The current Land Rover Defender (L663, launched 2020) uses 520mm × 111mm plates on both front and rear axles — the standard UK car plate size. This applies to both the Defender 90 (3-door) and Defender 110 (5-door) variants, as well as the Defender 130 and the commercial Defender Hard Top.

Older Defenders (pre-2016) may have different rear plate mounting situations — some have the plate mounted on a swing-away spare wheel carrier, which takes a standard 520×111mm plate in a dedicated housing, while others have the plate mounted lower on the rear bumper. Always measure your existing plate to confirm the correct size.

Yes — 4D laser-cut plates are road legal on any UK vehicle, including pickup trucks and 4x4s, provided they are manufactured to BS AU 145e. The plates must use the correct Charles Wright 2001 font, correct character sizing and spacing, and the correct background colours (white front, yellow reflective rear). Our 4D plates meet all of these requirements.

There is no law prohibiting 4D plates on any specific class of vehicle. The raised acrylic characters are explicitly not prohibited under the current British Standard.

Yes — the current UK-market versions of the Ford Ranger (T8), Nissan Navara (D23 NP300+), Toyota Hilux (AN130) and Mitsubishi L200 (5th gen) all use standard 520mm × 111mm plates front and rear. Some older pickup models and US-market imports may have square plate recesses — if your truck has a square recess, the 280×203mm format is the one to order.

Our plates are manufactured for the UK market and are designed to withstand the conditions a UK-driven 4×4 experiences. The plate face material is UV stabilised to prevent fading, and 3D gel characters use automotive-grade polyurethane that is bonded to the plate face rather than just adhesively attached. 4D acrylic characters are also permanently bonded. Normal washing — including pressure washing from a reasonable distance — will not affect the characters or the retroreflective background.

That said, the most important thing is to keep your plates clean and legible. Mud-covered plates that obscure the registration are an offence, and ANPR cameras used by police and enforcement agencies rely on clean plates to function. Rinse your rear plate regularly if you use the vehicle off-road frequently.

Yes — both the Jeep Wrangler and the Suzuki Jimny (4th generation) use the square 280×203mm plate format. This is the standard square plate size we stock as a regular option — select it in our plate builder or at checkout. The Jeep Gladiator also uses this size. On the Jimny, the rear plate is typically mounted on the spare wheel carrier — it must be securely fixed and visible from the rear; our adhesive pads or the existing bracket screws both work well here.

Yes — if you tow any trailer on UK public roads, you must display your towing vehicle’s registration on the rear of the trailer. This is a legal requirement. The trailer plate must be a properly manufactured, retroreflective yellow plate — a sticker or printed card is not acceptable. We sell trailer plates in both standard 520×111mm and square 280×203mm formats to suit different trailer types. You can add a trailer plate to your 4×4 plate order at checkout, or visit our trailer number plates page for more information.

Yes — we supply show plates for 4x4s used at off-road events, competitions, and shows. Show plates can feature any text you like. They are not road legal and must not be fitted to a vehicle used on a public road. They are commonly used for competition vehicles (trial trucks, modified off-roaders, competitive farm vehicles), for show display, or for vehicles used exclusively on private land. Contact us on 0330 024 9273 or email sales@carplatesdirect.com to discuss your show plate requirements.