When you look at traffic on the motorways, you’ll notice that not all number plates look the same. Beyond their numbering and personalisation, plates also differ in their design and format. Vintage cars get classic black and silver plates that call back to previous motoring eras. Dealers and automakers use specialised red-on-white trade plates for unregistered vehicles; these are usually for road testing or delivery. Green plates are the latest variation announced by Transport Minister Rachel Maclean in late 2020, and they are part of the “Road to Zero” scheme.
A green number plate designates a zero-emissions vehicle. Most of the green plates you’ve seen thus far are likely on electric vehicles (EVs) like the Tesla Model Y or the Audi Q4 e-tron; nonetheless, they also designate cars powered by other technologies. The Toyota Mirai saloon and the Hyundai Nexo crossover, for instance, are hydrogen-powered vehicles that also get green number plates because of their zero-emissions classification.
Vehicles that lack tailpipes or do not emit CO2 through an exhaust process can be identified through green plates. The only green element on the plates is a flash on the left-hand side of both front and rear plates. As with other number plates, you can combine green ones with appropriate national identifiers such as the Union Jack, the Red Dragon of Wales, or the UK lettering.
In November 2020, the UK Business and Transport Secretaries hosted a meeting of transportation officials from China, India, the United States, and other major motoring markets. The meeting, which was conducted virtually because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, established a Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council to coordinate the transition to a green driving future.
Three years later, the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order was implemented as a mandate to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030. Then, the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate was introduced to set manufacturing targets and milestones for automakers. The goal of the mandate envisions that all cars on British motorways will be powered by zero-emissions technology by 2035.
The initial objectives of green plates are identification and awareness. Additional objectives include the designation of Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones that can be enhanced with initiatives for vehicle entry and parking. The London Congestion Charge, for example, does not apply to EV owners who registered for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount that runs until Christmas Day 2025. For many years, the Sheffield Council managed a free parking scheme for EVs until July 2025 at the city centre. These local initiatives are expected to expand as more green number plates are registered.
Do electric cars have to have green plates? If they are battery EVs, yes; they should display the correct plates authorized by the Department for Transport. As mentioned before, this extends to all motor vehicles powered by zero-emissions technologies, including hydrogen-powered cars and electric motorcycles.
As of May 2025, there is no hard legal requirement for green number plates. You will not be fined for driving a Tesla if the plates do not have green flashes. Thus far, the Display of Registration Marks Amendment has not made green number plates mandatory.
You must present your driving licence and V5C logbook at a number plate supplier approved by the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency, like Halfords. These suppliers are authorised to produce green number plates with the correct materials, font, spacing, and standard marks. Most EV dealerships will include green number plates with your new car purchase.
All in all, the process of getting new green plates for your zero-emissions car is straightforward; plus, it allows you to take advantage of perks and special schemes. Green plates are not mandatory in 2025, but they are certainly worth getting.
