Personalised Number Plates - Naff or Cool?

[Shnozz]

Louis Balfour said:

Generally the reg dealers mean ABC 123 or 123 ABC when they say 3 x 3.

I have common initials and no middle name. My initials plus 1 is not for sale at any price. Even fairly rubbish plates with my initials are well into 5 figures and I would not pay that sort of price for a plate.

Not only do I think it a waste of money, I also don't trust the government not to change the rules when they think the market is saturated. For example by offering any un-issued plate you like for a fee.

My initials have a sports association (by my father's design as a fan of that sport more than by coincidence) so I get strong competition in private plates. My pricy one was via a DVLA auction and I paid more than I would have liked which, on reflection, seems a bit daft now, especially as its on a retention certificate so not even displayed. Hey ho, perhaps it will turn out a reasonable investment and certainly no worse than my shares are doing in the last 6 months.

[Ron240]

Louis Balfour said:

Not only do I think it a waste of money, I also don't trust the government not to change the rules when they think the market is saturated. For example by offering any un-issued plate you like for a fee.

This potential change of rules would obviously not affect you, but why do you think it would affect others?
The 'what if' philosophy rarely works in anyones favour.

I have been using the same registration number on my cars for the past 24 years so none of this bothers me.

[Stick Legs]

My two plates.

Cheap, dateless, my initials.

I’m quite happy with them.

[Hatson]

Stick Legs said:

My two plates.

Cheap, dateless, my initials.

I’m quite happy with them.

Neat and not doctored……....ok, doctored a lot!

[BckFlash]

Hatson said:

Neat and not doctored……....ok, doctored a lot!

Doctored how?

[Magnum 475]

BckFlash said:

Hatson said:

Neat and not doctored……....ok, doctored a lot!

Doctored how?

PhD - doctorate.

[BckFlash]

Magnum 475 said:

BckFlash said:

Hatson said:

Neat and not doctored……....ok, doctored a lot!

Doctored how?

PhD - doctorate.

Where’s that parrot for me…

[Louis Balfour]

Ron240 said:

Louis Balfour said:

Not only do I think it a waste of money, I also don't trust the government not to change the rules when they think the market is saturated. For example by offering any un-issued plate you like for a fee.

This potential change of rules would obviously not affect you, but why do you think it would affect others?

Because the price of cherished plates is supported by the relative scarcity of those considered desirable. If the supply of cherished numbers became essentially limitless it would reduce the price of the plates already in existence.

[bad company]

I have B 24 and 24 B. I like them though may well sell up soon.

Don’t understand why some have a problem with private plates. They’re a bit of fun and have certainly increased in value.

Edited by bad company on Friday 27th May 23:24

Edited by bad company on Friday 27th May 23:25

[JRFrench]

Stick Legs said:

My two plates.

Cheap, dateless, my initials.

I’m quite happy with them.

Smart matching pair, but not dateless

[Stick Legs]

JRFrench said:

Smart matching pair, but not dateless

True.

[Julian Thompson]

evil.edna said:

ddom said:

Julian Thompson said:

I have a couple of really good ones I’ve had for years. At the moment they are on retention.

In the last two weeks, minding my own business I have been shouted at twice whilst quietly enjoying two of my cars. First time I was sat in traffic in my Cobra and a young guy leaned out of the passenger window of a Corsa and shouted “your car is st” - second time driving at 20 mph (not making lots of noise either) down the high street on Saturday evening on my way for a curry with my wife in my Aston Vantage and another lad shouted “Oh there we go showing us all how much money you’ve got”. Wouldn’t mind but I drive an old van 99% of the time and only bring my nice cars out on nice days for a quick go. I felt like saying to him - “presume it’ll be ok on Monday when I’m driving my van?”

It’s upset me a bit, bet it would be even worse with expensive private plates. Tempted to sell them.

No.

It’s just jealousy, mixed with being a bit of a thicko. These types of people take great exception to others enjoying different things to them. Their insecurities are triggered and they let their guard down, usually one saying they are blissfully happy with their lot….until they see someone who has something that they would dearly love, but couldn’t be bothered to make the necessary sacrifices in life

Someone once shouted "show-off" at me whilst driving my then 8 year old mk2 mx5. I kept it in really good condition but it was worth about 4k.

To this day I haven't figured out If they were being ironic.

Edited by evil.edna on Friday 27th May 11:07

But would it have looked like you actually were showing off more with the expensive personalised plate? I’d never thought of it like that before because I bought them originally effectively as a “customisation” of my cars, when I was much younger. I thought it was great to have my name on the car and thought it made them look better to have less clutter on the plate.

Now I’m just wondering if it’s the equivalent of wearing a monogrammed shirt !!!