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
Horse Box Number Plates
Road-legal plates built tough enough for yard life — mud, water and all.
Built for the Yard
Resistant to mud, pressure washing and UV fading — ideal for outdoor environments.
Fully Legal
Manufactured to BS AU 145e standard with the correct reflective materials and font.
Correct Sizes
We cut plates to standard trailer sizes — including the popular 520×111mm format.
Easy Fitting
Self-adhesive pads or screw-mount fixings — choose the option that suits your horse box.
Do I Need a Number Plate on My Horse Box?
The answer depends on the type of vehicle. A horse trailer (towed horse box) has no engine of its own and is therefore not separately registered with the DVLA. Under UK law, it must display the same registration number as the towing vehicle on its rear. This means if you change your towing vehicle — or renew your car's registration — you'll need a new rear plate for the trailer to match. The plate must be a yellow reflective plate with black characters, exactly the same as the rear plate on any car or van.
A self-propelled horse box or lorry (a motorised HGV-type vehicle used to transport horses) is registered in its own right and must carry both a white front plate and a yellow rear plate, just like any other motor vehicle. These must comply with BS AU 145e, the current British Standard governing number plate manufacture. The plate must be made by a registered number plate supplier and you'll need to provide proof of entitlement when ordering.
Horse box plates must withstand conditions that typical passenger car plates never face — pressure washing after shows, exposure to animal bedding dust, UV fading in paddocks, and occasional knocks from gates and loading ramps. Our plates are manufactured from high-quality ABS acrylic with premium reflective backing, making them significantly more durable than low-cost alternatives. We recommend screw-mount fixings where possible, as self-adhesive pads can weaken over time in very cold or very wet conditions typical of a stable yard.
Common Horse Box Plate Sizes
Most horse trailers use one of the standard UK plate sizes. The table below covers the most frequently ordered formats:
| Format | Dimensions | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard oblong | 520 × 111 mm | Most horse trailers & HGV horse lorries (rear) |
| Short oblong | 460 × 111 mm | Smaller trailers with narrow light clusters |
| Square | 228 × 178 mm | Where trailer hitch limits oblong plate fitting |
| Motorbike / small | 228 × 178 mm | Very compact trailer rear panels |
If your trailer has an unusual rear panel, get in touch — we can cut plates to bespoke dimensions while maintaining full legal compliance.
How to Order Your Horse Box Plate
Choose Your Size & Style
Select the plate size that fits your trailer or horse lorry. Pick standard, 3D gel or 4D lettering for the look you want.
Enter Your Registration
Type in the towing vehicle's registration (for trailers) or the lorry's own registration. We'll set the correct legal font automatically.
Upload ID & Order
As a registered DVLA supplier, we require proof of entitlement. Upload your documents at checkout and we'll despatch fast — most orders next working day.
Horse Box Number Plate FAQs
Does a horse trailer legally need a number plate?
Yes. Under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, any trailer used on a public road must display the registration mark of the towing vehicle on its rear. The plate must be a yellow reflective plate with black characters, manufactured to BS AU 145e. Failing to display one can result in a fine and a potential MOT failure for the towing vehicle's road-readiness check.
What colour is the rear plate on a horse trailer?
Yellow — the same as the rear plate on any UK road vehicle. The background must be yellow retro-reflective material and the characters must be black. You cannot use a white plate on the rear of a trailer.
I've changed my towing vehicle — do I need a new plate for my trailer?
Yes. Your horse trailer must always display the registration of the vehicle that is currently towing it. As soon as you change your towing vehicle, you need a new rear plate made up with the new registration. Keep this in mind if you ever borrow a friend's trailer or tow with a hire vehicle.
What size plate does a horse box trailer need?
There is no single mandated size for trailers, but the plate must be large enough to display the registration in the correct font size (79mm character height). For most trailers the 520×111mm oblong format fits neatly between the light clusters. If your trailer has a smaller rear panel, we also supply 460×111mm and square 228×178mm plates to suit narrower spaces.
Can I fit the plate myself, or do I need a professional?
Fitting is straightforward for most horse owners. Screw-mount plates require two or four fixing holes and screws (fixing kits available at checkout) — a drill and a screwdriver is all you need. Self-adhesive plates simply peel and stick to a clean, flat surface. We recommend screw mounting for trailers as they experience more vibration and weather exposure than passenger cars, which can loosen adhesive pads over time.
Do horse box plates have to be from a registered supplier?
Yes. Under UK law, road-legal number plates must be supplied by a registered number plate supplier. At Car Plates Direct, we are DVLA-registered and will ask for proof of identity and entitlement to the registration before dispatching any plates. This protects you and ensures your plates are fully compliant.
Can I get a personalised registration on a motorised horse lorry?
Absolutely. If your horse lorry is registered in its own right as a motor vehicle, you can transfer a personalised (cherished) registration onto it through the standard DVLA process, just as you would with a car. The resulting plates must still comply with BS AU 145e — we'll make them up correctly once the transfer is complete.