Short Number Plates

22,290 reviews
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Price:
A great place to buy number plates

Just what I wanted at a reasonable and delivered promptly.

Bill Weston, 2026-05-23
Great service and quality plates well…

Great service and quality plates well packaged and quick delivery

yvonne scott, 2026-05-21
Easy to use

Easy to use. Looks exactly as it depicted. Fast delivery.

Mr Carpenter, 2026-05-19
Great

Order processed quickly and efficiently. Cant fault the quality.

Darryl Coates, 2026-05-22

Custom Sized Short Number Plates Made Using the Latest Laser Cutting Technology!

Tired of clunky, oversized plates that diminish your custom registration?

Traditional number plates can look oversized on vehicles with shorter registration numbers, creating an unbalanced, bulky appearance. Standard plate sizes are the same for registrations with fewer characters, and can make the design feel unnecessarily large and awkward.

Short plates are tailored to your specific registration length, and offer a compact and tidy alternative that complements your vehicle.

Get your 100% road legal short plates today with our custom plate builder.

What are short number plates?


Short number plates are shorter in width than traditional plates. The standard size for a UK number plate is 520 mm by 111 mm. A shortened 4-character plate can be as small as 287mm x 111mm.

The character sizes and shapes on short number plates are the same as they are on traditional plates, as these must comply with registration plate standards.

However, At Number1Plates, we can lower the width of the plates to match the length of your registration.

This allows for a neater, more compact design, particularly for custom plates that feature fewer characters than traditional 7-character plates.

We're constantly
expanding our collection,

so if you have a plate type in mind, reach out to us to discuss your requirements.

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Are short number plates legal?


Short number plates are road legal as long as they comply with number plate regulations.

If they don’t meet British Standards (BSAU 145e) and rules for correct spacing, you could face fines, failed inspections, and other legal issues.

At Number1Playes, all of our small plates are DVLA approved, 100% road legal and MOT-acceptable.

Once we know your registration, we can laser cut your plates to the perfect size.

If you need something completely bespoke and not part of our smallest legal number plate range, then take a look at our custom number plates page.

Are short number plates DVLA approved?


Yes! As long as they meet the correct spacing, along with meeting the required British Standards, then all of our shortened number plates are completely in line with laws and regulations. Cut down number plates offer a brilliant legal way to reduce the impact that a registration plate can have on your vehicle.


Small number plate sizes


The full legal size for traditional plates is 520mm x 111mm. This is the most common type of registration plate that you see on the roads in the UK, and all new vehicles display this style.


If you want a personalised registration that’s smaller, there are a range of shortened options to choose from. We offer a number of different sized legal short number plates, with the largest being a slightly shortened seven letter plate, and the shortest licence plate being for four letters.


The sizes for these are as follows:


  • 4 Characters: 287mm x 111mm
  • 5 Characters: 348mm x 111mm
  • 6 Characters: 409mm x 111mm
  • 7 Characters: 470mm x 111mm

If you have any questions about short plate sizes, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

How much are short licence plates?


Our shortened reg plates start from as little as £30 for a set of front and rear plates, making them some of the most affordable plates on the market.


Custom short number plate options


Personalise your short number plates with our custom plate builder.

It’s fun and easy to use, and comes with a range of styles and features to choose from, including standard printing, 3D gel, 4D laser style, and more.

If you’d like to take it further and add ‘V’ cut sides or an oval finish, get in touch and our helpful customer service and manufacturing teams will do all they can to fulfil your wishes.

Whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered.

Why choose Number 1 Plates?

We’re a leading short plate provider in the UK with years of experience in the industry.

As a DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier, all our plates follow the DVLA’s guidance and regulations. We also offer:

Need more info on our short number plates for sale? Get in touch.

What Our Customers
Say About Us?

22,290 Trustpilot reviews

Rajesh P

Superb service

Superb service, 4D plates look brill. Delivery driver turned up late though, so 4 stars.

2026-05-23

Sarah Jane

Couldn't believe how good the shaped…

Couldn't believe how good the shaped plate looks on my Range Rover Sport. The curve is perfect and it sits flush on the bumper. Absolutely love it..

2026-05-23

Dave

Well made plates quickly delivered.

Ordered road legal and MOT compliant plates. Delivered quickly. Plates have been fitted to van now and appear well made. No issues to report and would have no hesitation recommending Number1Plates.

2026-05-23

E O

Communication was spot on!

Communication was spot on! Delivery was right on time despite me making a mistake with my order which was rectified within the timeframe & did not affect delivery timing. Plate is just how I imagined, would definitely recommend!

2026-05-23

Explore Our Plates

Real-life examples from our satisfied customers.

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