Hover 4D number plates raise a laser-cut 3mm solid black acrylic character off the plate on a thinner character bonded behind it, so each letter and digit appears to float a step above the reflective surface with a shadow line running round its edge. Sold as a pair (front and rear) for cars and vans, made in County Durham 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
Two characters are cut on the laser for every position on the plate: the full 3mm Charles Wright character you see, and a slightly smaller one, 2mm thick, that sits beneath it. The smaller layer is bonded to the plate and the full character is bonded on top of it, so the visible face sits 5mm above the surface and overhangs the layer beneath it all the way round, which is what gives the floating look. Both layers are solid black acrylic on a white front or yellow rear reflective plate that carries our supplier name, postcode and the BS AU 145e mark. Hover is the reverse of Shadow, where the thinner character steps up from the top of the 3mm one; the other layered style is Outline, Retro is shaped rather than layered, and the plain 4D 3mm plate is the single character on its own. Our 4D number plates guide compares every style.
Is it road legal?
Yes, when the finished plate meets BS AU 145e. The layer behind the character is the same solid black as the character itself, so from the front the plate shows a single-colour character on a plain reflective background, and the font, size, spacing and supplier mark are the same as on any plate we make. Raised characters are not what stops a camera reading a plate; tint, a patterned background, a non-standard font or spacing, or damage are. 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. Hover is also made 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
Wash by hand or with a pressure washer at a sensible distance, and keep solvents and abrasive polish off the characters. See cleaning your 3D or 4D number plates.
Warranty
36 months against manufacturing defects, which covers the plate, the print and the bond between the layers and the plate. It does not cover damage from fitting, impact or chemicals.
What to order
Select Hover in the plate builder. As with every plate we make, we need the proof of registration described under valid documents before the laser runs; timings and postage are under delivery options.