Driveways and farm gates
Log every vehicle and open the gate for your own. Driveway ANPR.
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ANPR · UKANPR in the UK.
UK number plates are among the easiest in the world for ANPR to read. Here is how to use it at home or at work, and the rules to follow.
Free LPR software · one camera free for life · plate recognition included · about 100 MB
Works withWindows 10 & 11ONVIF camerasHikvisionDahuaReolinkAxisNvidia GPU
ANPR · UK plates
Why UK plates read so well.
UK number plates follow one national standard: a single mandatory typeface, fixed character sizes and spacing, and retro-reflective material — white at the front, yellow at the rear. That consistency is exactly what ANPR software likes, and reflective plates shine back infrared at night.
The flip side: plates with non-standard fonts, spacing or tinted covers are illegal on the road and are also the ones ANPR struggles with.
ANPR · Uses
ANPR at home and at work in the UK.
Private car parks
Staff and residents in without permits or fobs. Car park ANPR.
Yards and depots
A record of every vehicle in and out. Business ANPR.
ANPR · The rules
Data protection: the short version.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is clear that if home CCTV captures images beyond your own property — a public road, a neighbour's drive — data protection law applies to you. The simple way to stay on the right side of it:
- Aim ANPR cameras at your own gate and drive, not the street.
- Put up a sign saying cameras are in use.
- Keep plate logs only as long as you need them, and keep them secure — on your own PC rather than someone else's cloud.
- Businesses should read the ICO's guidance for CCTV and ANPR in full.
This is general information, not legal advice.
ANPR · Questions
UK ANPR: quick answers.
Is home ANPR legal in the UK?
Generally yes. If your cameras capture beyond your own boundary, UK data protection law applies, so aim at your own property, use signage and keep data only as long as needed.
Is there free ANPR software in the UK?
Yes. VISEC includes ANPR in its free one camera license and runs on a Windows PC with your own IP cameras. Free ANPR software.
Do I need a special ANPR camera?
Not for a driveway or gate. A standard IP camera zoomed onto the lane with a fast shutter reads UK plates well.