I need to replace the rear number plate on my mk2.5 as the damp has obviously got into the plastic laminate and caused discoloration, making it harder to read. I ordered one from Halfords and when I got back to the car I was surprised to find it wasn’t plastic but aluminium, with a coloured plastic or foil film with the reg number on the front. My first concern was the edges marking the paint so I will smooth them off with some emery paper first and may even screw it on over the existing plate to keep the aluminium away from the paint.
I’ve never seen a plate like this before. The only aluminium plates I have ever seen are the embossed ones on pre- and early 60s classics cars. We have a set on the Morris Minor. Does anyone know if it is something new or was aluminium always an option?
I have several cars and several private registrations. I normally get my plates done at Halfords and I think most of them are aluminium. I have no issues or concerns with them scratching the car - just mount them flush and securely and you should be OK. I’ve never mounted a plate on an NB but I don’t know why it would be different.
Thanks @MikeyC . I’ll have a go at fitting it tomorrow weather permitting.
I have aluminium pressed plates for my private plate. My wife has them on her Civic, as my dad on his. Used a company up near Coventry somewhere. Been really good and something classier than those silly 4D plates that are everywhere right now. There are a few different suppliers, but quality isn’t always the same across the board. Never had any issues with scratches etc, as the sticky pads or Velcro keeps them far enough away from the bodywork.
Someone else has mentioned these Halfords aluminium number plates to me recently. Are you able to share a few photos of one? I’m interested to see what they look like and in their construction.
I don’t think that I have any that aren’t on a car and most of my fixings aren’t going to benefit from repeated removals, sorry. I wouldn’t quite say they are held on by hopes and dreams… but most of them involve “compromises” due to how previous owners have fixed plates on the vehicles 
I don’t think you’d tell from the front that the Halfords plates aren’t the more common plastic ones. You need to see them from the side or back. They’re thinner that typical plastic ones. They also aren’t pressed (or at least the basic ones are not) as described by @Karlos20945 - Halfords ones look very much standard. Having looked up the pressed plates I do agree that’s a nice compromise between standard and the so-called 4D plates.
Photos below. They are very thin as @MikeyC says.
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