Before you order
Glossy raised acrylic characters. Compare 3 mm, 5 mm and the configured 4D gel finish.
What you need to know
The 4D 3 mm option is preselected when available. You can compare it with other active finishes before ordering.
4D and 4D Gel Number Plates
Our 4D laser number plates give your registration solid, raised black characters that stand off the plate. Type your reg into the number plate builder, choose 3mm, 5mm or 4D gel, and we cut each character from black acrylic, bond it to a BS AU 145e plate and post it out ready to fit. Road-use and show/display orders are separate modes. Choose an active road-use specification; the finished plate must meet the applicable rules and remain correctly fitted and readable.
Glossy 3mm and 5mm acrylic options, plus the separately configured 4D gel finish
Characters in one solid shade of black, as the law requires
Front and rear pairs or a single plate
No glitter, neon edge, tinted or carbon background road plates
Build Your 4D Number Plates in Four Steps
Type in your reg. Enter the registration shown on your logbook. The builder renders it in raised characters with the correct font, size and spacing, so you see the finished 4D look before you pay. Checking a car you plan to buy? A free number plate check confirms the reg against the vehicle record.
Pick your depth and finish. Choose 3mm, 5mm or 4D gel, then the plate size, border and any flag. Price updates as you change options.
Attach two documents. After checkout, use your secure order link to provide the required name-and-address and registration entitlement evidence. Follow the document instructions; REGUP may request additional or original evidence before approval.
Cut, bonded and dispatched. Once the documents pass our check, the characters are laser cut, bonded to the plate and sent to you.
4D Laser Number Plates in 3mm, 5mm and 4D Gel
A 4D plate uses characters cut by laser from solid black acrylic sheet, so each letter has crisp square edges and real depth instead of a printed or domed surface. The depth you choose changes how bold the plate looks.
| Finish | Character build | Finished appearance |
|---|---|---|
| 4D 3mm | 3mm raised acrylic characters. | A crisp edge and glossy black face. |
| 4D 5mm | 5mm raised acrylic characters. | A deeper edge with a glossy black face. |
| 4D gel | The active acrylic-and-gel catalogue specification. | Raised characters with a rounded glossy gel top. |
These are separate configured finishes. Check the active option for your vehicle rather than assuming 4D gel is available in both acrylic depths. Select front, rear or a pair to see current catalogue prices; extras and delivery are confirmed before payment.
The active REGUP acrylic finishes shown here are glossy black. Character depth or gloss alone does not establish legality: the complete finished road-use plate must meet the applicable British Standard and display rules and is reviewed before production.
4D Plates Compared With 3D Gel and Standard Printed Plates
| Feature | Standard printed | 3D gel | 4D acrylic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character build | Flat printed characters beneath the acrylic face. | Raised gel characters. | Solid raised acrylic characters. |
| Visible edge | Flat. | Rounded and glossy. | Crisp edge with a glossy black face. |
| Depth | No raised characters. | Rounded gel profile; use the selected specification. | 3mm or 5mm on the corresponding active acrylic option. |
| Road use | Only when the complete finished plate meets the applicable British Standard and display rules; the style name alone is not proof of compliance. | ||
Prefer a softer, glossy raised finish? See 3D gel number plates. For the full range of finishes, borders and badges, go to custom number plates.
Road Legal 4D Plates: What the Law Allows
GOV.UK confirms that number plates can have raised characters. Since 1 September 2021, every new plate must meet BS AU 145e, which tightened the rules that decide whether a 4D registration plate is legal:
The entire surface of each character, including its sides, must be a single shade of black; coloured or contrasting effects are not acceptable
Characters that are not reflective and cannot be removed from the plate
The Charles Wright font at full size, with legal spacing between characters and groups
A plain reflective white front plate and yellow rear plate with no background pattern
The supplier name and postcode and the BS AU 145e mark on the plate
The standard also added a near infrared contrast test so ANPR cameras can read the characters, explained by the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association. Our full guide answers are 3D and 4D number plates legal with examples, and the wider UK number plate rules cover everything else on the plate.
Choose a 4D finish available in the builder
Compare the compatible 4D acrylic and 4D gel options displayed in the builder. A 3 mm or 5 mm description refers to character thickness, while a gel top gives the raised character a rounded surface. Check the selected finish and layout before ordering.
Road-use plates must meet the applicable UK display rules, including the requirements for black characters, colours, spacing and markings. A glossy appearance or a 4D name alone does not establish compliance.
Show/display mode is for off-road use only. It offers the configurations actually shown in the builder; it does not mean that every coloured, tinted or novelty finish is available.
4D Plates for Cars, 4x4s and Motorbikes
Choose from the active sizes offered for the selected vehicle and 4D finish. Standard car plates are 520mm x 111mm; other configured sizes appear in the builder with their dimensions. Character size and gaps never shrink to fit a plate, which keeps the legal character spacing intact on every format.
Cars and vans: matching 4D pairs in standard or short oblong sizes. All sizes are listed in plate sizes in mm
4x4s and imports: square and oversized 4D plates, see oversized and 4x4 plates
Motorbikes: a single rear 4D plate with 64mm characters, see motorbike number plates
Fitting and Caring for 4D Car Plates
Raised characters change how you fix the plate. Place screws in the margins or between character groups, never through a character, and use screw caps to finish them. Adhesive pads work well on a flat bumper recess and leave the face of the plate untouched.
Wash 4D plates with a soft mitt and keep a pressure washer lance at a sensible distance from the raised edges. Add number plate fixing kits at checkout, and see how to fit number plates for removing old plates and lining up new ones.
Documents for a 4D Registration Plate
A 4D plate is a registered number plate like any other, so a registered supplier must see proof of your name and address and proof of entitlement to the registration before it is made. A driving licence and a V5C cover most orders. Our guide to the documents you need lists every alternative.
Why Drivers Choose REGUP for 4D Number Plates
Active 4D road-use options with the exact finished specification reviewed before production
Raised characters set to the legal font, size and spacing automatically
Preview your plate free in 3mm, 5mm and gel before you commit
Pairs or single plates, so a damaged 4D plate can be matched on one side
Registered in Scotland, company number SC836719, 24 Fleming Avenue, Clydebank, G81 1AJ
More help choosing your plates
compare printed, 3D gel and 4D finishes. For a towing-vehicle plate, see trailer and caravan number plates. For clipped corners, see hex plate sizes.
Choose from verified catalogue options
Material, depth and road-use eligibility depend on the exact active style and manufacturing specification. REGUP reviews the selection before production.
Frequently asked questions
Are 4D number plates legal in the UK?
Yes. Raised 4D characters are legal when every character is a single shade of black, the plate meets BS AU 145e, and the font, size and spacing follow the display regulations. Two tone, glitter, neon edge and tinted 4D plates are not road legal.
Will 4D number plates pass the MOT?
Raised characters are permitted when the plate meets the applicable rules. The MOT also checks the plate condition, secure fitting, legibility and correct display, so a finish choice on its own does not guarantee a pass.
What is the difference between 3mm and 5mm 4D plates?
The acrylic character thickness differs: 3mm gives a shallower raised edge and 5mm a deeper edge. Both active REGUP acrylic options have a glossy black face. For road use, the complete finished plate must meet the applicable British Standard and display rules; thickness alone is not proof of compliance.
What is the difference between 3D and 4D number plates?
3D gel plates have clear resin domed over printed characters, giving a rounded, glossy edge. 4D plates use solid acrylic characters cut by laser and bonded to the plate, giving sharp square edges and more depth.
What is a 4D gel number plate?
A 4D gel plate combines both methods: laser cut acrylic characters sealed under a clear gel dome. It gives the depth of 4D with a glossy, rounded finish on top.
Are glitter, neon or carbon 4D plates legal?
No. Glitter and neon edge characters are not a single shade of black, and carbon or patterned backgrounds break the plain background rule. They can only be used as show plates off the road.
Can raised 4D characters come off the plate?
The law requires that characters cannot be removed, and BS AU 145e includes durability tests for that reason. Normal washing will not lift them, but avoid aiming a pressure washer lance directly at the raised edges from close range.
How much do 4D number plates cost?
The price depends on the active finish, vehicle, size, whether you need a pair or a single plate, and selected extras. The builder uses current catalogue prices. Delivery and the full payable total are confirmed at checkout before payment. 4D gel is a separate configured finish; do not assume it is offered in both 3mm and 5mm versions.
See the selected plate finish
Compare real plate finishes and details before adding your selection to the cart.