Hex Number Plates
The oblong is the rule, not the limit. Hex plates take the standard blank and finish each end with a clean angled cut, turning the plate itself into part of the styling. Fully road legal, laser cut in our workshop, and available to fit five, six or seven character registrations.
- Angled ends, laser cut
- Standard & short widths
- Road legal to BS AU 145e
Six sides instead of four - the same legal plate, sharper geometry.
What Actually Makes a Plate "Hex"?
Nothing about the characters changes. A hex plate carries the same mandatory typeface, the same character sizes and spacing, the same reflective backing and the same supplier markings as any other road plate we press. The difference is pure geometry: instead of squared corners, the left and right ends of the blank are laser cut to an angled point, giving the plate six sides.
The regulations govern how a registration is displayed, and they demand margins around the characters. They do not demand a rectangle. As long as the angled cut never intrudes on those margins, and ours is engineered so it cannot, the plate stays fully compliant. That is the entire trick, and it is why the cut has to be done properly rather than taken to a jigsaw at home.
Three Widths, One Look
The hex cut trims visual bulk, so it pairs naturally with shorter blanks. Seven characters take the standard width; five and six character registrations can drop to a short blank and let the angles do even more of the work.
Standard hex
The full-width blank with angled ends. Fits every current-format registration and reads as subtle from distance, sharp up close.
From £34.99 a pairShort hex
Six character registrations lose the empty acrylic either side and gain a tighter, more deliberate stance on the bumper.
From £34.99 a pairShortest hex
The tightest cut we press: five character dateless and cherished registrations on the narrowest legal blank, angles at both ends.
From £34.99 a pairHex Sizes on the Bench
| Cut | Blank size | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 7-character hex | 520 × 111mm | All current-format registrations |
| 6-character hex | ~406 × 111mm | Six character cherished registrations |
| 5-character hex | ~356 × 111mm | Five character dateless registrations |
Short widths depend on the characters in your registration: some letter combinations need more room than others. The builder checks your exact registration and only offers the cuts it can legally carry.
Where the Angle Earns Its Keep
Hex works hardest on
- Short cherished registrations, where the trimmed blank and the angles compound each other
- Modern performance cars whose bodywork is already all creases and edges
- Paired with 4D lettering, which repeats the same machined-edge language
- Rear-first fitting, where the plate sits against clean bodywork rather than a grille
Worth checking first
- Recessed plate housings: measure the recess, as angled corners can leave visible gaps in a tight rectangular well
- Full-frame plate surrounds, which are cut for rectangles and will not follow the hex outline
- Seven characters on a short blank: the law decides, not the trend, and the builder will tell you straight
Hex Plates, Asked and Answered
Are hex number plates road legal in the UK?
Yes, when made properly. The display regulations fix the typeface, character sizes, spacing, margins, reflective backing and markings, but they do not require a rectangular outline. Our hex cut keeps every one of those requirements intact, so the plate remains fully compliant and MOT safe.
Will a hex plate pass an MOT and read on ANPR cameras?
Yes. Testers and cameras read the characters, and nothing about them changes on a hex plate: same font, same sizes, same contrast, same reflectivity. The angled ends live entirely outside the character area.
Can any registration have a hex plate?
Every registration can have the 7-character standard hex. The short 5 and 6 character cuts depend on your exact characters, since some combinations legally need more width than others. Enter your registration in the builder and it will only offer cuts your plate can carry.
Can I combine hex with 3D gel or 4D lettering?
Yes, and it is the most popular way to order them. Gel domes and laser-cut 4D characters both sit comfortably inside the hex blank, and 4D in particular suits the cut, machined edges on the letters echoing machined edges on the plate.
Do hex plates cost more than standard plates?
There is a small premium for the additional cutting, shown live in the builder before you pay. Style and size price independently, so you can see exactly what the angle adds against the plate you would otherwise order.
See Your Reg With the Angles On
Enter your registration, choose a hex cut, and the builder renders the exact plate before we cut anything.