BSAU145e Compliance

There have been a raft of changes to UK Number Plates over the last few months, so here’s a quick recap on how to keep BSAU145e Compliance.

BSAU145e Is Here

Since the start of the year, 1st January 2021 onwards, suppliers have been able to make number plates to 145e standards. In fact on the 1st September this year they become mandatory in law. Meaning your number plates will have to comply with the new standard from that point on.

Luckily for you, as your provider a lot of these changes are our responsibility to meet. Notably the changes to the durability and readability of a number plate, are directly related to our components and software. To meet them we’re currently rolling out mandatory updates to our software. And we have already tested and gained 145e certification for our number plate constructions – article here.

Number Plate Software Changes

Our LG Plates software includes a standards compliant plate builder. This has been tweaked to reflect the changes and ensure BSAU145e compliance on layouts. So when using it, only compliant options and sizes can be selected by the user.

Notable changes include removing all fonts except Charles Wright and increasing the exclusion around the registration for readability. And changes to the Coach Line border, has meant creating some new plate sizes to ensure it will fit on small plates.

Main Changes:

• Solid Black registrations only – No 3D, Hi-Line or Carbon font effects.
• A 7mm Isolation Area between registration and any other element.
• A 10mm gap between registration and Coach-Line.
• A 11mm gap between registration and Plate Edge.
• Single Colour bottom line only – Text/Logo (max height 10mm).
• Changes to Bottom Line Size to a max height of 10mm & min of 3mm.
• Removal of Euro GB Side Badge after leaving the EU.

We are contacting all of our customers about updating their software to meet 145e standards. In the meantime you can continue to make plates to 145d as normal, but only until the 1st September. And our article on What Is a Legal Number Plate has been updated to reflect all the 145e changes to plate layout and elements.

Our Plate Components

As already stated, we have already tested and gained 145e certification for our number plate constructions. This includes both reflective and film printed plate constructions. And our True-3D Digits have been certified when mounted onto our plates. But to ensure BSAU145e compliance you must use matched components from a single provider. And stick to their strict specification, so no mixing in media from other brands.

Only by following our specified constructions, will your number plates be compliant with our British Standard certification.

Reflective Number Plates

To make a Reflective Number Plate you will print onto a dry reflective sheet. Then you must laminate it underneath one of our 3mm clear acrylic faces, to protect it.

Film Number Plates

Or for Film Number Plates,  you print onto a clear film sheet and mount it on top a rigid ABS plate. Our ABS plates are wet faced and come in reflective white or yellow.

3-Part Number Plates

Finally, our 3-Part Number Plates provide a superior finish and durability. Here you print onto a clear film sheet, which is sandwiched between an acrylic face and wet reflective sheet.

Plate Fixings

Finally we come to number plate fixings, effected because of updated guidance related to 145e. A key rule of number plate fixings is to ensure they don’t obscure or alter the registration number. This is so number plates are easily read and understood.

Adhesive pads are now the recommended method of fixing number plates under BSAU145e. If mechanical fixings are needed, they must not be positioned within the exclusion zone around the registration number. Which makes the four corners of the plate, the ideal position for screws or bolts.