What private plates do you have?

[DickyC]

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

Not sure why but it's one of the terms used by the DVLA.

Selected by a private individual rather than issued by a government department?

[mr_spock]

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

Vanity? Why not just fun? Mine makes me grin, people who know seem to be amused by it, good enough for me.

[NeilTXJ]

My 3, can just make out the one on the garage. All purchased through DVLA auctions.

[daytona111r]

Any private plate with your name in it is just plain tacky. imo.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

daytona111r said:

Any private plate with your name in it is just plain tacky. imo.

Ah, thanks for sharing

[Bemmer]

daytona111r said:

Any private plate with your name in it is just plain tacky. imo.

Oh... Well that changes the hole thread then... So back to the thread title "WHAT PRIVATE PLATE S DO YOU HAVE" ...?

[DickyC]

daytona111r said:

Any private plate with your name in it is just plain tacky. imo.

That's Mr Tacky, if you don't mind.

[2 GKC]

Keep it stiff said:

My pair, both owned from their release date. PX I have had on several cars, now on my Range Rover.

That caterham plate I just don’t get. Truly dreadful.

[Gunk]

NeilTXJ said:

My 3, can just make out the one on the garage. All purchased through DVLA auctions.

Great collection Neil

[Grobag]

TG20 VER, my initial is T and my surname is Grover. Bought from DVLA as a buy it now jobbie, works for me cos it’s the nearest I’m ever gonna get to my name but doesn’t look like a private plate to everybody else!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Grobag said:

TG20 VER, my initial is T and my surname is Grover. Bought from DVLA as a buy it now jobbie, works for me cos it’s the nearest I’m ever gonna get to my name but doesn’t look like a private plate to everybody else!

I too have a purchased plate that only I know it's a purchased plate. It amuses me and despite what others may say I'm not bothered if nobody knows it's purchased. Who actually cares what others think?

[pingu393]

I've got five vehicles, three have "private" plates. I'll be buggered if I can remember the number of the ones that haven't. I always get either the letters or the numbers mixed up.

[21ATS]

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

It keeps the age of the vehicle "private"

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

21ATS said:

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

It keeps the age of the vehicle "private"

Ah, nothing to do with yer privates then?

[21ATS]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

21ATS said:

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

It keeps the age of the vehicle "private"

Ah, nothing to do with yer privates then?

That was my understanding of why they were originally given that moniker.

Cherished plates also seems to be another widely used phrase.

I always thought "vanity plates" was an Americanism. They are cheap over there and you can pretty much have what you like on them within reason.

Edited by 21ATS on Thursday 29th December 19:43

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

21ATS said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

21ATS said:

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

It keeps the age of the vehicle "private"

Ah, nothing to do with yer privates then?

That was my understanding of why they were originally given that moniker.

Cherished plates also seems to be another widely used phrase.

Private can't be anything to do with keeping the age private shirley? I've a purchased 15 plate on a 15 reg car. (Plenty do the same).

[21ATS]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

21ATS said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

21ATS said:

BikeSausage said:

I have a genuine question…..why are they called “private” plates? They’re visible to the public (so not private) and procured from a public body.

Is there a reason why we shy away from calling them “vanity” plates, which seems to be a much more appropriate name in that they’re there for reasons of vanity?

It keeps the age of the vehicle "private"

Ah, nothing to do with yer privates then?

That was my understanding of why they were originally given that moniker.

Cherished plates also seems to be another widely used phrase.

Private can't be anything to do with keeping the age private shirley? I've a purchased 15 plate on a 15 reg car. (Plenty do the same).

It's a phrase from a time before the DVLA cottoned on to the money making exercise of witholding prefix and suffix plates to sell. Back then the market of these registrations was only in the dateless variety that effectively made the age of the vehicle "private".

So the term probably pre dates much of what is for sale now as a "private" number.

Then Irish plates snuck in on the scene as a cheaper alternative and the DVLA then figured out it could just create numbers to fill in the missing ones that hadn't been issued and effectively "print" a load of money for selling old rope.

I asked for two plates to be issued earlier this year. They were (both 3x3 dateless), but you can't buy them, the DVLA submit them to their on line auctions and you have to bid for them. I was outbid on both by RegTransfers, who still own both and have them up for sale at 3x what they paid.

Edited by 21ATS on Thursday 29th December 19:51

[Wish]

Wish said:

Sorry for the poor quality photo, Only picture of them both on my iPad.

Just about to post on here and then found my post from earlier in the year….

[MDubyaB]

Wasn’t looking for a plate, but a friend was, found this and I couldn’t resist. Bought it for £250 probably 20 years ago now. First name(ish) and initials.

It was on my sportsbike for over ten years which people always seemed to like. Brings the pathetic and grumpy out in folk every now and then on a car.

[RSTurboPaul]

21ATS said:

...

I asked for two plates to be issued earlier this year. They were (both 3x3 dateless), but you can't buy them, the DVLA submit them to their on line auctions and you have to bid for them. I was outbid on both by RegTransfers, who still own both and have them up for sale at 3x what they paid.

That's, er, nice of them...