Short plates
Short Number Plates from £17.45 per plate
Narrower plates for shorter registrations — legal character size and spacing, made to order in any style.
- 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 Short Number Plates for Damaged, Lost or Worn Plates
Need to replace a damaged, lost or worn short plate? We make like-for-like replacements in the correct legal format, using the same high-quality short-plate finish from our range.
Replacing a damaged short plate
If a short plate is cracked, faded or damaged, a new plate is the fix. Order a single front or rear plate, or a matching pair, at the size your registration needs.
Replacing a lost front or rear plate
Order just the one you've lost, in the size of the plate you're keeping.
Can we match your existing short plate?
Order a single front or rear plate in the same short size and style as the one you're keeping. An exact match to another supplier's plate isn't guaranteed, as materials and finish vary between makers.
Printed, 3D, 4D or another finish
Every style we make comes in this format: printed, 3D gel, 4D acrylic, 5D, Ghost or Bevel. You can change the finish without telling the DVLA, as long as the registration itself isn't changing.
Know the difference
What Are Short Number Plates?
A short number plate is narrower than the standard 520mm, to suit a shorter registration such as a dateless private number. The characters stay at the legal size and spacing — the plate is shorter, not the characters.
Our short sizes run from 470mm (up to seven characters, including the space) down to 226mm (up to three), all 111mm tall. The builder picks the size that fits your registration, in any of our styles.
Comparison
Short vs Standard Number Plates — Which Size Fits?
Short
226–470mm × 111mm.
From£17.45
- Size
- 226–470mm × 111mm
- Fits
- Shorter registrations and recesses
- Characters
- Legal size and spacing
Standard
520mm × 111mm.
From£12.45
- Size
- 520mm × 111mm
- Fits
- Most registrations and cars
- Characters
- Legal size and spacing
Sizes and options
Short Number Plate Sizes and Options
Short plates come in five widths, all 111mm tall. The builder picks the size that fits your registration, keeping the legal character size and spacing.
Short Sizes
470, 409, 348, 287 or 226mm wide, all 111mm tall — for registrations of up to 7, 6, 5, 4 or 3 characters, spaces included.
Motorcycle Options
Short plates may also be available on selected motorcycle 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 Short Number Plates Legal in the UK?
Yes, when made correctly: solid black characters at the legal size and spacing, on the correct reflective background, with the required supplier and British Standard markings. A short plate fits a shorter registration by being narrower — never by squeezing the characters.
This covers how the plate must be made and displayed. It’s a separate question from what a DVSA MOT tester checks — whether the characters are correctly formed, evenly spaced, secure and not obscured.
- Charles Wright Typeface
- Legal Size and Spacing
- Correct Reflective Background
- Supplier Markings (British Standard)
How to order
How to Order Short Number Plates Online
Enter your registration, choose front, rear or a pair, and preview
your plate 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 short 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
Short Number Plate Delivery and 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
Caring for Your Short Plates and Warranty Support
Keep your short number plates looking their best. Wash with car shampoo and a soft cloth, and avoid scraping ice or dirt off the plate with anything hard. If you think a plate we made has a manufacturing 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 plate 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
Short Number Plate FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about our short number plates.
470mm, 409mm, 348mm, 287mm and 226mm wide, all 111mm tall. The builder picks the size that fits your registration.
A short plate is £5 more than the same style at standard size, and a short pair is £10 more. In Standard that's £17.45 for one plate and £34.95 for a pair.
Yes. Choose Standard, 3D Gel, 4D, 5D, Ghost or Bevel in the builder; the price updates as you choose.
Yes, when the characters keep the legal size and spacing — see the legal section above.
Yes. The builder lets you choose each plate's size separately.
Measure your plate's mounting area first; a short plate suits a shorter registration and a recess with room around it.
Ready within 3 hours (contact us via WhatsApp to confirm same-day collection). Please confirm before travelling.
Yes. The same delivery options and charges apply across every plate we make.
Contact us and we'll assess it.
Ready to order
Order Your Short Number Plates
Enter your registration, choose your options, and preview your short number plates before you buy.
- Fast DispatchOrder before 2pm
- DVLA RegisteredRNPS 75449
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