How to Install Number Plates: Pads or Screws, Step by Step
Short answer: how to install number plates in one line: take the old plate off, clean the surface properly, then fix the new plate with strong adhesive pads, screws, or both. Pads give a clean finish with no holes. Screws are more secure and harder to steal. It takes about 15 minutes a plate, and all you need is a cloth, cleaner, pads or screws, and a screwdriver.
We fit plates for customers at our Hounslow workshop every day. These are the same steps we follow, including the bits people usually skip.
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. Updated and checked against DVLA and GOV.UK guidance, September 2026. How we write our guides.
In this guide
- What you need
- Step 1: Remove the old plate
- Step 2: Clean the surface
- Step 3a: Fitting with adhesive pads
- Step 3b: Fitting with screws
- Step 4: Check it’s straight and secure
- Legal checks after fitting
- FAQs
What you need to install number plates
- Your new road-legal plates
- Strong double-sided adhesive pads, and/or screws with caps
- Soapy water or car shampoo, a microfibre cloth, and isopropyl alcohol or a panel wipe
- A screwdriver, and a drill only if your car has no existing holes
- A plastic scraper or fishing line for removing old stuck-on plates
- Masking tape and a tape measure to line things up
Step 1: Remove the old plate
If it’s screwed on, unscrew it. If it’s stuck on, slide fishing line or dental floss behind the plate and saw through the pads, working side to side. On a cold day, warm the plate with a hairdryer first so the adhesive softens. Don’t lever it off with a screwdriver, as that marks the paint.
Step 2: Clean the surface
This is the step that decides whether pads hold. Peel or roll off the old adhesive, wash the area with soapy water, dry it, then wipe it with isopropyl alcohol to remove wax and polish. Any wax left behind and the pads won’t bond properly.
Step 3a: How to install number plates with adhesive pads
- Fit it on a dry day, ideally not in freezing weather. Adhesive bonds much better when it’s warm.
- Stick pads to the back of the plate: one in each corner and a few along the middle, especially on the rear plate.
- Mark the plate position with masking tape so it goes on straight first time.
- Peel the backing, line the plate up with your tape, and press it on.
- Press firmly across the whole plate and hold for at least 30 seconds.
- Leave it 24 hours before washing the car or using a pressure washer.
Cheap pads are the most common reason plates fall off. Our extra-strong thick pads are £4.99 for 8. No front plate mount on your car? Our front number plate guide explains how we fit them.
Rather not fit them yourself? Bring your car to our Hounslow workshop with your V5C and ID. We’ll make your plates and fit them for you.
Visit our workshopAsk us on WhatsAppStep 3b: How to install number plates with screws
- Use the car’s existing mounting holes if it has them. Most cars do at the rear.
- Hold the plate in position and mark through the holes, or drill new holes in the plate to match the car. Never drill through a character. Not sure whether to drill at all? Read why we don’t sell pre-drilled number plates.
- If you need to drill into the car, check behind the bumper first. Parking sensors and wiring are often right there.
- Screw the plate on firmly, but don’t overtighten, or the acrylic can crack.
- Push on screw caps in a colour that matches the plate, white at the front and yellow at the back.
For the most secure fit, use pads and screws together. It also makes plates much harder to steal. If yours have already gone missing, here’s what to do if your number plates are stolen.
Step 4: Check it’s straight and secure
Stand back a few metres and check the plate is level and centred. Push each corner to make sure it doesn’t flex or rattle. At night, check the rear plate lamp lights up the whole plate.
Legal checks after installing number plates
- The front plate is white and the rear is yellow, both with black characters.
- The plates are firmly fixed, and not bent, cracked or partly covered by a holder.
- Nothing covers the characters: no tinted covers, screws through letters, or stickers.
- The supplier’s name, postcode and BS AU 145e mark are on the plate.
Plates that are loose, damaged or hard to read can fail the MOT. And if you’re buying new ones, a legal supplier will ask for your ID and V5C. Here’s the list of documents needed for number plates.
Plates and fitting kit
Need new plates to fit? Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch with free tracked delivery, or collect from our Hounslow workshop.
Shop road-legal platesCollect in HounslowWhatsApp usHow to install number plates: FAQs
How do I install number plates without drilling?
Use strong double-sided adhesive pads. Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol first, fit it on a dry, mild day, press firmly for 30 seconds and don’t wash the car for 24 hours.
Are sticky pads strong enough for number plates?
Yes, good quality thick pads are, as long as the surface is clean and free of wax. For extra security, use pads and screws together.
Can I drill through my number plate?
Yes, but never through a character, and use screw caps that match the plate colour.
How do I remove a stuck-on number plate?
Warm it with a hairdryer, then saw through the pads behind it with fishing line or dental floss. Don’t lever it off, as that can damage the paint.
Will badly fitted plates fail the MOT?
They can. Plates must be secure, undamaged and legible, and the rear plate lamp must work.
