If you drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, you’re required to display your council-issued licence plate — but nobody wants to put drill holes in their bodywork to do it. Drilling damages paintwork, invites rust, hurts resale value, and on a leased or financed vehicle it may not even be allowed.
That’s exactly the problem the MOGO No-Drill Bracket System was designed to solve. In this guide, we’ll explain how the brackets work, how to fit one, and — most importantly — how to choose the right bracket for your plate size and your vehicle.
How Do No-Drill Taxi Plate Holders and Brackets Work?
The concept is simple: instead of screwing your licence plate directly into the bodywork, the MOGO bracket mounts behind your existing registration plate, using the screw points that are already there.
Fitting takes just a couple of minutes:
- Unscrew your registration (number) plate using its existing fixings.
- Position the MOGO bracket behind the registration plate.
- Replace the screws so the bracket is sandwiched securely in place.
- Attach your council licence plate to the bracket using the secure locking pins supplied.
- No drill, no new holes, no damage. Sticky pads are included for extra support where needed, and every bracket comes with our FS-1 fixing kit — four secure locking pins, two sticky pads, and step-by-step fitting instructions.
Brackets are usually mounted so the licence plate sits below the registration plate, but they can also be fitted the other way up if your council or your vehicle layout requires the plate to sit above.
Why Drivers Choose No-Drill
No damage to your vehicle. No holes means no rust points, no respray costs, and no awkward conversations when you sell, part-exchange, or return a lease vehicle.
Quick to fit and remove. Handy if you switch between private use and licensed work, change vehicles, or renew your plate each year.
Built to last. MOGO brackets are manufactured from high-quality polycarbonate — designed for long-term use with near-unbreakable durability, in all weathers.
Secure. The locking pin system keeps your plate firmly attached, so it stays put at motorway speeds and through car washes.
Which Taxi Plate Holder Fits Your Vehicle?
Choosing the right bracket comes down to two things: the size of your licence plate andhow much clearance you need from the bodywork.
Council licence plates in the UK come in three common sizes:
Your plate size is set by your licensing authority, so measure the plate you’ve been issued before ordering.
Step 2: Work out your clearance
Clearance is the distance the plate needs to stand off from the bodywork so it doesn’t touch bumpers, boot lids, or curved panels. A saloon with a flat boot needs very little; a van or minibus with a protruding bumper needs a lot more.
To measure it, hold a ruler flat against your registration plate and check how far the bodywork sticks out below it — the deepest point (usually the bumper) is your minimum clearance. If the licence plate would hang down past a protruding bumper, you need at least that much stand-off, so round up to the next bracket size rather than down.
|
Bracket |
Plate size |
Clearance |
Best for |
|
BR-E (Rear/Front, Small) |
Small 240 x 125mm |
Up to 20mm |
Flat panels, minimal stand-off — our most compact bracket |
|
BR-M (Rear, Square) |
Square 240 x 176mm |
Up to 45mm |
Standard saloons and estates |
|
BR-STN (Rear, Long) |
Long 420 x 100mm |
Up to 20mm |
Flat rear panels with long plates |
|
BR-UA1 (Rear, Adjustable) |
Square or Small |
55–80mm |
Vehicles with deeper bumpers |
|
BR-UA2 (Rear, Extra Adjustable) |
Square or Small |
90–140mm |
Vans and minibuses with significant bodywork depth |
|
BR-AM2 (Rear, Extra Adjustable) |
Long 420 x 100mm |
90–140mm |
Vans and minibuses using long plates |
|
BR-RE (Front, Reverse Euro) |
Square or Small |
— |
Front plates on vehicles with significant front bodywork |
If the plate would touch the bodywork on a standard bracket, step up to an adjustable version. The adjustable range lets you fine-tune the stand-off so the plate sits flush and level, whatever you drive.
Most councils require the licence plate on the rear of the vehicle, and some require a front plate or internal identifiers too. MOGO makes dedicated front brackets — including the Reverse Euro bracket for vehicles with pronounced front bodywork — so check your local authority’s display requirements and cover both ends if needed.
Still Not Sure Which Bracket You Need?
You don’t have to guess. Download our free Bracket Selection Guide (PDF) for a visual walkthrough, or use the bracket quiz on our product pages to get matched to the right bracket in seconds. And once it arrives, our step-by-step Fitting Instructions (PDF) will have you on the road in minutes.
Buying for a fleet or a plate shop? Quantity breaks are available on larger orders — get in touch and we’ll sort you out.
