Trailer plates
The Trailer Registration Regulations (2018) is a DVLA service for certain UK trailers to be used internationally.
FAQs
Trailer plates will be approximately the same size as a motorcycle plate (9x7") or US import (12x6").
All commercial use trailers travelling internationally that weigh over 750kg in gross weight.
Also, non-commercial use trailers that travel internationally and weigh over 3500kg in gross weight.
From 28 March 2019, you must register commercial trailers over 750kg and all trailers over 3,500kg before they can travel through countries that have ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
You do not need to register trailers that are only used in the UK or only used for journeys between the UK and Ireland.
You also do not need to register trailers used in Spain, Cyprus or Malta. But be aware that you may travel through countries that require trailer plates on-route to Spain, Cyprus or Malta.
A list of countries and more details are available here:
Hauliers and Commercial Vehicle users can buy trailer plates through their usual number plate supplier.
To find your local RNPS, visit: https://www.gov.uk/number-plate-supplier
DVLA have not specified exactly what material trailer plates should be made of. Your BNMA member manufacturer will supply trailer plates which include white vinyl or white reflective.
Preferably:
Fix the trailer plate to the rear of the trailer 'as far as reasonably practicable' from the position of the towing vehicle registration plate.
Or:
If there's no space to fix it on the rear of the vehicle, fix one plate on either side so they can be easily read in daylight.
Your BNMA member manufacturer can supply you with trailer plates in either component form or ready-to-fit.
How will the trailer registration plate look?
The trailer registration mark will consist of one letter followed by 7 numbers. They must be grouped as one letter and three numbers followed by a group of four numbers e.g. A123 4567 in this layout:
The plate should use the standard number plate font and have the following characteristics:
- characters should be 64 millimetres in height;
- have a width of 44 millimetres, except for the character representing the number “1” and letter “I”, which must have a width of 10 millimetres;
- have a stroke width of 10 millimetres; and
- be separated by 10 millimetres from any other characters within a group. Groups of characters in the registration mark must be separated from one another by a space of 5 millimetres vertically.
- The width of the margin between the top or lateral edges of the registration plate and any part of a character used to display a registration mark on it must be at least 5 millimetres.
- The width of the margin between the bottom edge of the registration plate and any part of a character used to display a registration mark on it must be at least 13 millimetres.