Please see below for a general guide of the smallest size allowed for the number of characters on a plate.

 Number of characters

Smallest size we have available that would be legal

2 characters        -            13 inch

3 characters         -           13 inch

4 characters         -          13 inch

5 characters         -           14 inch

6 characters        -           16 inch

7 characters     -     Standard 20.5 inch

Please note these are based on registrations that do not have the number 1 or letter I in them. Registrations with 1 or I can go on shorter plates, please see example below for better understanding.

Example

AB62 CDE is a 7 character registration an would not be able to go on any of our short plates.

AB61 CDE is also a 7 character registration but has the number 1. This will be able to go on our short plates (shortest being 17 inch) as the number 1 (or letter I) takes less space than any other character.

How to calculate how short you can have your registration:

Step 1:

Multiply the number of characters you have in your registration by 50 (excluding the number 1 or letter i)

Step 2:

For every number 1 or letter i you have in your registration add 14

Step 3:

If you have a:

2 character registration - add 55

3 character registration - add 66

4 character registration  - add 77

5 character registration  - add 88

6 character registration - add 99

7 character registration  - add 110

(Please include the number 1 or letter i as a character)

Once you have your total this is the number in millimeters of the minimum size your plate must be in length.

Example:

Registration: AB61 CDE

Step 1:

6 characters (excluding the number 1) multiplied by 50 gives 300.

Step 2:

Add 14 as there is a character 1

Step 3:

It is a 7 character registration so we need to add 110

The total gives us 424 millimetres and therefore the smallest size this plate can legally go on.

 Inches                 Millimeters

13                         330

14                         355

15                         381

16                          406

17                          431

18                          457

Standard 20.5         520

424mm is less than 431mm and therefore the smallest size this registration can go on is 17 inch and above.