Are stick-on number plates legal?

Plate Legality · 3 October 2026 · 3 min read

Vinyl sticker plates turn up a lot on bikes and classics. Here's where they stand.

The problem with stickers

A UK road-legal plate must be made from reflective material and carry the BS AU 145e mark and a registered supplier's name. Most stick-on vinyl plates don't have any of that, so they aren't legal.

Why people try them

• Curved rear panels where a flat plate won't sit
• Cars with no proper plate recess
• Saving money

Better options

• A short plate for small or curved spaces. See short number plates.
• A hex plate for some cars and bikes. See are hex plates legal.
• Fit with strong exterior pads so there are no screw holes. See how to fit number plates.

Classics

Cars built before 1973 can use black and silver plates, but they still need to be proper plates made by a registered supplier.