Licence Plate Lights

Choosing a licence plate lamp

Start with where it mounts. A top-mount lamp sits above the plate and throws light down across it, which is the standard on a tray headboard or rear bar. A low-profile lamp suits a tailgate or a tight rear bar where a taller housing would get knocked off by the first bit of scrub. Compact rectangular lamps such as the Roadvision 81 x 41mm unit fit where there is no room for a full-size housing.

Then match the cable and voltage. Cables come in 0.5m and 2.5m, and the longer run saves a join on a trailer or a rear bar where the loom exits a long way from the plate. Lamps rated 10 to 30V or 9 to 33V run on 12V and 24V without a converter, and versions with a 3-LED or 5-LED board trade a little size for output.

Fitting and compliance

• White light only. The plate must be lit white and be readable from 20 metres at night. A blue-tinted or coloured LED fails this.
• No direct glare rearward. The lamp should light the plate, not the driver behind. Top-mount lamps have a shroud for this reason.
• Keep the earth clean. A plate lamp on a painted or powder-coated bar needs its own earth wire, not a screw through paint.
• Relocated plates on a rear bar or spare-wheel carrier need their own lamp. The factory lamp lighting an empty recess does not count.
• Flip-up plate brackets for a tow hitch or recovery point still need the lamp to light the plate in the down position.

What else you might need

Stop and tail lights: the Narva Model 41 range includes a stop/tail lamp with a licence plate insert built in.

LED combination lamps: several combination lamps include a plate light, saving a separate mount on a trailer.

Globes: festoon and wedge LED globes if you are upgrading a factory plate lamp rather than replacing it.

Trailer cables and harnesses: for a full trailer rewire where the plate lamp is the last item on the loom.

Frequently asked questions

Is a number plate light a roadworthy requirement?

Yes. The rear plate must be lit with white light so it can be read at night from 20 metres. A missing or dead lamp is a common defect item at inspection and a common reason for a roadside stop.

Can I use an LED number plate light on a 24V truck?

Yes, if it is rated for it. The Narva Model 8 and Model 16 lamps here are 10 to 30V and 9 to 33V and run on both 12V and 24V.

Which way does a licence plate lamp face?

Down or across the plate, never rearward. A top-mount lamp sits above the plate with the LEDs pointing down. Mount it so the whole plate is lit, including the bottom row of characters.

Do I need one lamp or two?

One is enough if it lights the whole plate. Wide plates, or a lamp mounted to one side, often need a pair so the far end is not in shadow.

Popular licence plate light brands

We stock licence plate lamps and plate brackets from Narva, LED Autolamps, Roadvision, Ignite, Hulk 4x4, Coast to Coast, Kaon and Noxsolis.