Standard
BS AU 145e: the number plate standard
BS AU 145e is the current British Standard for retroreflective number plates. Every road-legal plate must meet it and carry its marking. Here is what the standard covers and why it matters.
The standard
What BS AU 145e is
BS AU 145e is the British Standard for retroreflective number plates. It came into force on 1 September 2021, replacing the previous BS AU 145d standard. Since then, new plates fitted to vehicles used on UK public roads must be made to BS AU 145e.
The standard sets out how a plate must perform. Plates are tested for durability, reflectivity and resistance to abrasion, so that the registration stays clearly visible and hard-wearing in everyday road conditions.
BS AU 145e also requires the characters to be a single solid shade of black. This means certain two-tone or shaded effects, such as some shaded 4D styles, are not road legal because the characters are not a single solid colour.
What the standard requires
- In force from 1 September 2021
- Replaced the previous BS AU 145d
- Tested for durability and reflectivity
- Tested for resistance to abrasion
- Characters must be a single solid black
- Plate carries the standard mark plus supplier details
In practice
What it means for your plate
The standard is the reason your road-legal plate looks and performs the way it does, and why some show-only styles cannot go on the road.
Testing for reflectivity, durability and abrasion means the plate stays clearly readable over time.
Characters must be one solid shade of black, so shaded two-tone 4D effects are not road legal.
A compliant plate shows the BS AU 145e mark alongside the supplier name and postcode.
BS AU 145e FAQ
What is BS AU 145e?
It is the current British Standard for retroreflective number plates, in force from 1 September 2021. It replaced BS AU 145d, and new road-legal plates must be manufactured to it and carry its marking.
Why does the standard matter?
It sets the performance a plate must meet, with testing for durability, reflectivity and abrasion resistance. This keeps the registration clearly visible and hard-wearing, which is essential for road safety and for cameras to read.
Are shaded 4D plates allowed under BS AU 145e?
The standard requires characters to be a single solid shade of black, so two-tone or shaded effects are not road legal. A raised 4D plate can be road legal if the characters are a single solid black and the plate meets the standard. See are 4D plates legal.
How do I know my plate meets it?
When you order in road-legal mode, we manufacture to BS AU 145e and the plate carries the standard mark with our supplier details. The full requirements are on the road-legal plates page.
Build a plate made to BS AU 145e
Order in road-legal mode and every plate is manufactured to the British Standard, with free UK delivery.