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Displaying your registration number

Vehicle registration numbers must be correctly displayed on your vehicle number plate. It is an offence to rearrange them to make them look like names or words. Altering them in any manner that makes the vehicle registration number difficult to read or identify is also not allowed.

The registration number format

Vehicle registration numbers are a way of identifying vehicles. The current Northern Ireland vehicle registration number format consists of three letters, a space and four numbers.

The first three letters (the local memory tag) tell you the office where the vehicle registration number was first issued and the last four numbers are random.

Replacing your number plate

When replacing your number plate you should make sure that the correct material has been used to manufacture the plate. It should be made from a reflective material. Front number plates must display black characters on a white background and rear number plates must display black characters on a yellow background.

Also, the characters on a number plate need to be a standard height and width.

Your number plate should show the correct:

  • character height - 79 millimetres
  • character width - 50 millimetres (except the figure 1 or letter I)
  • character stroke - 14 millimetres
  • space between characters - 11 millimetres
  • space between groups - 33 millimetres
  • top, bottom and side margins - minimum 11 millimetres
  • space between vertical lines - 19 millimetres

Motorcycles and tricycles

Motorcycles registered from 1 September 2001 must only display a number plate at the rear of the vehicle. The number plate must be a 'two-line' number plate.

Motorcycles registered before 1 September 2001 can display a number plate at the front, but do not have to.

Motorcycle number plates should have a:

  • character height - 64 millimetres
  • character width - 44 millimetres (except the figure 1 or letter I)
  • character stroke - 10 millimetres
  • space between characters - 10 millimetres
  • space between groups - 30 millimetres
  • top, bottom and side margins - 11 millimetres (minimum)
  • vertical space between groups - 13 millimetres

Tricycles made from motorcycles must meet the number plate requirements for motorcycles.

Tricycles made from four-wheeled vehicles, such as saloon cars and quad bikes, must meet the same number plate requirements as all other vehicles.

How to get a number plate made up

To have a number plate made for your vehicle, you’ll need to go to a registered number plate supplier (RNPS). The registered supplier will need proof of your identity, as well as proof that the registration number belongs to you.

What could happen if you display incorrect number plates

The police can issue fixed penalty fines for illegally displayed number plates. Offenders could face a maximum fine of £1,000, and in some cases the number plate may be withdrawn.

Vehicles with illegally-displayed number plates may fail the MOT test.

The Euro symbol

If you display the Euro symbol and Great Britain (GB) national identifier on your number plate, then you’ll not need a separate GB sticker when travelling within the EU.

The symbol must meet the required standards. They are:

  • minimum height of 98 millimetres
  • minimum width of 40 millimetres to a maximum of 50 millimetres
  • retro-reflective blue background with 12 retro-reflecting yellow stars at the top
  • sign of the member state (GB) in retro-reflecting white or yellow

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