A cracked or faded dealer plate lets down a clean bike. Custom motorbike number plates are one of the easiest upgrades you can make, and you can make them look very different without breaking the law. This guide covers the styles, finishes and extras you can choose for a custom motorcycle plate, what has to stay the same, and how to order one.
What Can You Customise on a Motorbike Plate?
More than most riders think. A road legal custom plate can change:
- The style of the characters: flat printed, raised 3D gel, or laser-cut 4D.
- The finish: gloss black or matte black characters.
- A border: an optional line border around the plate.
- A flag: the Union flag, St George, the Saltire or the Welsh dragon, with an identifier such as UK or GB.
- A green flash for eligible zero emission bikes.
- How it is fixed: sticky pads or screws.
Motorbike Plate Styles Compared
| Style | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2D printed | Flat, clean, classic | A simple, low-cost replacement |
| 3D gel | Glossy domed characters with depth | A polished upgrade that suits most bikes |
| 4D gloss black | Raised laser-cut characters with crisp edges | A bold, premium look |
| 4D matte black | Raised characters with no shine | Stealthy, blacked-out and naked bikes |
On a motorbike the characters are smaller than on a car, so raised 3D and 4D characters make a big difference to how the rear of the bike looks. For more on the finishes, see our guides to 3D gel plates and 4D laser cut plates.
What Has to Stay the Same
However custom you go, a plate you ride on the road must still:
- be reflective yellow, with solid black characters in the standard font;
- show the registration on two lines, with no rearranged or altered characters;
- use the legal motorbike character sizes, which is why the standard plate is 9 x 7 inches;
- carry the BS AU 145e mark and the supplier’s name and postcode.
Coloured characters, tinted plates, novelty fonts and undersized “mini” plates are not road legal. They are show plates, for display at shows and off-road use only. Our guide to motorbike number plate rules has the full details.
Personalised Motorbike Number Plates
If you own a personalised registration, it can go on a motorbike just like a car, as long as it is assigned to the bike with the DVLA and does not make the bike look newer than it is. Once it is on your V5C logbook, or you have a V750 or V778 certificate for it, we can make the plate. A custom 4D or 3D gel plate is a good way to show off a private number, as long as the characters are not spaced or altered to spell a word.
Keeping Your Plate on the Bike
- Vibration: bikes shake far more than cars. Our 3D and 4D characters are fixed with a vibration-resistant adhesive so they stay put.
- Fixings: screws are the most secure option on a bike hanger or tail tidy; sticky pads give a cleaner look if the mounting is flat and solid.
- Tail tidies: if you fit an aftermarket tail tidy, make sure the whole plate is still clearly visible and properly lit.
- Cleaning: wash the plate with the bike using a soft cloth. Avoid pressure washing the edges of raised characters up close.
How to Order a Custom Motorbike Plate
Design yours with our motorbike number plate builder: pick 2D printed, 3D gel, 4D gloss or 4D matte, then add a border, flag or green flash if you want one. Custom motorbike plates start from £14.99. By law we must check you are entitled to the registration, so the builder asks you to upload proof of ownership and proof of ID.
Orders placed before 1pm are dispatched the same day, and standard delivery is free on orders over £19.99. Or visit our shop at 133 Henry Street, Accrington, BB5 4EP, where plates are made while you wait.
