4.9
Out of
5 Stars
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Great service and plates arrived on time. Plates exactly as advertised. Would highly recommend.
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Absolutely brilliant! Colourful, different, stands out with my personal plate & legal. The ordering service couldn’t have been easier.
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I’ve ordered at least 4 times over the years from Car Plates Direct. I can not fault the easy of ordering, quality and turnaround time. Will always order only through them. Highly recommended company
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Ordered a set of plates, came exactly how I ordered in good clean condition with the personalisation I ordered. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Car Plates Direct for a fast friendly service. Thank you
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Exactly what I ordered. Good quality product, very professional and courteous service and a quick delivery. Highly recommended company.
HIGH QUALITY PLATES
4D Plates
3D Gel Plates
Standard Plates
Caravan Number Plates
Road-legal rear plates for your caravan — matched to your towing vehicle's registration.
Caravan Specific
Sized to fit standard caravan rear light cluster layouts — no awkward cutting or trimming.
UV & Weather Proof
Caravans live outside all year. Our plates resist UV yellowing, frost, and rain without fading.
Screw or Adhesive
Choose between screw-mount fixings or self-adhesive pads — whatever suits your caravan's rear panel.
Quick Replacement
Changed towing vehicle? Order a new plate online in minutes — delivered in 1–3 working days.
The UK Law on Caravan Number Plates
In the UK, a touring caravan is not independently registered — it does not have its own DVLA registration number. Under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, any trailer (including a caravan) being towed on a public road must display the registration number of the towing vehicle on its rear. This means your caravan's rear number plate must show the same registration as the car or SUV towing it.
Key legal point: the plate must match the towing vehicle
If you tow your caravan with a different car — whether you've bought a new car, borrowed a vehicle, or your partner uses a different tow car — the plate on the caravan must match whichever vehicle is doing the towing at that time. Displaying a mismatched registration is an offence and could lead to a fine or a police stop.
The plate itself must be manufactured to BS AU 145e (the current British Standard for number plates) and must be a yellow retro-reflective plate with black characters. Front plates are white; however, since a standard caravan only has a rear, you only need one yellow rear plate. The plate must display the registration in the prescribed Charles Wright font at the correct character dimensions (79mm tall, 50mm wide), and must be supplied by a DVLA-registered plate supplier — which is exactly what Car Plates Direct is.
When Do You Need a New Caravan Plate?
You need a new plate when:
- You've bought a new towing vehicle with a different registration
- Your existing plate is faded, yellowed or cracked
- The plate has been damaged in an accident or a tight manoeuvre
- The plate has fallen off or been lost in transit
- You're selling the caravan and the buyer uses a different tow car
You don't need a new plate if:
- You've kept the same car and registration
- You've transferred a personalised plate to your new car (but the registration stays the same)
- The plate is slightly dirty — just clean it
- Your car's plate style has changed but the registration is the same
Plate Sizes for Caravans
Most modern UK touring caravans use a standard oblong plate in the 520×111mm format — the same as the rear plate on a standard car. This size is designed to fit neatly between or beside the caravan's rear light clusters, which are typically spaced to accommodate this standard width.
| Size | Dimensions | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Standard oblong | 520 × 111 mm | Most modern touring caravans (Bailey, Swift, Elddis, Coachman, etc.) |
| Short oblong | 460 × 111 mm | Older caravans or those with a narrower rear panel |
| Square / 4×4 | 228 × 178 mm | Caravans where space between light clusters is limited |
If you're unsure which size fits your caravan, measure the space between your rear light clusters before ordering. Most caravans have a flat, rectangular plate area; if yours is non-standard, contact us and we'll advise.
Self-Adhesive vs Screw-Mount Plates for Caravans
Both fixing methods are available for caravan plates. Screw-mount plates are the more secure option — they use two or four screws through the plate into the caravan's rear panel and are far less likely to work loose on a long motorway journey. Self-adhesive plates use a high-bond acrylic foam tape on the reverse and are easier to fit, but they require a completely clean, smooth, flat surface and may weaken over time in extreme cold or damp. For caravans that are stored outside for long periods, we generally recommend screw mounting.
How to Order Your Caravan Plate
Enter the Towing Vehicle's Registration
This is the registration your towing car or SUV carries — the same one that must appear on the caravan's rear plate under UK law.
Choose Size & Fixing
Select the plate size that fits your caravan's rear panel, and choose between screw-mount or self-adhesive fixings.
Upload ID & Order
Provide your proof of identity and V5C (for the towing vehicle) at checkout. We'll verify and despatch — most orders delivered within 1–3 working days.
Caravan Number Plate FAQs
Does a caravan legally need a number plate?
Yes. Under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, any trailer — including a touring caravan — must display a road-legal rear number plate when towed on a public road. The plate must show the registration of the towing vehicle and must meet the BS AU 145e standard. Towing a caravan without a plate, or with a faded or damaged plate, is a road traffic offence.
Can I use the same caravan plate with different towing vehicles?
Only if the registration is the same. If you're using a different car with a different registration, you need a different plate. Some caravanners keep a spare plate or swap the plate out when changing tow car. Remember, if you're caught towing with a mismatched plate, you could face a fine.
My caravan plate has yellowed but the registration is still readable — is it still legal?
A plate that has yellowed but is still clearly legible is technically still legal in the short term, but it is at risk of failing to meet the reflectivity requirement of BS AU 145e if the retro-reflective backing has degraded. If your plate has yellowed noticeably — especially if it's lost its reflective brightness at night — we strongly recommend replacing it. A police officer or DVSA examiner can issue a fixed penalty notice for a plate that fails to meet the standard, even if the characters are readable.
What documents do I need to order a caravan plate?
By law, we must verify your identity and your entitlement to the registration. You'll need: (1) proof of identity — a current UK driving licence, passport or government-issued photo ID, and (2) proof of entitlement — the V5C logbook for the towing vehicle, or a valid MOT certificate showing the registration. Upload both at checkout.
Does a caravan plate need to have the dealer strip or any other markings?
Yes. A road-legal caravan plate must carry the mandatory supplier markings — the name and postcode of the plate supplier, plus the BS AU 145e British Standard mark — the same as on your car. These are required by law on all road-legal plates. The plate shows the towing vehicle’s registration in the correct format on a yellow retro-reflective background. A GB or national identifier panel is optional, and an optional dealer slogan can be added in the lower zone.
Can I get a personalised number plate for my caravan?
Your caravan isn't separately registered, so it can't hold a personalised plate in its own right. However, if you assign a personalised registration to your towing vehicle, then the caravan's rear plate must display that personalised registration. So in that sense, yes — your caravan can effectively "wear" a personalised plate by virtue of what's on the tow car.
My caravan is stored at a storage site all year — does the plate still matter?
While in storage on private land, the plate doesn't need to be displayed. However, the moment the caravan moves onto a public road — even briefly, during collection or delivery — a compliant plate is required. We recommend keeping a valid plate fitted at all times to avoid any issues.