Motorbike Registration Plates

All motorcycles and tricycles must display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles and tricycles registered before 1.9.2001 can display a number plate at the front of the vehicle but are not required to.
If you have a two or three wheeled motor cycle or tricycle that has a body type of a four-wheeled vehicle, you MUST display a number plate at the front and back of the vehicle.

The characters may be smaller e.g.

Character Height: 64mm

Character Width: 44mm

Character Stroke: 10mm

Space between characters: 10mm

Space between groups: 30mm

Top, side & bottom margin: 11mm

Space between vertical lines: 13mm

Motorcycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must display a two-line number plate number plate.

Motorcycles registered prior to the 1 September 2001 may display a three-line plate, but one-line plates are illegal, irrespective of the date of registration of the motorcycle.

From 1 September 2001 all new number plates must display the new mandatory font. Combined with the new format registration mark, number plates will become clearer and easier to remember.

Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 need not be changed provided the character font used is substantially the same as the one shown to the left.

Number plates must be replaced if they have been customised with:

Stylised letters and/or figures such as italics
Number plate fixing bolts that alter the appearance of the letters and/or numbers

Classic Plates since 1932

Embossed Plates

Digit Curved Embossed Plates

Current Plates

Motorbike Plate FAQ's

My mate says it¹s OK to get ride around with a smaller number plate, so long as the letters are the same size as on a normal sized plate - is he right?

No. From 1st September 2001 a new set of laws came into force for UK motorcycle number plates, which are quite specific in listing the exact dimensions of the letters, spacing, height - even the margins around them to the edge of the plate ( which must be 11mm, by the way ).

You can't change the letter script, or font, from the `Charles Wright' typeface, or push letters or numbers together to make amusing spellings. The plate must have a BS AU145a number on it.

What about an old bike with VIC 5EXY written on it?

Pre 1973 bikes can have suitably old-fashioned plates with white, or silver letters on a black background, for that authentic look. Vehicles registered before 1st September 2001 can have slightly different spacing or lettering on them. The exact dimensions can be found on the DVLA website; www.dvla.org

If you have bought an older bike with an illegal plate on it, it is up to you to fit a plate that has the correct lettering and spacing. It¹s never usually a valid defence in court that you were unaware of something illegal on any motor vehicle.

Will I get points on my licence for a naughty number plate?

No. The maximum fine is £1,000. But the actual registration mark can be withdrawn by the DVLA as well, which then makes the bike illegal for road use.