Pressed Number Plates
What Are Pressed Metal Number Plates?
Pressed metal plates, also known as pressed plates, are a throwback to how number plates used to be made before modern acrylics took over.
Because of their period-correct style, they’re particularly popular with:
- Drivers restoring pre-1980s vehicles
- Classic motorcycle owners
- Enthusiasts who want their show cars to look as authentic as possible
You’ll often see them in the traditional black background paired with white or silver raised lettering, a combination closely associated with Britain’s motoring heritage.
How We Make Our Pressed Metal Plates
Our blanks come pre-layered with a durable black coating, the finish is already part of the material itself.
When we press your plate, the characters are embossed into the aluminium and the pressing process removes the black layer only where the letters and numbers sit. This reveals the clean metallic finish beneath, creating crisp, raised characters without the need for hand-painting.
Are Pressed Metal Plates Road Legal in the UK?
They can be, but only for a specific category of vehicles. UK law allows pressed metal number plates solely on vehicles that qualify as historic, which means:
- The vehicle is more than 40 years old
- It’s registered in the historic (classic) tax class
- It hasn’t undergone major modernising modifications
If your vehicle meets these conditions, you’re allowed to use black plates with raised silver or white characters. They’re perfectly legal and period-appropriate.
For any vehicle newer than that threshold, pressed metal plates cannot be used on public roads. This is because they don’t include reflective materials or the standard modern typeface required for road-compliant plates (following BS AU 145e standards).
You can, however, still use them as show plates!
