This Knowledge Base article provides number plate suppliers with information on the BS Number & the Manufacturer. Including information on what it needs to say and where it should be located on the plate. So that you only make & supply legal number plates.
BS Number & Manufacturer
To be standards compliant, each number plate must show the British Standard it is certified to. And identify which manufacturer is responsible for the plate construction. And by law this information needs to be shown on every plate. In fact, this is one of the three main elements a number plate needs to be road-legal.
The British Standard
Showing the British Standard your number plate is certified to, is also required by law. When you make a number plate it should always comply with standards and regulations. The current standard and BS Number is BSAU145e.
In brief, the British Standard sets out the regulations with respect to visibility, reflectivity and durability. Which ensures a number plate can be read and cope with our roads and weather. Alongside this are rules which govern a number plates elements and layout. For details on these rules – read our master article What Is a Legal Number Plate.
Accredited Manufacturer
A certification is awarded to the manufacturer of every number plate construction, our say Tennants. And this accreditation has to be reached before it can be legally sold to suppliers. If you want to read about the stringent tests a number plate construction has to pass, try our BSAU145e article.
Developing a number plate construction that can be consistently reproduced and compliant is expensive and time-consuming. That’s why most suppliers buy components from an established manufacturer. This way you’re assured your number plates are legal. In fact, to ensure BSAU145e & MOT compliance, all suppliers are obliged to source all equipment and supplies from a single provider.
Size & Position
Regarding positioning, the BS Number should be placed at least 7mm below the registration and towards the right-bottom of the number plate. This way it doesn’t interfere with the Registration’s readability. And the familiar placement makes it easy to find. At least if you’re using our plate builder, the software will automatically insert it for you.
As you can see on the image above, the information is shown clearly and simply. The Manufacturers name and the BS Number must use the same single solid colour as the supplier identifier. And be displayed no more than 10mm high, but at least 3mm. Similarly to the supplier identifier, any font is acceptable as long as it’s readable.
Note: A logo or image can be used for the Manufacturer’s name. But it must be clear who it represents and be approved by the DVLA.
Further Information
This is a bite-sized number plate article on the BS Number and Manufacturer. If you want more detailed information on legality, check out the DVLA or BNMA Website. For customers questions on your plate production setup, just contact our sales or customer services team.
