Show plates let you style a registration in ways a road legal plate never could: tinted backgrounds, carbon characters, unusual sizes and more. But they come with one big rule, and getting it wrong can cost you up to £1,000. This guide explains what show plates are, where you can and cannot use them, the styles available, and how to get the look on the road legally.
What Are Show Plates?
A show plate is any number plate made for display rather than for driving. Because it does not have to meet the BS AU 145e standard, it can break the normal rules on colour, size, font and finish. Show plates are popular for car meets, shows, photo shoots, showrooms and track days, where the car is parked up or off the public road.
Are Show Plates Road Legal?
No. Show plates are for display and off-road use only. Every vehicle driven on a UK road must display number plates that meet the legal rules: the BS AU 145e standard, the standard font and spacing, reflective white at the front and yellow at the rear, and the supplier’s name and postcode. A show plate does not meet them, so driving on a public road with one can lead to:
- a fine of up to £1,000;
- an MOT failure;
- and, for a personalised registration, the DVLA withdrawing it if it is displayed incorrectly.
That includes driving to and from a show. The law applies the moment the car is on a public road, wherever it is going. For the full rules on road legal plates, see are ghost plates legal? and are 4D number plates legal?
Where Can You Use Show Plates?
- Car shows and meets, once you are parked up on the show ground.
- Track days and other events on private land.
- Photo and video shoots, including car photography and social media content.
- Showrooms and dealerships, for display vehicles.
- Garages and man caves, as wall art or memorabilia.
The simple approach most enthusiasts use: keep a road legal set on the car, and swap to your show plates once you arrive. Sticky pads make that awkward, so a plate holder or screw fixings make swapping easier. See our number plate accessories.
Show Plate Styles
Because they are not bound by the road rules, show plates open up far more choice. Our show plates builder includes:
| Option | Choices |
|---|---|
| Character styles | Carbon 3D, carbon 4D, 3D gloss black gel, 4D gloss or matte black (3mm or 6mm), 4D domed (5mm or 8mm), 4D retro |
| Plate sizes | Standard oblong, shorter lengths, hex, import, 4×4 square, and oversized rear plates |
| Tinted plates | Tinted oblong and shorter tinted sizes |
| Flags and badges | Printed, 3D gel or 4D flags, including UK, England, Scotland and Wales, plus EV badges |
Popular Show Plate Looks
- Tinted show plates: a smoked background for blacked-out and stealth builds.
- Carbon 4D: raised characters with a carbon-fibre effect, a favourite on performance cars.
- 3D gel show plates: glossy domed characters on a non-standard size or style.
- Hex and short plates: to fit smaller recesses or give a cleaner look on show cars.
- Motorbike show plates: smaller or custom plates for bike shows, which are not legal on the road. Our motorbike number plate rules explain why.
Want the Look on the Road?
You can get a lot of the show plate style on a plate that is road legal. Raised characters are allowed, as long as they are solid black in the standard font and spacing:
- 4D number plates in gloss or matte black, 3mm or 6mm deep.
- 3D gel number plates with domed, glossy characters.
- A legal flag or green EV flash on the left-hand side.
Not sure which is which? Our guide to ghost plates vs 4D plates explains where the line is between a stylish legal plate and an illegal one.
Order Show Plates
Design your custom show plates online from £19.99, or browse all our show plate styles. 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.
