Number Plate Flags and Badges: What’s Legal in the UK?

Number plate flags, the short answer: UK number plates can show one of four flags: the Union flag, the Cross of St George, the Saltire (Cross of St Andrew) or the Red Dragon of Wales, with a matching national identifier such as UK, GB, ENG, SCO or CYM underneath. The flag must sit above the letters, can’t go in the plate margin, and neither can be more than 50mm wide. Anything else, like the EU flag, football club badges or other logos, isn’t on the permitted list. If you drive abroad, a UK identifier with the Union flag means you don’t need a separate UK sticker.

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 GOV.UK guidance on flags, identifiers and stickers, and DVLA leaflet INF104, October 2026. How we write our guides.

In this guide

• Flags and identifiers you can use
• Where the badge goes
• GB, the EU flag and driving abroad
• What isn’t allowed
• What our customers choose
• FAQs

Flags and identifiers you can use

GOV.UK lists the permitted flags and the permitted identifiers. The pairings above are the natural matches. A flag is always optional: a plate with no badge at all is perfectly legal.

Where the badge goes

• The flag must be above the identifier.
• Neither can go in the plate margin. The legal margin around the registration has to stay clear.
• Neither can be more than 50mm wide.
• The badge usually sits on the left of the plate, and the registration keeps its normal font, size and spacing.

Because the badge takes up width, it can affect how short a plate can be. Our guide to number plate sizes explains the maths.

GB, the EU flag and driving abroad

People still ask us for GB badges and the EU stars. Here’s where they stand:

• GB is still on GOV.UK’s list of identifiers you can show in the UK. But if you drive abroad with a GB identifier, you must also display a UK sticker.
• The EU flag isn’t on the current list of flags you can display. Older plates with it still need a UK sticker abroad.
• UK with the Union flag is the only combination that means you don’t need a separate UK sticker abroad.

Because of that, we only stock UK badges now. It’s the one option that works at home and abroad without a sticker.

You also need a UK sticker abroad if your plate has no flag or identifier, or the flag of England, Scotland or Wales.

What isn’t allowed

• The EU flag or any other country’s flag
• Football club badges, car brand logos or any other images
• Slogans or extra text
• A green band or flash on a car that isn’t zero-emission. The green flash is only for zero-emission vehicles; see green flash number plates.

Plates with unofficial badges are usually sold as show plates. Our guide to show plates vs road legal plates explains the risk: a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT fail.

What our customers choose

Our gel UK badges are the most popular choice. The raised gel finish matches 3D gel and 4D plates well.

The same badges are available on motorbike and trailer plates, so a bike or a caravan can match the car. See our guides to motorbike plate sizes and trailer number plate rules.

Plates you can add a UK badge to

Select options

4D 3mm Gel Number Plates

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£64.99

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3D Gel Number Plates

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£49.99

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Bevelled Number Plates

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£69.99

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Replacement Number Plates

Rated 5.00 out of 5

£29.99

Number plate flags: FAQs

Sources

• GOV.UK: Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers
• DVLA INF104: Vehicle registration numbers and number plates
• GOV.UK: Displaying number plates