A fully road-legal number plate in the Republic of Ireland must meet all Irish Road Traffic Regulations and NCT (National Car Test) requirements.
These rules ensure your plate is easy to read by the Gardaí, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, and NCT inspection cameras.
⚙️ The Legal Requirements for Irish Number Plates
To be NCT approved and road legal, your number plates must meet these standards:
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Irish Standard Font
Plates must use the official Irish vehicle registration font — no custom or decorative fonts such as Metro, 3D, or 4D stylised typefaces. -
Reflective White Background (Front and Rear)
Both front and rear plates must be white reflective.-
Yellow rear plates are not legal in the Republic of Ireland.
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Tinted, grey, or darkened backgrounds are strictly prohibited.
Plates must be made with a proper reflective surface that meets Irish visibility standards.
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Black Characters Only
The registration numbers and letters must be black — no coloured, shaded, or tinted text. -
Blue EU IRL Band
Legal Irish plates must feature:-
The blue EU band on the left-hand side
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The letters IRL beneath the EU stars
This identifies the vehicle as registered in Ireland.
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County Name in Irish
The county of registration (e.g., Baile Átha Cliath for Dublin) must appear below the registration number, in the Irish language. -
Correct Size & Spacing
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Standard size: 520mm x 110mm
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Characters must follow official spacing and height guidelines — no compression, stretching, or uneven spacing.
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🚫 What Is Not Road Legal in Ireland
Some plate styles look great but are not NCT compliant and cannot be used on public roads.
These include:
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3D Gel Plates (resin-raised lettering)
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4D Plates with coloured or tinted acrylic
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Show Plates with custom fonts or spacing
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Plates without the blue EU IRL badge
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Plates with grey, tinted, or carbon-style backgrounds
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Plates printed on vinyl or reflective film only
These are ideal for car shows, photoshoots, or private display, but not for legal road use.
🔍 Examples of Fully Road Legal Plates
At Only Plates Ireland, we clearly label every product so you always know what’s NCT compliant and what’s for show use only.
Our fully road-legal options include:
Each of these meets every requirement — from Irish font and spacing to reflectivity and the Blue EU IRL band.
🏁 Summary: What Makes a Plate Road Legal in Ireland
| Feature | Required for Road Legal Plates |
|---|---|
| Irish Font | ✅ Yes |
| White Reflective Background (front & rear) | ✅ Yes |
| Black Characters Only | ✅ Yes |
| Blue EU IRL Band | ✅ Yes |
| County Name in Irish | ✅ Yes |
| Tinted / Grey Background | ❌ No |
| 3D / 4D Decorative Fonts | ❌ No |
| Yellow Rear Plate | ❌ No |
| Correct Size & Spacing | ✅ Yes |
💬 Final Word
If your number plates meet all of these standards, they’re fully road legal and NCT compliant in the Republic of Ireland.
If not, they’re considered show plates and should only be used for display or off-road purposes.
At Only Plates Ireland, we pride ourselves on transparency — every product clearly states whether it’s road legal or for show use only, so you can order your next set of plates with confidence, clarity, and compliance.
✅ Shop our NCT-approved collection: