Help centre
Straight answers to common number plate questions
From document checks and road-legal specifications to delivery, fitting and returns, everything important is explained below.
Read our legal plate and document guide →Ordering and delivery
The practical details about designing, ordering and receiving your plates.
How do I order number plates online?
Use our plate designer to enter your registration, choose the plates you need and select the finish, size, badge and fixing options available. Review the configuration in your basket, choose delivery or collection, complete any required document checks and then pay securely through Stripe.
Can I order a single front or rear plate?
Yes. You can order a front plate, a rear plate or a front-and-rear pair. The designer shows the price for the exact combination you select.
How quickly will my plates be made?
Plates are usually made the same day when ordered before 3pm. Posted plates are normally sent the same day when ordered before 2pm. For later collection orders, contact us first to check if same-day production is possible. Plates need approved documents before production, and timings can vary during busy periods.
Do you offer delivery and collection?
Yes. You can choose tracked UK delivery or free collection during checkout. For collection orders, collection is by an arranged time only. Wait until we confirm your plates are ready and agree a collection time before travelling.
Will I receive tracking information?
When a delivery order is dispatched, tracking information will be sent using the contact details supplied at checkout where the selected delivery service provides it.
Can I buy number plates as a gift?
Yes. You can order plates for someone else if you know the registration they need. For road-legal plates, the required identity and registration entitlement checks must be completed before we make them. If you want the gift to be a surprise, contact us before ordering so we can explain the checks.
Do you sell registration numbers or private plates?
We make the physical number plates; buying plates from us does not buy or transfer the right to use a registration. If you have a private registration, it must be correctly assigned before you display it on a vehicle.
Can I order a fixing kit without buying plates?
Yes. The Extras section of our shop offers screws with coloured caps, adhesive pads and PLEXICLICK frame mounts as separate items. You can add a fixing kit to your basket without ordering plates.
What if I entered the wrong registration?
Contact us immediately with your order reference. Plates are made to order and production can begin quickly, so we cannot guarantee that a registration can be changed once production has started.
Road-legal plates and documents
What makes a plate road legal and what we need before producing one.
Are you registered with the DVLA?
Yes. The Number Plate Specialists is registered with the DVLA as a number plate supplier.
What documents do I need for number plates?
DVLA rules require a registered supplier to see original documents that prove your name and address and show that you are entitled to use the registration. We will explain the accepted documents and complete the checks before a road-legal plate enters production.
How long does document approval take?
We review uploaded documents within one hour. If an upload is not accepted, we contact you to request a new upload. Production starts once the required checks are complete.
Do show plates need documentation?
Yes. As our business policy, all number plate orders, including show plates, require identity and registration-entitlement documents to be uploaded before payment and approved before production. One set of documents can cover a mixed basket. Document checks do not make a show plate road legal; show plates are for display or off-road use only.
Can I order plates for a private registration?
Yes, provided the registration has been assigned correctly or you hold valid entitlement evidence such as the relevant V750, V778 or other accepted DVLA document. The registration must not be displayed on a vehicle until DVLA has assigned it to that vehicle.
What is the difference between a road-legal plate and a show plate?
A road-legal plate is produced in a compliant specification for use on a vehicle and includes the required supplier and British Standard markings. A show plate is for display, exhibition or off-road use only and must not be used on a public road.
Are 3D gel and 4D plates road legal?
They can be road legal when the complete plate meets the applicable rules, including the permitted solid-black character style, spacing, materials, reflectivity and required markings. Some decorative styles and options are show-plate only, so choose the road-legal option in the designer.
How thick are your 3D gel, 4D acrylic and 4D gel characters?
Our 4D acrylic characters are 3 mm deep. Our 3D gel characters are approximately 2 mm deep, and our 4D gel characters are approximately 5 mm deep overall, including the acrylic and gel layers. These figures refer to the raised characters, not the total thickness of the plate.
What materials do you use to make your plates?
We use Nikkalite reflective materials and quality acrylic components sourced from specialist number plate wholesalers in the UK. Our road-legal plate components have been tested for BS AU 145e compliance. We inspect every finished plate for imperfections before it leaves our workshop. The complete plate and its configuration must also meet the applicable road-use requirements.
Can you change the spacing or alter letters to make a word?
Not on a road-legal plate. The registration must use the prescribed font, character size and spacing, and characters must not be moved, altered or misrepresented. Decorative spacing can only be considered for a show plate that will not be used on the road.
What colours should UK number plates be?
For most vehicles, the front plate has black characters on a white reflective background and the rear has black characters on a yellow reflective background. Different rules can apply to some historic vehicles and specialist cases.
What does BS AU 145e mean?
BS AU 145e is the British Standard used for modern UK number plates. A compliant plate must meet requirements covering durability, visibility, reflectivity and construction, and it carries the standard number together with the supplier details.
Plate styles and sizes
Choosing the right appearance and format for your vehicle.
Which number plate styles do you offer?
Our range includes printed, 3D gel, 4D acrylic, 4D gel, diamond bevel, shadow, ghost, retro, JDM/import, motorcycle and other specialist options. Availability depends on the plate use, size and configuration selected.
Do your Ghost plates avoid ANPR or speed cameras?
No. Ghost is our marketing name for a character style, not a camera-evasion feature. Our Ghost characters are not designed to hide your registration from cameras, and we do not claim that they are invisible to cameras.
Do you sell infrared-reflective or camera-blocking ghost plates?
No. We do not supply plates intended to interfere with ANPR, speed cameras or infrared imaging. Those so-called ghost plates are different from our Ghost character style and are not suitable for road use.
Can I use Ghost character plates on the road?
Ghost is a style name. Road legality depends on the finished plate meeting the number plate rules, not its marketing name. Select a road-legal configuration in the designer and complete the required document checks. Show-only configurations must not be used on a public road.
How do I know which plate size fits my vehicle?
Most UK cars use a standard 520 × 111 mm oblong plate. Imports, motorcycles, 4x4s and vehicles with shaped recesses may need another format. Measure the existing plate or recess carefully and contact us before ordering if you are unsure.
Do you make shortened number plates?
Yes. A shortened plate can be made where the registration allows enough space while retaining the required margins, character size and spacing. It cannot be cut shorter simply by reducing legal spacing.
Do you supply motorcycle and JDM/import plates?
Yes. We offer motorcycle and JDM/import formats. The correct size and legal layout depend on the vehicle and registration, so check the available options carefully or ask us before ordering.
Can I add a country identifier or green flash?
Optional permitted identifiers are available on suitable road-legal configurations. A green flash should only be selected for an eligible zero-emission vehicle. Other decorative badges are limited to show-plate use.
Can I order a trailer plate?
Yes. The designer includes trailer plate options in standard oblong and selected specialist formats. Make sure you use the registration required for your trailer and contact us if you are unsure which rules apply.
Fitting, returns and support
Help after ordering and what to do if something is not right.
Do you offer a fitting service?
Yes. For road-legal plates collected from us in Dunlop, East Ayrshire, near Kilmarnock, select professional fitting at checkout for £15 per plate set. Multiple sets are charged £15 each. After you order, we contact you to arrange an appointment. Fitting normally takes 10–30 minutes depending on the vehicle, old adhesive pads and rusted screws. Please arrive at your agreed time.
Do your number plates come with a warranty?
36 months against manufacturing defects, which covers the plate, the print and the bond between the layers and the plate. It does not cover damage from fitting, impact, power washing or chemicals. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights.
How should I look after my plates?
Clean them with warm water, mild car shampoo and a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive pads, harsh chemicals and pressure washing very close to raised characters or plate edges.
Can I return made-to-order number plates?
Because number plates are personalised and made to your specification, standard change-of-mind cancellation rights may not apply once production has started. This does not affect your rights if an item is faulty, damaged or not as ordered. Please read our Returns page for full details.
What should I do if my order arrives damaged or incorrect?
Contact us as soon as possible with your order reference and clear photographs of the packaging and plates. Keep all packaging while we investigate and we will explain the next step.
How can I contact you about an existing order?
Contact us at any time using the contact page, phone or WhatsApp. We usually reply to messages within 10 minutes and no later than one hour. Include your TNPS order reference so we can find the order quickly.
Still have a question?
Send us a message with your vehicle, registration or order details and we'll help you choose the right option.
Contact us