This Knowledge Base article provides number plate suppliers with information on the Legal Badges. Including information on which ones are allowed and explaining their layout or format. Then your assured you are making legal number plates.
Legal Badges for Number Plates
Alongside the legally required number plate elements, are optional ones like side badges and borders. Although they’re optional, they are still subject to the standards and regulations. And despite there being a few different legal badges the same rules apply.
Side Badges / Flags
On a number plate the side badge lets you show your patriotic side. Identifying your vehicles country of origin to onlookers and the authorities. Thus providing a quick way to determine if a vehicle is safe and allowed to drive. So it’s vital the badge on a number plate sticks to an approved list and format.
In the UK we have three types of Legal Badges for number plates. These are a selection of national flags, green flashes and a overseas badge. Below is an image showing our side badges.
To clarify the rules, a side badge has to be positioned on the left side of the number plate. And it must be placed outside the Registrations 7mm exclusion zone. National Flags may be either reflective or non-reflective, but the Green ZEV & the Overseas versions must be retroreflective.
For our National Flags we use a blue background similar to the old Euro Stars badge. Whereas the Green Zev have a predefined flash of Pantone 7481c, RGB 0 183 79 or #00B74F. And they can only be displayed on Zero Emission Vehicles. Finally the Overseas badges with the Blue UK with Union Flag allow travel abroad without the need for an Oval Sticker. No matter which type is displayed, it can not be more than 50mm wide.
Layout Format & Identifiers
Of course, the regulations state the size and format of side badges, including which identifiers can be used. First, the flag must always be positioned above the country identifier text. Secondly, that identifier can be coloured white or yellow to match the number plates background. Except on Overseas badges, where it has to be a set blue.
Below we have listed each different type of Legal Badge for the mainland UK, complete with identifiers:
Blue National Flags:
- Union Flag & GB Identifier
- Union Flag & UK Identifier
- Cross of St George & ENG Identifier
- Cross of St Andrew & SCO Identifier
- The Red Dragon of Wales & CYM Identifier
Green ZEV Badges:
- Plain Green Panel
- Union Flag & GB or UK Identifier
- Cross of St George & ENG Identifier
- Cross of St Andrew & SCO Identifier
- The Red Dragon of Wales & CYM Identifier
Foreign/Overseas Range:
- Union Flag & UK Identifier – No Background.
- Union Flag & UK Identifier – Green Flash for ZEV only.
Note: No other number plate badges than the combinations listed above are legal. Of course Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands & other overseas territories have their own badges and format. Finally, the Euro GB is allowed on existing plates but can’t be put on a new one.
Badges & Our Plate Builder
Not only does our LG Plates software include versions of these legal badges. But it’s plate builder will also position and scale them for you based on the plate size. And it provides the option to have them full or half-height too.
Of course, being able to print them correctly will depend on your production set-up. Since printing onto yellow components without colour correction takes specialist systems like our Pro Series. Alternatively you could use components with pre-printed badges and just print Registrations as needed.
Further Information
This is a bite-sized number plate article on the Legal Badges. 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.
