There are two ways to read plates - visually or having the camera/VMS capable to read and log the plates. That NVR does not have that capability. So your client would either need to purchase another NVR or just accept that the camera will be able to allow them to pull up the video and manually read it.
Have you looked at the LPR subforum?
How far away are the plates from where the camera would be (and recognize most people underestimate distance, so 50 feet ends up actually being 80 feet when you install it)?
You need optical zoom that is only accomplished with a larger varifocal and a camera that you can manually set the shutter speed.
For plate reading, or any IDENTIFY at distance, focal length is more important than MP.
2MP on the 1/2.8" sensor is an ideal MP/sensor ratio and is more than enough for plate reading.
The reason most opt for the Z12E is because it's optical zoom is incredible (up to 64mm focal length). The goal is to get clean capture of plates without having to digital zoom and guess. If you have a good angle, this camera can get plates up to 190ish feet away.
If the distance is truly 30 feet, you could get by with a ZE model, but if 30 feet turns out to be 50 feet, then the ZE model won't cut it. Most people seriously underestimate the distance.
Keep in mind that LPR is as much an art as it is a science. It is all about optical zoom, not digital, especially at night. And proper shutter speed. The Z12E is the cheapest they come with that much optical zoom for up to almost 200 feet and is around $250.
At night, we have to run a very fast shutter speed (1/2,000) and in B/W with IR and the image will be black. All you will see are head/tail lights and the plate. Some people can get away with color if they have enough street lights, but most of us cannot. Here is a representative sample of plates I get at night of vehicles traveling about 45MPH at 175 feet from my 2MP 5241-Z12E camera:
Make sure you look at the LPR subforum:
LPR
Licence Plate Reader cameras
As well as these threads:
New to LPR? Considerations Before You Begin
Thought I would throw together a post on my experiences so far with LPR in an effort to help others that are considering running down that rabbit hole. There are some practical considerations you should know about LPR. I am approaching this from the position of using
Blue Iris and Plate...
LPR Case Study: Scoping, Planning, Proof of Concept, Installation, & Results
Introduction This thread is about my journey into LPR (License Plate Recognition) after having about 18 months of experience with IP cams and having quite a bit of my system finished. I am not an expert on LPR, or IP cameras either. But I have spent a lot of time working with my system and...
Use of Overview and LPR Cams to Document Midnight Vehicle Distributing Offensive Flyers on Lawns
We were out of town and I was checking my cams remotely one morning and noticed one of the Deputies that regularly patrol my subdivision had been at my front door. She has come to me a few times requesting video as she knows I have fairly good coverage of the streets at my corner. I noticed that...
But I get your point. I am still claiming 30" max. That said I would rather get Z12E and be safe. 
