What we need to see before we can make road-legal plates
Plate Legality · 20 January 2025 · 4 min read
The law says a plate supplier checks two things: who you are, and that you're entitled to the registration. One document from each list, uploaded through the site. It takes two minutes.
Why we ask
It isn't us being awkward. Since the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001, anyone who makes number plates has to be registered with the DVLA and has to see proof of identity and proof of entitlement before making a road-legal plate. We also have to keep a record of what we saw for three years. Any supplier who doesn't ask is either not registered or not bothering, and either way you don't want plates from them.
Show plates are different. They aren't for the road, so no documents are needed for those.
Two lists, one from each
Proof of who you are. Any one of:
- Photocard driving licence
- Passport
- National identity card
- Bank or building society statement dated within the last six months
- Utility bill dated within the last six months
- Debit or credit card
- Police warrant card
- Armed forces identity card
Proof you're entitled to the registration. Any one of:
- V5C registration certificate (the log book)
- V5C/2 new keeper slip, if you've just bought the car
- V750 certificate of entitlement
- V778 retention document
- V11 tax reminder letter
- A letter from the DVLA confirming the registration
- Hire or lease agreement, or a fleet authorisation letter, showing the registration
The name on the two documents needs to match, and the registration on the entitlement document needs to be the one you're ordering.
How it works with us
You order first, then upload the two documents on the site. A photo from your phone is fine as long as the whole document is readable. We check them, we make the plates, and the record sits in our secure system for the three years the law requires and then it's deleted.
If a document is missing or unclear we'll email you before making anything, so the order doesn't stall without you knowing.
The questions we get most
I've just bought the car and only have the green slip. The V5C/2 is on the entitlement list. That's exactly what it's for.
The car is in my partner's name. Then the documents need to be theirs, or you need a short letter from them authorising you, plus their proof of identity.
It's a company car. A fleet authorisation letter on company letterhead, plus your own ID.
I've got a private plate on a retention certificate. The V778 is the entitlement document. You don't need the V5C as well.
Do I need this for a plate I'm not going to use on the road? No. Order it as a show plate and no documents are required.
Once the documents are in, everything else is the fun part: choosing the plates.