4 digit private reg - what's a ballpark price?
Discussion
A private registration that i've always fancied has come up for sale.
It's not exciting, it's my initials and year of birth e.g. "EM 81" So 2 letters followed by 2 numbers.
The seller tells me he's had an offer of £12.5k
Looking at recent DVLA auction results many similar 4 digit plates of this style (i.e 2 characters <space> 2 characters) have sold for between £2k and £3k none have sold for anything like £12.5k
However, the past DVLA auctions are all "XX EM" i.e. 2 numbers followed by 2 letters. I can't find any where 2 letters come first.
Is a 4 digit plate where the letters come first always considerably more expensive than the other way round?
Or is this seller on the wind up?
It's not exciting, it's my initials and year of birth e.g. "EM 81" So 2 letters followed by 2 numbers.
The seller tells me he's had an offer of £12.5k

Looking at recent DVLA auction results many similar 4 digit plates of this style (i.e 2 characters <space> 2 characters) have sold for between £2k and £3k none have sold for anything like £12.5k
However, the past DVLA auctions are all "XX EM" i.e. 2 numbers followed by 2 letters. I can't find any where 2 letters come first.
Is a 4 digit plate where the letters come first always considerably more expensive than the other way round?
Or is this seller on the wind up?
Edited by EricM on Tuesday 12th August 16:39
£4k is a good ballpark.
If you see things from a DVLA Auction at £3.3k that will actually end up being £4k by the time you add buyers premium and VAT.
Obviously common initials and cool numbers can attract more, but £12.5k sounds like he's trying it on a bit unless it is something very cool.
If you see things from a DVLA Auction at £3.3k that will actually end up being £4k by the time you add buyers premium and VAT.
Obviously common initials and cool numbers can attract more, but £12.5k sounds like he's trying it on a bit unless it is something very cool.
Yeah, I'm now convinced he's trying it on, the plate is listed for £15k
No photo of a retention certificate, just a mock up image of a plate which made me think maybe 4 digit plates with 2 letters first don't exist!?
Looking at past DVLA auction results
"81 EM" sold for £2800 in 2009
"82 EM" sold for £2600 in 2012
"83 EM" sold for £2700 in 2012
"84 EM" sold for £2600 in 2005
£3k to £3.5k seems about right for a private sale
Told him to get in touch if the other offer falls through
No photo of a retention certificate, just a mock up image of a plate which made me think maybe 4 digit plates with 2 letters first don't exist!?
Looking at past DVLA auction results
"81 EM" sold for £2800 in 2009
"82 EM" sold for £2600 in 2012
"83 EM" sold for £2700 in 2012
"84 EM" sold for £2600 in 2005
£3k to £3.5k seems about right for a private sale
Told him to get in touch if the other offer falls through

EricM said:
Yeah, I'm now convinced he's trying it on, the plate is listed for £15k
No photo of a retention certificate, just a mock up image of a plate which made me think maybe 4 digit plates with 2 letters first don't exist!?
Looking at past DVLA auction results
"81 EM" sold for £2800 in 2009
"82 EM" sold for £2600 in 2012
"83 EM" sold for £2700 in 2012
"84 EM" sold for £2600 in 2005
£3k to £3.5k seems about right for a private sale
Told him to get in touch if the other offer falls through
100k forward to it.No photo of a retention certificate, just a mock up image of a plate which made me think maybe 4 digit plates with 2 letters first don't exist!?
Looking at past DVLA auction results
"81 EM" sold for £2800 in 2009
"82 EM" sold for £2600 in 2012
"83 EM" sold for £2700 in 2012
"84 EM" sold for £2600 in 2005
£3k to £3.5k seems about right for a private sale
Told him to get in touch if the other offer falls through

I don't see why somebody naming their price is "taking the piss".
Its his property and he can ask when he likes for it. Its up to OP how much you will pay. I own things that I wouldn't sell at market value because I personally value them higher - but name a big enough summ and I'll take the cash.
If its not his property, and he can buy it and re-sell it to you, then again, he's naming his price and oP can make his choice. Thats what business is about. If he has overprices then its no sale.
Its his property and he can ask when he likes for it. Its up to OP how much you will pay. I own things that I wouldn't sell at market value because I personally value them higher - but name a big enough summ and I'll take the cash.
If its not his property, and he can buy it and re-sell it to you, then again, he's naming his price and oP can make his choice. Thats what business is about. If he has overprices then its no sale.
EricM said:
"81 EM" sold for £2800 in 2009
So about £3.5K with Fees.However 2 x 2 plates with letters first are deemed more valuable as they're not auction plates. £5-8K would be a sensible estimate of value. However he's not taking the piss at all, it's his plate and if he wants to advertise it at above market value then good luck to him, he may get one idiot come along....
Turns out hes selling the plate "on behalf of a customer who's an elderly widow."
Looks like a regular seller of anything he can get his hands on, scrap gold, old car parts etc.
Maybe he's looking for a decent cut from the sale.
We'll see what happens, anything over £4k is too rich for me.
Interesting that plates with 2 letters first are up to twice as valuable, there's certainly far fewer for sale.
Looks like a regular seller of anything he can get his hands on, scrap gold, old car parts etc.
Maybe he's looking for a decent cut from the sale.
We'll see what happens, anything over £4k is too rich for me.
Interesting that plates with 2 letters first are up to twice as valuable, there's certainly far fewer for sale.
As usual you really should take some of the advice on here with a pinch of salt - a few posters here are way off.
First off, the difference between original issue dateless 'plates and the later auction 'plates is generally about 30% or more. Letters first, usually, denotes an original issue.
If it is 'the right way round' then it is a much rarer item and it's resale value will reflect that.
As for "all 4 digits being about £4k" that's miles off - some with less popular initials will be below that and some will be considerably higher. Check AJ 'plates as an example.
The price you've given for EM with 2 digits after is not in the wrong ballpark.
First off, the difference between original issue dateless 'plates and the later auction 'plates is generally about 30% or more. Letters first, usually, denotes an original issue.
If it is 'the right way round' then it is a much rarer item and it's resale value will reflect that.
As for "all 4 digits being about £4k" that's miles off - some with less popular initials will be below that and some will be considerably higher. Check AJ 'plates as an example.
The price you've given for EM with 2 digits after is not in the wrong ballpark.
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