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Motorbike Number Plates: Motorcycle and Scooter Plates

The complete guide to motorbike number plates in the UK. Covering sizes, legal requirements, styles, materials and how to order motorcycle plates online from Numberplates 4 You.

Build Your Motorbike Plates Now

Buy Motorbike Number Plates Online

Numberplates 4 You manufactures road legal motorbike number plates for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Every motorcycle plate we produce is made to the current British Standard (BS AU 145e) and is fully compliant with DVLA regulations.

Our online number plate builder lets you design your motorbike plates in minutes. Choose your lettering style, add optional extras like badges or borders, and place your order through our secure checkout. Motorbike plates start from just £15.99, and orders placed before 2pm on weekdays are dispatched the same day via DPD next day delivery.

As a DVLA registered number plate supplier, we verify your identity and entitlement documents before dispatching, so you can be confident your plates are fully legal and ready for the road.

What Size Are Motorbike Number Plates?

The standard size for a UK motorbike number plate is 228mm x 178mm (9 x 7 inches). This is the size that fits the majority of modern motorcycles, scooters and mopeds registered in the UK.

Unlike car plates which display characters on a single line, motorcycle number plates must show the registration on two lines, with the age identifier on top and the random letters below. Single-line motorbike plates are not legal.

The exact minimum size of your plate depends on the length of your registration mark. Shorter registrations allow for narrower plates, provided the required margins around the characters are maintained. If you are unsure, our plate builder will calculate the correct dimensions automatically based on the registration you enter.

motorbike number plates

Motorbike Number Plate Character Specifications

The dimensions of the characters on motorcycle number plates are set by law and vary depending on when the vehicle was first registered. Getting these right is essential for your plate to be legal.

Motorcycles Registered After 1 September 2001

This covers the vast majority of bikes currently on UK roads. The requirements are:

  • Character height: 79mm
  • Character width: 50mm (except the number 1 and letter I)
  • Stroke thickness (the black print): 14mm
  • Space between characters: 11mm
  • Space between the age identifier and random letters: 33mm
  • Margins at top, bottom and sides: 11mm minimum
  • Vertical spacing between the two lines: 19mm

Motorcycles Registered Between 1 January 1973 and 31 August 2001

Slightly larger character dimensions apply to this period:

  • Character height: 89mm
  • Character width: 64mm (except the number 1 and letter I)
  • Stroke thickness: 16mm
  • Space between characters: 13mm
  • Space between age identifier and random letters: 38mm
  • Margins: 13mm minimum
  • Vertical spacing between lines: 19mm

Motorcycles Registered Before 1 January 1973

Classic and vintage motorcycles from this era use smaller character dimensions:

  • Character height: 64mm
  • Character width: 44mm (except the number 1 and letter I)
  • Stroke thickness: 10mm
  • Space between characters: 10mm
  • Space between age identifier and random letters: 30mm
  • Margins: 11mm minimum
  • Vertical spacing between lines: 13mm

Our plate builder handles these specifications automatically. Simply select the motorcycle plate size and enter your registration, and the correct character dimensions will be applied based on your registration format.

Motorbike Number Plate Styles

Every lettering style available for car plates is also available for motorbike plates. Choose from the full range on our plate builder.

standard plates

Standard

3d gel

3D Gel

4D number plates

4D Laser Cut

carbon

Carbon

highline

Highline

What Are Motorbike Number Plates Made From?

Motorbike number plates from Numberplates 4 You are available in two main base materials:

Standard ABS is a rigid, lightweight plastic that is the most commonly used material for motorcycle plates. It is durable, weather resistant and provides a clean, flat surface for printed or raised characters. ABS is the go-to choice for most riders and is the most affordable option.

Premium Acrylic is a thicker, more rigid material that offers a higher quality feel and greater resistance to bending and warping. Acrylic plates are particularly well suited to motorbikes where the plate may be more exposed to vibration, wind and road debris.

Both materials are available with the full range of lettering styles including standard printed, 3D gel, 4D laser cut, carbon, highline and more. The plate base uses retro-reflective yellow material as required by law (motorbike plates are rear-only, so there is no white front plate).

Are Motorbike Number Plates Legal?

Every motorbike plate manufactured by Numberplates 4 You is fully road legal. We are a DVLA registered number plate supplier, and all motorcycle plates are produced to BS AU 145e, the current British Standard governing the manufacture of registration plates in the UK.

For a motorbike number plate to be legal, it must:

  • Use the mandatory Charles Wright font for all characters
  • Display characters in black on a yellow retro-reflective background
  • Show the registration on two lines (single-line plates are not legal for motorcycles)
  • Meet the correct character dimensions for the vehicle’s registration period
  • Carry the BS AU 145e standard mark and the supplier’s registered name and postcode

Riding with a non-compliant number plate can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT failure. Our plates carry our DVLA supplier mark (NP4U, PE13 4LA) and meet every requirement for legal road use.

Black and Silver Vintage Motorbike Plates

If your motorcycle was manufactured in 1979 or earlier, it may be eligible for black and silver vintage number plates. These classic plates feature silver or white characters on a black background and are a popular choice among owners of vintage and classic bikes.

To qualify for vintage plates, your motorcycle must be registered as a historic vehicle with the DVLA. Vehicles in this category are also exempt from vehicle excise duty (road tax), so applying for vintage status through the DVLA covers both the plate eligibility and the tax exemption at the same time.

Numberplates 4 You manufactures vintage motorbike plates in the correct format and dimensions. You can select the vintage option on our plate builder when designing your motorcycle plates.

vintage motorbike plates

Can You Use Motorcycle Number Plates on a Car?

No. Motorcycle number plates and car number plates have different legal size and character specifications. A motorbike plate cannot be legally displayed on a car, van, lorry or any other vehicle that requires standard car-sized plates. The character dimensions, plate dimensions and layout rules are all different between the two categories.

If you need plates for a car or other four-wheeled vehicle, use our plate builder and select the appropriate car plate size. For motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, select the standard UK motorcycle size.

How to Order Motorbike Number Plates

Ordering motorbike plates from Numberplates 4 You is straightforward:

  1. Open the plate builder on our website and enter your motorcycle registration number. Remember to include the correct spacing.
  2. Select the motorcycle plate size. The standard UK motorbike size (228mm x 178mm) is listed in the size options.
  3. Choose your material and lettering style. Pick from standard printed, 3D gel, 4D laser cut, carbon, highline and more.
  4. Add any extras. Optional badges, borders and slogans are available to personalise your plate.
  5. Complete your order. Pay securely online and upload your identity and entitlement documents as required by DVLA regulations.

Orders placed before 2pm on weekdays are dispatched the same day. We ship via DPD next day delivery as standard, so you could have your new motorbike plates within 24 hours of ordering.

We also sell fitting kits for motorbike plates, including sticky pad kits, security screw kits and plate frames.

Design Your Motorbike Plates

Motorbike Number Plate FAQs

The standard UK motorbike number plate measures 228mm x 178mm (9 x 7 inches). This size fits the majority of modern motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. The registration must be displayed on two lines, not one.

Yes, provided the plate meets the minimum character sizing, spacing and margin requirements set out in BS AU 145e. Shorter registration marks allow for narrower plates because fewer characters need to be displayed. However, the margins and character spacing must still comply with the regulations. Our plate builder calculates the correct minimum size automatically.

Motorbike plates at Numberplates 4 You start from £15.99 for a standard printed plate. Premium styles such as 3D gel and 4D laser cut are priced higher depending on the finish. You can see the exact price on our plate builder as you design your plate.

Yes. Every lettering style available for car plates is also available for motorbike plates, including 3D gel, 4D laser cut (3mm and 5mm), carbon, carbon gel, highline and shadow gel. Select the motorcycle plate size on our plate builder and choose your preferred style.

Yes. As a DVLA registered supplier, we are legally required to verify your identity and your entitlement to the registration number before we can dispatch your plates. You will need one form of photo ID (such as a driving licence or passport) and one proof of entitlement (such as a V5C logbook). Documents can be uploaded during the order process.

No. UK law requires motorcycle number plates to display the registration on two lines. Single-line plates are not legal for motorbikes, regardless of how few characters are in the registration. All motorcycle plates manufactured by Numberplates 4 You use the correct two-line format.

Only if your motorcycle was manufactured in 1979 or earlier and is registered as a historic vehicle with the DVLA. Black and silver vintage plates are reserved for vehicles that qualify under the historic vehicle scheme. If your bike is eligible, you can select the vintage plate option on our plate builder.

All orders placed before 2pm on weekdays are dispatched the same day via DPD next day delivery. This means your motorbike plates could arrive as soon as the following working day. Orders placed after 2pm or at weekends are dispatched on the next working day. Tracking is provided with every order.

No. Car plates and motorbike plates have different legal specifications for character size, spacing and plate dimensions. A car plate cannot be legally displayed on a motorcycle, and a motorcycle plate cannot be used on a car. Always order the correct plate type for your vehicle.

Yes. We sell sticky pad kits, security screw kits and plate frames for motorbike plates. You can add these to your order when designing your plates on our plate builder, or order them separately.

Explore Our Full Range of Number Plate Styles

All of these styles are available for motorbike plates as well as car plates.

standard plates

Standard Plates

3d gel

3D Gel Plates

4d laser

4D Laser Cut

vintage

Vintage Plates

carbon gel

Carbon Gel

Order Your Motorbike Number Plates Today

Design and order road legal motorcycle plates from Numberplates 4 You. Choose from every lettering style, add optional extras and get same day dispatch before 2pm. Prices from £15.99.

Build Your Motorbike Plates

Motorbike Number Plates from Numberplates 4 You

Numberplates 4 You is one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of motorbike number plates. We manufacture motorcycle plates for every type of two-wheeled vehicle, from everyday commuter scooters to high-performance sportbikes and classic vintage motorcycles.

Every motorbike plate is made in house to BS AU 145e using quality materials and the latest production equipment. With a full range of lettering styles, competitive pricing starting from £15.99, and same day dispatch on orders before 2pm, we make it easy to get the plates you need without leaving your home.

If you have any questions about motorbike plate sizes, styles, fitting or legality, our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or head straight to our plate builder to design and order your motorcycle plates now.