If you search "custom number plates Australia" you'll find a handful of suppliers, each doing things slightly differently. Some stamp aluminium, some print flat graphics, and we 3D print with raised text. Rather than just telling you we're the best (every business says that), here's an honest side-by-side so you can decide for yourself.
The Main Players
There are five suppliers worth comparing in the Australian custom novelty plate space:
- PL8M8 (that's us) - 3D printed plates, Melbourne
- GR8PLATES - Embossed aluminium, Sydney. Over 10 years in business
- Unreal Plates - Embossed aluminium, Australia. 1300 phone support
- Spreester - Embossed aluminium, Australia. Weekly batch manufacturing
- Number Plate Factory (NPF) - Embossed plates, Queensland. Very small operation
All of them make decorative/novelty plates - none are road-legal. If you're after registered plates, you'll need to go through your state transport authority.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | PL8M8 | GR8PLATES | Unreal Plates | Spreester | NPF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 3D printed PLA | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Text style | Raised (3D) | Embossed | Embossed | Embossed | Embossed |
| Starting price | $15 | $30 | $25 | $38.95 | $35 |
| Background colours | 25+ | ~15 | ~10 | 13 | Limited |
| Letter colours | 25+ | 12 (incl. glitter, multicolour) | ~10 | 10 | Limited |
| Multi-colour text | Yes (built in) | Multicolour option (+$2) | No | No | No |
| State identifiers (VIC, NSW) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Live 3D preview | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Parametric sizing | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Size options | 4+ (incl. keyring) | 1 (standard + Euro) | 10 styles | 8 styles | 5 styles |
| Turnaround | 1-3 days | 3-7 days | 2-5 days | 5-14 days | Up to 4 weeks |
| Standard shipping | Free | $10 (free over $150) | $7.99 (free over $100) | Free | Unlisted |
| Made in | Melbourne | Sydney | Australia | Australia | Queensland |
What Actually Matters
Text Quality: Raised vs Embossed vs Flat
This is the biggest difference you'll notice in person. There are three approaches:
Raised text (PL8M8) - The letters physically sit above the plate surface. You can run your finger across them and feel the depth. This is achieved through multi-colour 3D printing - the base plate and the text are printed as separate layers in different colours, so there's no paint to chip or stickers to peel.
Embossed text (GR8PLATES, Unreal Plates, Spreester, NPF) - The aluminium is pressed into shape with a die, creating a stamped effect. It looks authentic (real plates are made this way) and the metal feel is satisfying. Colour is applied as a coating over the embossed surface.
Flat printed (marketplace sellers) - Text is printed directly onto the surface with no depth at all. Cheapest option, but it wears off over time and looks noticeably flat. None of the five suppliers above do this - it's mainly what you'll find on eBay and Amazon.
For a deeper dive into how these manufacturing methods compare, see our full breakdown of 3D printed vs traditional plates.
Colours and Customisation
This is where the differences get interesting.
PL8M8: 25+ colours for both the base plate and text, independently selectable. Multi-colour is built into the manufacturing process - the 3D printer swaps filament mid-print, so colours are solid all the way through. No paint, no coatings. Our colour combinations guide has inspiration if you're not sure where to start.
GR8PLATES: Around 15 background colours (including Euro styles like carbon, glossy black, matte black, and rainbow) and 12 letter colours. They offer premium finishes like chrome, glitter blue, glitter gold, sparkly silver, sparkly gold, sparkly pink, and a multicolour option - each for an extra $2. The glitter and sparkly finishes are unique to GR8PLATES and look great for novelty gifts. The trade-off is that you browse separate product listings for each background colour rather than using a single configurator.
Unreal Plates: Separate text colour and plate colour selectors across 10 different plate formats (Standard, Slimline, Euro, Japanese, American, Motorcycle, Trailer, plus plastic Kids and Fun sizes). Decent variety of styles. Optional decal add-on for $5.95. Characters that can't be embossed are done as vinyl stickers instead.
Spreester: 13 background colours and 10 character colours. One catch: the character colour and border colour are linked - you can't set them independently. Offers character positioning (vertical and horizontal alignment) which none of the others do. Useful if you want text pushed to one corner of the plate.
NPF: Very limited colour information on their site. The most basic customisation of the group.
State Identifiers: The Big One
Here's something most buyers don't realise until checkout: every aluminium plate supplier refuses to include state identifiers like VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, or ACT on their plates.
- GR8PLATES: "State identifiers cannot be included."
- Unreal Plates: "We do not replicate government issue plates." They rego-check suspicious combinations and refund if matched.
- Spreester: "The factory will not supply plates that carry anything resembling a State identifier."
- NPF: Same policy - no state identifiers.
This isn't just a business preference - there's a legal reason behind it. Under Australian road safety legislation (e.g. Victoria's Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021, Reg 281), it's an offence to display a "representation of a number plate that is likely to be mistaken for" a genuine registration plate. Penalties range from 10 penalty units in Victoria up to $5,000 in South Australia. NSW even makes it an offence to possess plates resembling official ones without lawful excuse.
The aluminium suppliers' products are the same material, same dimensions (372mm × 134mm), and same embossed construction as real government-issued plates. Add a state identifier like "VIC" or "NSW" and the result is essentially indistinguishable from a genuine rego plate. That creates serious legal liability for the manufacturer - so they blanket-refuse state identifiers to protect themselves and their customers.
PL8M8 plates don't have this problem. They're 3D printed PLA plastic in different dimensions with a visibly different construction. Nobody's going to mistake one for a genuine rego. The "likely to be mistaken for" test simply doesn't apply - they're clearly decorative items.
This matters if you want a replica-style plate - say, a memorial plate of your old car or a celebration plate for a first car. None of the aluminium suppliers will make it. PL8M8 can, because the product is different enough that it's obviously not a road-legal plate.
Price (Including Delivery)
The plate price is only half the story - shipping can change the picture. Here's the total cost for a single custom plate delivered within Australia:
| Supplier | Plate price | Cheapest shipping | Total (1 plate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL8M8 | ~$25 | Free (standard) | ~$25 |
| GR8PLATES | $30 | $10 (registered) | $40 |
| Unreal Plates | $30 | $7.99 (unregistered) | $37.99 |
| Spreester | $38.95 | Free | $38.95 |
| NPF | $35-$45 | Extra (unlisted) | $35-$45+ |
PL8M8 and Spreester both include free standard delivery. The difference is the plate itself costs $14 less with PL8M8.
GR8PLATES charges a flat $10 for registered post ($15 express), with free shipping on orders over $150. Unreal Plates starts at $7.99 unregistered, $10.99 registered, or $15 express - with free shipping over $100.
NPF lists "plus postage and handling" but doesn't publish rates on their site, so the true delivered cost is unclear.
PL8M8 is also the only supplier offering keyring-sized plates and mini desk plates as standalone products - starting from $15 delivered.
Spreester offers decent bulk discounts (down to $23.95 each for 25+), which matters if you're ordering for an event or business. For single plates, they're one of the most expensive options.
GR8PLATES has the best range of pre-made novelty plates (from $20 + $10 shipping) if you want something like "MAN CAVE" or "SAVE WATER DRINK BEER" without customising.
Turnaround Time
- PL8M8: 1-3 business days
- Unreal Plates: 2-5 business days (priority service available)
- GR8PLATES: 3-7 business days (estimated)
- Spreester: 5-14 days (weekly batch manufacturing runs)
- NPF: Up to 4 weeks
Spreester batches orders into weekly manufacturing runs, which means your plate waits until the next batch regardless of how simple it is. NPF's four-week turnaround makes it a poor choice for gifts with a deadline.
Material: Aluminium vs 3D Printed PLA
The aluminium suppliers have one genuine advantage: durability. Metal plates handle sun, rain, and temperature better than PLA plastic. If your plate is going on an exterior wall or fence that cops direct weather, aluminium is the safer bet.
That said, most custom plates live indoors - on a desk, a bedroom wall, a garage, or a man cave. In those environments, PLA holds up perfectly well. It's lightweight, solid, and the multi-colour construction means colours are built into the material rather than applied as a coating that can wear.
Plate Formats and Sizes
Unreal Plates leads here with 10 different plate styles - Standard, Slimline, Euro (520mm), Japanese, American, Motorcycle, Trailer, Standard 2-Line, plus plastic Kids and Fun sizes. If you need a specific international format, they've got it.
Spreester offers 8 styles with similar variety.
GR8PLATES is mostly limited to standard Australian size (37cm × 13cm) plus some Euro formats.
PL8M8 offers 4+ sizes including Mini (70×28mm for desks and keyrings), Coupe, Truck, and custom sizing. Our sizes are different from the aluminium crowd - they're designed for display rather than matching road-plate dimensions. Check our size guide for details.
Where Each Supplier Wins
Choose PL8M8 if you want a live 3D preview, raised text, full colour freedom, state identifiers on your plate, the lowest price point, and fast turnaround. Best for replica-style plates, gifts, desk plates, garage decor, memorial plates, and keyrings.
Choose GR8PLATES if you want embossed aluminium with premium finishes (glitter, sparkly, chrome) or a pre-made novelty plate with a funny slogan. Great for novelty gifts.
Choose Unreal Plates if you want a specific international plate format (Euro, Japanese, American, motorcycle) in embossed aluminium. Best range of styles and solid customer service.
Choose Spreester if you're ordering in bulk (25+) for an event or business and want the best per-unit price on aluminium plates.
Avoid NPF if you need your plate within a month, or if you want it to include a state identifier.
The Honest Summary
Every supplier on this list makes a decent product. GR8PLATES has been at it for over a decade and their glitter/sparkly finishes are a nice touch. Unreal Plates has the widest range of plate formats. Spreester wins on bulk pricing.
But there are two things only PL8M8 offers: a live 3D configurator so you see exactly what you're getting, and the ability to include state identifiers on your plate. If you want a replica of your VIC rego or a NSW-style plate for your shed, we're the only option. Add raised 3D text, 25+ colours, parametric sizing, and the lowest starting price, and the comparison speaks for itself.
Try It Yourself
See the difference in our 3D configurator. Design your plate, preview it in 3D, and compare the result to anything else on the market. Starting from $15, made to order in Melbourne.