Trailer Number Plates & Plates For Towing Online

Build Your Trailer Number Plates

Number plates for trailers are a surprisingly regular request to us here at Number 1 Plates. Whether you’re towing a small trailer behind your car, taking your track motorcycle to a local circuit or off to a country show with a horsebox, it’s vital that you have a number plate for towing.

Do I need a number plate for towing a trailer?

We often get asked “do you need a number plate on a trailer”, and simply put, yes, you must have a number plate for a trailer! 

To adhere to DVLA regulations, trailer number plates must display the registration of the vehicle that is towing it, with a legal towing number plate made to British Standards (BS AU 145e). If you have multiple vehicles, you should purchase more than one trailer number plate and swap them to match the towing vehicle.

What size are trailer number plates? Do you offer a square trailer number plate? 

As mentioned previously, trailer reg plates must conform to DVLA standards in order to be road legal, and this means they must meet the same rules as any other number plate. For example, trailer plates must be in the correct font with the correct spacing between the letters. As they are fitted to the rear of the vehicle, they must be yellow, matching the rear plate of the vehicle which is towing. 

Similarly to number plates on motor vehicles, we have a wide range of number plates which are suitable for use on trailers. Whether you’re looking for a standard UK plate (520mm x 111mm) made from high quality acrylic, a pressed aluminium plate or a more square 4×4 plate (280mm x 203mm), we have the perfect option when it comes to number plates for towing! Not only this, but they start from just £10.49 too, making them a real bargain!

Trailer number plate law

The law around towing and trailer registration plates can be tricky to understand.

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997, then you can:

• Drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM. 
• Tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

If you want to tow anything heavier, then you’ll need to pass a ‘Car and Trailer’ test.

When towing, your trailer must display the same number plate as the vehicle you’re towing it with. If you’re towing more than one trailer, the number plate must be fixed to the trailer at the back.

If you’d like more information about height and width towing limits, then we’d recommend that you take a look at the DVLA’s advice!

Do you offer stick on number plates for trailers?

Unfortunately not, we don’t offer any sort of self-adhesive plates at the moment, as there simply isn’t the demand for them! However, you can use accessories such as our high quality Sticky Pads to fix your plate to your trailer, which will ensure they’re affixed securely!

Can I display a flag on my trailer registration plate? 

Yes, just like the number plates on your car, you’re allowed to display a flag and identifying letters on your trailer licence plate. You can have one of the following: 

• Union flag
• Cross of St George
• Cross of St Andrew – also known as the Saltire
• Red dragon of Wales

The letters, or national identifiers, you can have are:

• GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain or GB
• UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom or UK
• ENGLAND, England, ENG or Eng
• SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco
• CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym
• WALES or Wales

By adding a badge or border to your uk trailer registration plate, you can ensure that your trailer is as smart as the vehicle towing it!

Should I carry a spare trailer plate?

It’s always a good idea to have spare number plates for trailers in the back of your vehicle, just in case. Ideally though, you should always ensure that the plate is fixed correctly to the trailer in the first instance!

How can I order a trailer number plate?

It’s simple! If you’re in need of number plate for a trailer, all you have to do is go over to our Plate Builder, and enter the registration you require! Follow the steps, selecting your material, text style and any other options such as a border or badge, and then go to checkout! Don’t forget to send us your documents though, as legally, we can’t produce the plates without them!