front or rear plate
Order just the one you've lost, in the size of the plate you're keeping.
Replacing one plate and matching character depth
Order a single front or rear plate. We'll match our own acrylic depth and finish; an exact match to another manufacturer's 4D plate isn't guaranteed, as acrylic thickness varies between suppliers.
A new compliant layout for incorrectly spaced plates
We make your registration to the correct legal spacing, so a replacement for a non-compliant plate may look different from the original — that's the version that meets the current rules.
Know the difference
Laser-Cut Acrylic Characters — What Makes a Plate 4D?
4D number plates have characters cut from solid black acrylic and bonded onto a reflective acrylic plate, rather than printed or gel-domed on top of it. The result is a sharp, flat-topped character with a defined edge.
Some suppliers call an acrylic-plus-gel finish “4D gel” — on ReplacementPlates that's our 5D product.
Comparison
4D vs 3D vs 4D Gel — Which Finish Suits You?
4D
Laser-cut solid acrylic, bonded to the plate.
From£17.45
- Characters
- Laser-cut solid acrylic, bonded to the plate
- Edge
- Sharp, flat-topped
- Look
- Crisp and defined
3D Gel
Domed polyurethane resin over printed characters.
From£17.45
- Characters
- Domed polyurethane resin over printed characters
- Edge
- Rounded, soft
- Look
- Smooth and glossy
Sizes and options
4D Number Plate Thickness, Sizes and Options
Our 4D characters are laser-cut from solid acrylic. If you're looking for a deeper, gel-topped finish, see our 5D plates, also known as 4D gel.
Standard Size
520mm × 111mm. Shorter sizes may also be available for this style — the builder will show what's offered once you enter your registration.
Motorcycle Options
4D finishes may be available on selected motorcycle plate formats — the builder will show what's currently offered for your registration.
Measuring for a Replacement
Measure both your existing plate and the available mounting area on the car, since a plate that's the right size on paper still needs to fit the actual recess and fixing points.
Legal information
Are 4D Number Plates Legal?
Yes, when made correctly: solid black, non-reflective characters at the legal size and spacing, on the correct reflective background, with the required supplier and British Standard markings.
This is separate from the DVSA MOT check, which looks at whether characters are correctly formed, evenly spaced, secure and not obscured — it doesn't check for the supplier's name, postcode or BS mark on the plate.
- Charles Wright Typeface
- Legal Size and Spacing
- Correct Reflective Background
- Supplier Markings (British Standard)
How to order
Order 4D Plates Online — Documents and Preview
Enter your registration, choose front, rear or a pair, and preview before you buy.
Enter Your
RegistrationType your number plate into our builder to see the available options.
Choose Plate
OptionsSelect front, rear or a pair and choose your preferred style and size (where available).
Preview Your Plate
See a live preview of your 4D number plate with your chosen options.
Add to Basket
and CheckoutOnce you’re happy with your plate, add to basket and complete your order.
Documents
Identity and Registration Documents
To order number plates, we need to verify your identity and that you’re entitled
to use the registration number. You can provide the following documents.
Proof of Your Name and Address
Driving licence; utility, Council Tax or rates bill or bank/building society statement from the last 6 months; or national identity card. A passport or bank card proves your name only.
- Driving Licence
- Utility Bill
- Council Tax Bill
- Bank Statement
- National Identity Card
Proof You Can Use the Registration
Your V5C logbook or its green new-keeper slip, a V750 certificate of entitlement, a V778 retention certificate, a V11 tax reminder showing the registration, a V379 temporary registration certificate, a stamped V948 (physical authorisation) or an electronic eV948 confirmation, or a letter from a fleet or lease company quoting your V5C document reference number.
Delivery and collection
4D Plate Delivery and Same-Day Ilford Collection
Standard Royal Mail First Class delivery is £3 on orders under £15 and free on orders of £15 or more. Upgrade to Royal Mail Tracked 24 for an additional £2. Royal Mail delivery times are aims, not guarantees. First Class aims for the next working day (including Saturday). Order before 2pm Monday to Friday for same-day dispatch once checks are complete.
Royal Mail First Class
Standard delivery with Royal Mail’s next-working-day aim (including Saturday).
- Standard
(Free over £15) - Next-working-day
aim (Mon–Sat)
Royal Mail Tracked 24
Add Royal Mail Tracked 24 for £2 at checkout for extra peace of mind.
- Tracked 24
(+£2) - Order before 2pm
(Mon–Fri)
Ilford Collection
Collect from Castleview Gardens, Ilford, IG1 3QF.
Message us on WhatsApp to confirm same-day availability before you travel.
Message on WhatsAppCare and support
Fitting, Cleaning and Warranty Support
Wash with car shampoo and a soft cloth. New orders carry a 6-month manufacturing-defect warranty from the delivery or collection date, in addition to your statutory rights. A warranty covers manufacturing defects; it is not a statement that a product is approved for road use. If you think a plate has a fault, contact us and we'll assess it.
Clean Gently
Wash with car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Avoid Scratching
Do not scrape ice or dirt off the acrylic characters with anything hard.
Warranty Support
If you think a plate we made has a manufacturing fault, contact us and we’ll assess it.
Guides
Helpful Guides and Information
Answering the most common questions and helping you choose the right number plate for your vehicle.
FAQs
4D Number Plate FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about our 4D number plates.
Per plate. A pair is £34.95.
We're confirming the exact specification against our current catalogue and will update this page once it's verified.
Acrylic-only 4D has sharp, flat-topped characters. A gel-topped version — sometimes called 4D gel — is our 5D product. 5D plates
They're legal when made to the current rules — see above. Passing an MOT depends on the plate being correctly fitted, clean and undamaged, not just correctly made.
We'll match size and use our own acrylic finish; an identical visual match to a different supplier's plate isn't guaranteed.
The builder shows the sizes and options offered for your registration. Short plates
Ready within 3 hours (contact us via WhatsApp to confirm same-day collection). Please confirm before travelling.
Dispatch is when we send your order; delivery is when Royal Mail gets it to you, on their own next-working-day aim, not a guarantee.
If your vehicle is eligible, choose the EV or UK+EV option in the builder. EV plates
If it's a manufacturing fault, contact us and we'll assess it.
Ready to order
Order Your 4D Number Plates
Enter your registration, choose your options, and preview your 4D number plates before you buy.
- Fast DispatchOrder before 2pm
- DVLA RegisteredRNPS 75449
- Secure CheckoutSSL Encrypted