Front Number Plate Law UK: Do You Need One and Where Does It Go?
Short answer: yes. The front number plate law UK drivers need to know is simple: every car, van and lorry registered in the UK must display a road-legal plate on the front. It has to be white with black characters, made to BS AU 145e, fixed upright and clearly readable. Motorbikes are the exception: if yours was first registered on or after 1 September 2001, it must not have a front plate. Driving without a proper front plate can mean a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT fail.
Written by the PlateBoss team, led by owner HD. We’ve been making plates since 2019 and are a DVLA-registered number plate supplier with a workshop in Hounslow, west London. Checked against the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, DVLA leaflet INF104 and GOV.UK guidance, October 2026. How we write our guides.
In this guide
- Front number plate law UK: what the rules say
- Where does the front plate have to go?
- No front plate mount? How we fit them
- Motorbikes and front plates
- What happens if you don’t have a front plate
- Ordering just a front plate
- FAQs
Front number plate law UK: what the rules say
Customers ask us about front plates all the time, and the answer is simple: you need a road-legal plate on the front of the vehicle. Here’s what that means in practice.
- Every car, van and lorry needs one. The only vehicles the front plate rule doesn’t cover are works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, plus motorbikes (covered below).
- White background, black characters. The front plate is white and the rear plate is yellow, both reflective, with black characters in the standard font.
- Made to the current standard. Plates fitted since 1 September 2021 must meet BS AU 145e and show the supplier’s name and postcode.
- Correct characters and spacing. The same sizes apply as on the rear: 79mm tall characters, 11mm between characters and 33mm between the two groups. Our number plate spacing guide has the full measurements.
- Fixed upright and readable. The law says the plate must be fixed vertically, or as close to vertical as is reasonably practicable, so the characters can be easily read in daylight from the area in front of the vehicle.
Where does the front plate have to go?
On the front of the vehicle, upright and where it can be read clearly. The regulations don’t give an exact spot, but on almost every car that means centrally on the front bumper or grille, and that’s where we fit them. A plate tucked low behind a splitter, angled up at the sky or hidden behind a tow eye cover isn’t going to meet the “easily readable” test.
Front plate missing or damaged? We make single front plates or full sets, road legal and made to BS AU 145e. Replacements from £29.99 a pair.
Order a front plateAsk us on WhatsAppNo front plate mount? How we fit them
Some cars arrive without a proper front plate mount: imports, some electric cars, and sports cars where the owner took the plate off for a “cleaner” look. That isn’t a reason to go without one. In our experience, fitting without a mount often ends up even more secure.
Depending on the car, we’ll do one of three things:
- Stick it on with adhesive pads. We use thinner-profile pads on flat surfaces and thicker 5mm pads where the surface isn’t perfectly flat. We’ve fitted plates straight onto grilles by cutting the pads to fit the recesses, which gives a really secure fit.
- Use a number plate holder. A holder or bracket gives the plate a flat, upright base where the bumper doesn’t have one.
- Screw it on. Where there’s somewhere solid to fix to. Bear in mind that drilling through a PlateBoss plate voids our 3-year warranty, which is why we usually go for pads or a holder. See pre-drilled number plates for how to drill one properly if you have to.
If you’re fitting it yourself, our guide on how to install number plates walks you through it. Clean and dry the surface first and press the plate on firmly so the pads bond properly.
Motorbikes and front plates
Motorbikes work the other way round. If your bike was first registered on or after 1 September 2001, the law says a registration plate must not be fixed on the front. You only need the rear plate. Older bikes registered before then may show a front plate, but don’t have to. Our motorbike number plate size guide covers the rear plate rules in full.
What happens if you don’t have a front plate
- A fine of up to £1,000. Not displaying your registration correctly is an offence, and a missing front plate is about as obvious as it gets.
- An MOT fail. A missing registration plate is a major defect in the MOT. Our guide to number plate MOT fails covers the other plate problems that fail the test.
- It gets noticed. Some speed cameras and many number plate recognition cameras read the front plate, so a missing or hidden one stands out.
The same applies to a front plate that’s there but isn’t legal, such as a show plate with a novelty font or squeezed spacing. Our show plates guide explains what to look out for.
Ordering just a front plate
We get occasional orders for a front plate on its own, mostly after an accident has cracked it or it’s been stolen. It’s no problem: we make a single front plate in exactly the same way as a pair.
You’ll still need to show your V5C (or another entitlement document) and photo ID, as explained in our guide to the documents needed for number plates. If your plate was stolen, report it to the police first; our guide on what to do when your number plates are stolen explains why.
Front plates and fixings
Get your front plate sorted today. Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch with free tracked delivery, or collect from our Hounslow workshop and we’ll fit it for you.
Shop number platesCollect in HounslowWhatsApp usFront number plate law UK: FAQs
Is it a legal requirement to have a front number plate in the UK?
Yes, for cars, vans and lorries. They must display a road-legal front plate: white, reflective, black characters, made to BS AU 145e and fixed upright where it can be read. Works trucks, road rollers, agricultural machines and post-2001 motorbikes are the exceptions.
Does the front number plate have to be in the centre?
The law doesn’t name an exact spot, but the plate must be on the front, upright and easily readable. On nearly every car that means centrally on the bumper or grille, which is where we fit them.
Can I stick my front number plate on instead of screwing it?
Yes. Strong adhesive pads are a secure way to fit a front plate, including on cars without a mount. We use thinner pads on flat surfaces and thicker 5mm pads on uneven ones, and we can cut pads to fit grille recesses.
Do motorbikes need a front number plate?
No. Motorbikes first registered on or after 1 September 2001 must not have a front plate. Older bikes may display one but don’t have to.
What is the fine for not having a front number plate?
Up to £1,000. A missing plate is also a major defect, so the vehicle will fail its MOT.
Can I order just a front number plate?
Yes. We make single front plates, usually for customers whose plate was cracked in an accident or stolen. You’ll need your V5C or another entitlement document and photo ID, the same as for a pair.
