BS AU 145e Number Plates: What the Standard Means
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BS AU 145e is the British Standard applied to new and replacement number plates fitted from 1 September 2021. It is not a style name. It is a manufacturing standard covering important qualities such as durability, visibility and reflectivity.
Quick answer: A road-use plate made or replaced under the current rules should meet BS AU 145e, display the required supplier information and use correctly formed, single-shade black characters on the appropriate reflective background.
What BS AU 145e is designed to do
The standard was introduced to make modern number plates more durable and easier to read consistently, including by automatic number plate recognition cameras. It covers the plate as a complete manufactured product rather than just the shape of the letters.
For a buyer, the practical point is simple: a plate can look smart and still needs to meet the underlying construction and display rules if it will be used on a public road.
Which number plates need BS AU 145e?
GOV.UK states that plates fitted after 1 September 2021 must be marked with BS AU 145e. Older plates may carry the earlier BS AU 145d marking, but a newly manufactured replacement should be made to the current standard.
That applies whether you choose standard printed number plates, 3D gel styles or raised 4D number plates for road use.
What markings should appear on a compliant plate?
The permanent markings identify the manufacturing standard and the registered supplier. They are deliberately discreet, but they matter because they help show where the plate came from and which standard it was made to meet.
- The British Standard reference: BS AU 145e
- The name, trademark or other identifier of the manufacturer or supplier
- The name and postcode of the supplying outlet
Are raised 3D and 4D characters allowed?
Raised characters are permitted, but appearance alone does not decide legality. Plates fitted after 1 September 2021 must use characters that are a single shade of black, including the sides of raised characters. The prescribed font, spacing, margins and reflective backgrounds still apply.
Avoid tints, films or decorative effects that change the appearance or legibility of the registration. If you want a display-only design, keep it for private land or events and choose a clearly described show plate rather than treating it as road legal.
A buyer’s BS AU 145e checklist
- Choose a registered number plate supplier
- Select the road-legal specification rather than a show-plate option
- Enter the registration exactly as it appears on the entitlement document
- Provide acceptable identity and entitlement documents
- Check the finished plate for the BS AU 145e and supplier markings before fitting
Ordering through Plateology
Plateology’s online process separates road-use and display choices and explains the document checks required. Review the valid documents guide before ordering, then follow the number plate order process to avoid delays.
Frequently asked questions
Does BS AU 145e mean a plate will pass an MOT?
It is an important manufacturing requirement, but an MOT also considers condition, secure attachment, colour, character formation, spacing and legibility. A damaged or incorrectly displayed plate can still fail.
Can BS AU 145e plates have a border?
A non-reflective border can be permitted within the dimensional limits. It must not interfere with the characters or required margins.
Is BS AU 145e required on show plates?
Display-only show plates are not intended for public-road use. If a plate will be used on the road, select a specification that meets all current display and manufacturing requirements.
Official guidance
Rules and official guidance can change. Check the linked GOV.UK information if you are unsure which requirements apply to your vehicle.