3D vs 4D number
plates.
Both give you raised characters. 3D gel domes clear resin over each character for a glossy, rounded look at £35 a pair. 4D bonds laser-cut acrylic characters onto the plate for flat tops, sharp edges and more height at £40 a pair.
Both can be road-legal when made to BS AU 145e. Both posted signed-for anywhere in the UK.
What's the difference between 3D and 4D number plates?
3D gel plates have a clear resin dome poured over each printed character, so the digits look glossy and rounded — £35 a pair. 4D plates have each character laser-cut from solid acrylic and bonded onto the plate, giving flat tops, hard edges and more height, usually 3mm or 5mm — £40 a pair. 4D gel is both together at £45. All three can be road-legal when the plate is made to BS AU 145e.
- 3D gel £35 — domed resin, glossy, rounded
- 4D £40 — laser-cut acrylic, flat top, sharp edges
- 4D gel £45 — acrylic character with a gel dome
- 4D height typically 3mm or 5mm
- Both can meet BS AU 145e for road use
- Made in 1–2 working days, posted UK-wide
Real plates, real photos.
How each one is made
3D gel: the characters are printed onto the reflective plate, then a clear polyurethane resin is applied over each one by hand. The resin self-levels into a dome and cures hard, so you get a raised, glossy character with soft rounded edges.
4D: each character is laser-cut from a sheet of solid acrylic and bonded onto the plate face. Because it's a cut part rather than a poured coating, it has real thickness — typically 3mm or 5mm — with flat tops and crisp vertical edges.
4D gel: the 4D build, then a gel dome poured over the top of each acrylic character. Tallest and glossiest of the three.
Which looks better?
It depends what you're after. Gel reads as glossy and smooth — it catches light in a soft way and suits cars where you want the plate to look finished rather than shouty. 4D reads as machined and aggressive; the flat matte tops and hard shadows make the characters look cut out of the plate.
If you can't choose, 4D gel is the honest middle ground: 4D's height and edges with gel's gloss.
- Want subtle gloss → 3D gel (£35)
- Want sharp and deep → 4D (£40)
- Want both → 4D gel (£45)
- Want cheapest compliant plate → standard (£30)
Durability and cleaning
Both are durable when treated sensibly. Cured gel is flexible and copes well with weather and washing. Bonded acrylic characters are hard and hold their edge, but hard edges are the bit most likely to catch on a brush, a car cover or a careless jet wash.
For either style: warm soapy water and a soft cloth, keep pressure washers at a distance and off the character edges, avoid solvent cleaners and abrasive pads, and never scrape ice off raised characters.
Are both legal?
Both can be road-legal. What matters is whether the finished plate meets BS AU 145e — the mandated font and character height, correct spacing, correct colour and reflectivity, the supplier's name and postcode plus the BS AU 145e mark, and nothing that misrepresents the registration. Neither raised gel nor raised acrylic is a problem in itself.
Plates outside the standard — altered fonts, spacing changed to spell something, tinted backgrounds — are show plates for off-road display only. More detail on our 4D plate legality page.
Price and ordering
Standard £30, 3D gel £35, 4D £40, 4D gel £45, retro £60 — all per pair, paid in full at order, no deposit. Pick your style and size online, type the registration exactly as it appears on your V5C, upload your documents for road-legal plates, and we make them in 1–2 working days and post them signed-for anywhere in the UK.
How much do plates cost?
All prices per pair, paid in full at order — there is no deposit on plates. Royal Mail signed-for postage is added at checkout and we deliver anywhere in the UK.
Road-legal or show plate?
Number plates made since September 2021 must comply with BS AU 145e. 3D and 4D raised characters can be road-legal provided the plate meets that standard — the mandated font and character height, correct spacing, the right colour and reflectivity, the supplier details and BS AU 145e marking, and nothing that misrepresents the registration.
Novelty and show plates that don't meet the standard are for off-road display use only. They must not be fitted to a vehicle used on the road. Tick the show-plate option at checkout if that's what you want and we'll skip the document checks.
What documents do you need?
Road-legal plates must be supplied by a DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier, and the supplier has to see proof of your identity and proof of your entitlement to the registration mark before making the plates. You upload both as part of the order:
- Proof of identity — driving licence, or a passport with a recent utility/council tax bill
- Proof of entitlement — V5C log book, new keeper slip, V750/V778 retention certificate, or a lease/hire agreement
How does UK delivery work?
Plates are made in 1–2 working days and posted by Royal Mail signed-for, anywhere in the UK — you get a tracking number by text when they leave us. Everything is ordered online, so you don't need to be anywhere near our Dagenham workshop.
Plates are packed in rigid protective packaging with the fixing kit included. If you'd rather collect, that's still an option — but posting is the default for national orders.
Common questions.
Is 4D better than 3D gel?
Not better, different. 4D characters are laser-cut acrylic with flat tops and sharp edges and more height; 3D gel characters are domed resin — glossier and rounder. Pick on looks, not quality.
Which is more expensive, 3D or 4D?
4D. A pair of 3D gel plates is £35, 4D is £40 and 4D gel is £45. Standard pressed plates are £30 and retro plates £60.
Are 3D and 4D plates both legal?
Both can be road-legal provided the plate meets BS AU 145e — correct font, character height and spacing, correct colour and reflectivity, supplier details and BS AU 145e marking, and nothing that misrepresents the registration. Non-compliant plates are show plates for off-road display only.
Which lasts longer?
Treated normally, both last well. Cured gel is flexible and shrugs off washing; bonded acrylic is hard-wearing but its sharper edges are more exposed to knocks and brushes.
Can I mix styles front and rear?
We'd advise keeping the pair matched so the car looks right and both plates read consistently, but tell us what you want on the order and we'll make it.
What do I need to order road-legal plates?
Proof of identity (driving licence, or passport plus a recent utility/council tax bill) and proof of entitlement to the registration (V5C, new keeper slip, V750/V778 retention certificate or lease agreement). A DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier has to see both before making road-legal plates.
Pick your style and order.
Pick your style and size, upload your documents and pay securely. Made in 1–2 working days and posted signed-for anywhere in the UK.
Start your order