⚡ Fast UK Dispatch  |  Legal Road Use  |  BS AU 145e Compliant

4D NUMBER
PLATES

Laser cut raised letters in 3mm acrylic, made to BS AU 145e in the correct Charles Wright font by a DVLA registered number plate maker. Pick the size that fits your car, then choose front, rear or a matching pair.

SIZING OPTIONS

Pick the size that fits your car, then choose front, rear or a pair on the product page. Road-legal sizes need proof of entitlement; show plates don't.

Most popular Yellow 4D rear number plate with raised gloss black letters
Road legal

Standard Oblong

520 × 111mm — the size fitted to almost every UK car and van. Choose front, rear or a matching pair.

£22.99shipped View
Yellow and white 4D show plates with raised lettering
Show only

Oblong 4D Show Plate

Same raised 4D letters as our road-legal oblong, but it can say whatever you like. No V5C, no entitlement check.

£22.99shipped View
Coming soon
AB12
CDE
279 × 203mm
Road legal

Square / 4x4

279 × 203mm. The tall two-line plate fitted to imports, 4x4s and vehicles without room for a full-length plate.

Coming soon View
Coming soon
AB12
CDE
229 × 178mm
Road legal

Motorcycle

229 × 178mm. Two-line yellow rear plate for bikes. Motorcycles registered since 2001 don't need a front plate.

Coming soon View
Coming soon
AB12 CDE
520 × 111mm
Road legal

Trailer & Caravan

520 × 111mm. Yellow rear plate matching the towing vehicle's registration. Required on any trailer towed on UK roads.

Coming soon View
Coming soon
ANY TEXT
Show use only
Show only

Hex Show Plate

Angled hexagonal edges instead of square corners. A show-only shape — it can't be used on the road in any form.

Coming soon View

Scroll for more →

Plain English

WHAT 4D
ACTUALLY MEANS

4D means the characters are cut from 3mm acrylic and bonded to the face of the plate, so they stand proud of it. Run your finger across one and you can feel every letter. The plate underneath is the same road-legal build as our flat plates.

The name is a marketing one rather than a technical one. 3D usually means a domed gel character with a rounded top; 4D means a flat-topped acrylic letter with a square edge. 4D gel is the two combined — an acrylic letter with a gel dome on top.

On legality, the honest answer is that a raised plate is legal only if it is made properly. BS AU 145e requires characters to be a single solid shade of black with the correct font, height and spacing. Ours are cut from solid black acrylic with no shading, no highlights and no outline, which is what keeps them compliant. A raised plate with a grey edge, a coloured trim or a shadow effect is not legal, whoever sells it.

Built To Last

WHAT GOES INTO
EVERY PLATE

🏆
Premium Acrylic Rigid, crack-resistant 3mm acrylic — not thin flexible plastic
✨
Reflective Backing BS AU 145e compliant retroreflective film — fully road legal
🖨️
Laser Printed Characters Crisp, clean Charles Wright font — no peeling, no fading
📐
Exact UK Legal Size 520 × 111mm standard — correct margins and stroke widths
Choose your plates

From £22.99  ·  Fast UK dispatch

4D Questions

WORTH
KNOWING

What does 4D actually mean on a number plate?
The characters are cut from 3mm acrylic and bonded onto the plate face, so they stand proud of it rather than being printed flat. The plate itself is the same road-legal build underneath.
Are 4D plates road legal?
Yes, when they're made correctly. The law asks for characters in a single solid shade of black, in the right font, height and spacing. Ours are cut from solid black acrylic with no shading or outline, which meets that. What isn't legal is a raised plate with a coloured edge, a shadow effect or a tinted backing — so it's worth knowing what you're buying, wherever you buy it.
What's the difference between 3D and 4D?
3D usually means a gel character with a rounded, domed top. 4D means a flat-topped acrylic letter with a square edge, which gives a sharper, more modern look. 4D gel is both together — an acrylic letter with a gel dome on top. It describes the finish, not the shape or size of the plate.
Which size do I need?
Measure your existing plate, or the recess it sits in. Almost every UK car and van takes the standard 520 × 111mm oblong. If your current plate is short and tall rather than long and thin, you need the square size instead. If you're unsure, send us a photo before ordering rather than guessing.
Will your details be printed on my plate?
Yes, and they have to be. UK law requires every road-legal plate to carry our name and postcode along with the British Standard number, in small text along the bottom edge. It's a legal requirement, not branding.

View all FAQs