Are Number Plate Surrounds Legal? Holders and Frames Explained
Are number plate surrounds legal? The short answer: yes, number plate holders and surrounds are legal in the UK, as long as they don’t cover or change any part of the registration. The law says a plate must not be fixed in a way that makes the characters less easy to read, and the plate itself still has to meet every normal rule. A slim, frameless holder that sits behind the plate is the safest choice.
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 on number plates, October 2026. How we write our guides.
In this guide
- What the law says about holders and surrounds
- Surrounds that can get you in trouble
- The holders we sell
- Holders, screws or adhesive pads?
- FAQs
What the law says about holders and surrounds
There’s no specific law on number plate holders. What counts is the effect on the plate. Under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001:
- A plate must not be fixed in a way, including through its fixings, that changes the appearance of the characters or makes them less easy to read.
- Front and rear plates must be fixed vertically (or as close as practicable) and be easily readable in daylight. Our guide to number plate position law explains the readability test.
- The rear plate must be lit at night so it can be read.
The plate itself must also carry the supplier’s name and postcode and the British Standard number, BS AU 145e. A surround shouldn’t hide those markings either.
Surrounds that can get you in trouble
Most problems come from thick or decorative surrounds rather than plain holders. Avoid anything that:
- Overlaps the characters, even slightly at the top or bottom edge.
- Covers the margin markings: the supplier’s name and postcode or BS AU 145e.
- Adds a tinted, smoked or clear cover over the plate, which makes it harder to read.
- Uses screws or bolts that land on a character and change how it looks.
Incorrectly displayed plates can mean a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT fail.
Want a holder that keeps your plate legal? Ask us about our frameless holders, £20 a pair with screws and adhesive pads included.
Visit our Hounslow workshopAsk us on WhatsAppThe holders we sell
At the moment we stock one type: frameless holders. They sit behind the plate, so nothing covers the characters or the markings, and they’re £20 a pair, supplied with both screws and adhesive pads so you can fit them either way.
Frameless holders are useful when a car’s mounting point is uneven, when you’d rather not drill the bumper, or when you want a plate to sit perfectly flat and level.
Holders, screws or adhesive pads?
You don’t need a holder to fit plates. Adhesive pads are our default: extra-strong adhesive pads mean no drilling, and drilling a plate voids our warranty. Our guides to pre-drilled number plates and how to install number plates explain the options. A holder is a good extra when the surface isn’t flat or you want a cleaner, more secure finish. If you’d like to take the plate off without re-sticking it, a magnetic number plate fixing kit is the other no-drill option; see are magnetic number plates legal?
Plates and fitting kit
Plates and holders sorted in one visit. Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch with free tracked delivery, or collect from our Hounslow workshop.
Shop number platesCollect in HounslowWhatsApp usAre number plate surrounds legal? FAQs
Are number plate surrounds legal in the UK?
Yes, as long as they don’t cover or change any character and don’t hide the supplier and BS AU 145e markings. The plate must stay easy to read.
Are number plate holders legal?
Yes. A plain holder that sits behind or around the plate without covering anything is legal.
Can a dealer surround make my plate illegal?
Only if it covers part of the characters or markings, or makes the plate harder to read. Check the edges of the characters and the bottom of the plate.
Are tinted number plate covers legal?
No. Covers that make the characters less easy to read break the rules, and can mean a fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT fail.
How much are PlateBoss number plate holders?
Our frameless holders are £20 a pair, with screws and adhesive pads included.
