Do Gel Number Plates Pass an MOT?

Gel number plates are a popular alternative to traditional flat number plates due to the unique look and style of the raised numbers. That being said, many people worry over the legality of driving on public highways with stylised plates.

In this article, we’d like to dispel some of the common misconceptions out there so that you can choose a number plate that’s right for you.

 

What is a Road Legal Plate?

Legally speaking, there are two types of number plates: road legal plates and show plates. There are no legal restrictions on what you can have as a show plate although, of course, you are not allowed to drive with show plates on public highways. This means that you could even have fully custom text and, so long as it’s only being used as a show plate, it’s not a problem.

 

If your plates are road-legal then, as the name suggests, you can use them on public roads but, as such, you’re far more restricted. Put simply, the text needs to display your vehicle’s exact legal registration, so any number plate that could make your registration harder to read is generally banned.

What The Law Says About 3D and 4D Plates

Although 3D and 4D gel number plates are stylised they are perfectly road-legal and will pass an MOT. This is because, unlike tinted/smoked plates, 3D and 3D gel number plates are perfectly easy to read, despite the text being raised. 

 

Most of the confusion around the legality of gel number plates dates back to a decision made in September 2021 by the government to ban shaded 3D number plates. This was because the use of two separate shades to create the 3D effect could make the plate harder to read from a distance.

 

Due to an unclear government statement about the policy, many people thought that this applied to gel number plates as well. This information was then shared many times on social media and so the misconception has stuck around, even though the government did later issue a statement clarifying that gel plates are 100% road-legal.

Where To Buy High-Quality Gel Number Plates

If you want excellent, high-quality gel number plates then Your Car Reg is here to help.

 

With us you can choose from an incredible selection of choices and the final result will be a high-quality product that you’ll be proud to display wherever you go.

 

For the very best in custom number plate services, contact us today by emailing yourcarreg@gmail.com.