Motorcycles and motor tricycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must only display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle.
If you ride a motorbike or motor tricycle registered before 1 September 2001 you can also display a number plate at the front, but you do not have to.
Motorcycle and motor tricycle number plate numbers should be on 2 lines. Yellow and black plates for vehicles registered after the 1st of January 1973, vehicle registered prior to this may have black and silver.
Understand British registration years here.
In the UK, the registration plate laws for motorbikes include the following key points:
- Display Location: Motorbikes registered on or after September 1, 2001, must display the registration plate only at the rear of the vehicle. For motorcycles registered before this date, the plate can be displayed at both the front and back, but it is not a legal requirement.
- Character Requirements: The characters on the number plate must be 64mm tall and 44mm wide, with a 10mm gap between characters and a 30mm gap between groups of characters. The plate must also be made of reflective material to ensure visibility at night.
- Legibility: The characters must be in the standard Charles Wright font, which is clear and easy to read. Custom fonts or styles are not allowed.
- Size Regulations: The smallest legal size for a motorcycle number plate is 180mm x 100mm (7.1 inches x 3.9 inches). The plate should also have a 10mm gap between characters and a 30mm gap between groups of characters.
- Legal Compliance: Ensure that the number plate complies with the DVLA regulations and that it is not offensive or rude. Personalized plates must adhere to the same size and font requirements as standard plates.
Display:
- Motorcycles registered on or after September 1, 2001: Must display the number plate at the rear only.
- Motorcycles registered before September 1, 2001: Can display the number plate at the front as well, but it’s not compulsory.
Format:
- Rear plates: Must be in a two-line format for motorcycles registered after September 1, 2001. Motorcycles registered before this date can have a three-line format.
- Character size and spacing: Must comply with the regulations set by the DVLA.
- Colour and reflectivity: Must be reflective and have a yellow background with black lettering.
Size:
- While there isn’t a specific standard size for motorcycle number plates, the characters must be 64mm tall and, excluding the numbers 1 and I, 44mm wide.
- The stroke of the characters must be 10mm thick.
- The spacing between characters must be 10mm, and the vertical space between the age identifier and random numbers must be 13mm.
- Consequences of non-compliance:
- Motorcycles with number plates that don’t meet the regulations can face a fine of up to £1000 and fail an MOT test.
Important notes:
- Always obtain your number plates from an approved supplier to ensure they comply with the law.
- If you are unsure about any aspect of number plate regulations, consult the DVLA website or an approved number plate supplier.
The permitted badges on UK registration plates include:
- Union Jack: The national flag of the United Kingdom, displayed on the left side of the plate.
- Green Euro Symbol: A green symbol representing the euro, displayed on the left side of the plate.
- Overseas Badge: A badge that allows travel abroad without the need for an Oval Sticker, displayed on the left side of the plate.
- National Flags: Flags of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, displayed on the left side of the plate.
- Green Flash: A green flash displayed on the left side of the plate for zero-emission vehicles.
These badges must be positioned above the identifier and cannot exceed 50mm in width. They are subject to the same standards and regulations as the number plate identifiers.
Please note this page was correct when written in August 2025.