How to replace a number plate
Most replacement work is straightforward once the character count is right. The mistakes that cost money happen at the start — misreading a character from a photograph, or under-ordering a repeated letter.
1. Read the registration carefully
Write the registration out in the current format: two letters, two digits, three letters. That tells you which positions are letters and which are digits, which removes the usual O-versus-0 and I-versus-1 guesswork.
A rounded character in the third or fourth position is a zero. A narrow upright in those positions is a one.
2. Count the characters you need
Count each occurrence separately, then double it for a front and rear pair. Our registration calculator does exactly this and shows the totals before anything reaches your basket.
3. Prepare the blank
Work on a clean, dry, room-temperature blank. Any dust under an adhesive character will show as a shadow and will eventually let water in.
Set your spacing before you remove any backing paper.
4. Fit the characters
Start from the centre of the plate and work outwards, so any accumulated spacing error ends up split between both ends rather than all at one edge.
Press enclosed shapes such as 8, B and A from the middle out, so the internal bridges seat flat.