4D gel number plates combine a laser-cut 3mm black acrylic character with a clear gel resin dome on top, so you get the square edge and depth of a 4D plate with the rounded, glossy face of a 3D gel plate. It is a customer favourite at our walk-in shop in County Durham, where you can see the curve of the gel in the light. Sold as a pair (front and rear) for cars and vans, made there by a DVLA-registered number plate supplier on a reflective BS AU 145e plate. Order before 2pm on a working day with your documents approved and we make them the same day.
How it is made
Each character starts as a 3mm solid black acrylic letter or digit cut on a laser, in Charles Wright at the prescribed size and spacing. A clear polyurethane gel resin is then domed over the face of each character and cures into a rounded, glass-like surface that catches light on its curve as well as its edge. The finished characters are bonded with a high-strength adhesive to a white front or yellow rear reflective plate carrying our supplier name, postcode and the BS AU 145e mark. Against the two styles it borrows from: the 4D 3mm plate is the same character without the dome, and the 3D gel plate is the same resin domed over a black vinyl character with no acrylic beneath it. Our 4D number plates guide compares every style, and 3D gel versus 4D explains the difference in more depth.
Is it road legal?
Yes, when the finished plate meets BS AU 145e. The gel is clear and the character beneath it is a single shade of black, so the plate keeps the contrast the standard requires; the font, size, spacing, reflective background and supplier mark are the same as on any plate we make. What stops a camera reading a plate is tint, a patterned background, a non-standard font or spacing, or damage, not the profile of the characters. Our guide to 3D and 4D number plate legality covers the rules, ANPR and infrared.
A proposed BSI amendment that would stop the production of raised-character plates was consulted on until 13 December 2025 and is still under consideration; nothing has been adopted, BS AU 145e:2018 remains the current standard, and 4D plates remain legal to make, sell and fit. We have not been told when any change would take effect or how plates already fitted would be treated, and we will say so here as soon as we are. Checked 8 September 2026.
Sizes
A standard car plate is 520mm × 111mm. We also make 4D gel as a shortened plate cut to your registration with a 16mm margin, a 4x4 square rear plate, an oversize rear plate and a hex plate.
Care
The gel dome is tough but it is a resin, so wash by hand or with a pressure washer held at a sensible distance and keep solvents and abrasive polish off it. See cleaning your 3D or 4D number plates and can I jet wash gel number plates.
Warranty
36 months against manufacturing defects, which covers the plate, the print, the gel and the bond between character and plate. It does not cover damage from fitting, impact or chemicals.
What to order
Select 4D gel in the plate builder. See delivery options for timings and postage. Proof of the registration is required first: see valid documents.
