Short Number Plates Explained: What Lengths are 100% Road Legal in the UK?
Standard UK number plates measure 520mm × 111mm. However, if your registration consists of fewer than 7 digits (e.g. "A1 ABC" or "123 AB"), having 100mm of empty blank space on each side can look unbalanced on sportier bumpers. Here is what UK law says about shortening your plate length.
1. The 11mm Border Margin Rule
UK road legislation specifies the exact dimensions of the characters (79mm × 50mm) and requires an absolute minimum border of 11mm between the character group and the edge of the plate.
As long as the 11mm margin is maintained on all four edges, the overall plate length can be trimmed down without violating BS AU 145e or DVLA regulations.
2. Standard Short Sizes We Laser-Cut
• 6-Digit Registrations: 405mm × 111mm (Saves 115mm off standard length).
• 5-Digit Registrations: 330mm × 111mm (Saves 190mm off standard length).
• Hex Supercar Plates: 530mm × 130mm with beveled angular corners for sports bumpers.
Summary & Key Takeaways
- •Short plates are 100% MOT legal for 5 and 6-digit registrations.
- •The mandatory 11mm margin around letters must be preserved.
- •Short plates with 7 digits are illegal because characters would be squashed.
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