Personalized Number Plates

[Andy]

In the UK many people like to have personalised number plates for their cars/vans/trucks. They tend to be very expensive. Some reasons to buy them are:

• investment
• hide the age of a posh car
• demonstrate that you are successful even if you are driving a white van
• branding

I seem to be a rare breed with a posh car but standard number plate, even though someone once thought I bought the plate because it had a resemblance to cat purring as it's a jaguar.

Here's an example of branding i.e. vwd is the brand and the owner is called Tim. The car on the right had "L1 VWD" for it's plate, i think the owner is called Len.



Incidently, this car is an Aston Martin DB9 for those that like to drool over such things  and it costs around £90,000 Like James Bond smashes up a couple of hours after inserting the keys  Actually I would buy the Jaguar XJR in preference at a mere £60,000 but if I wanted to demonstrate wealth I may go for the DB9  And, if anyone ever wondered what I look like, that's me lurking in the shadow 

Is this just a uk thing or are personalized plates a fashion in other countries? Maybe it's not an option to personalize plates in many countries?

[Queen Bee]

I'm not sure about the rest of the US (Sorry, I don't travel much ), but Floridians love personalized and colorful name/number plates. I don't have a personalized name plate, but I do have one with manatee art on it that says "Protect Florida Manatees".

I don't think there's a whole lot of reason for them here in Florida... Other than just to make a statement or be funny or cute.

[12noon]

I was looking at the prices last night and to get something good would cost a fortune. I like the idea, but not the cost.

EA51 CAS would have cost £99

Anything with my name in it would have cost over £600

Think i'll stick with the REG that came free with my scooter.
 

[SensoVision]

from what I know are barely legal here and not easy to get one, I've seen some limos on TV which have such plates(they were used in TV Shows) but I'm not 100% sure if it wasn't just trick and that this limo don't have usual number plate on the back

[duenna]

My wife and I have them. Which sounds as if I am about to say, we also have matching anoraks. But we dont! I bought hers with one of our company initials on DCL and she bought me mine with my initials on for my birthday.

It is a nice thing and finishes the cars off.

Some people dont like them and I understand why. But hey ho!

[Andy]

Many numbers will be collectible and gain value with time so it can be an investment to own one. Even if people steal the plates it doesn't matter since they are registered to you and you just get more made up at low cost. This must be one of the few expensive investments that you can show off in public without fear of being mugged for it.

[12noon]

DVLA is the place to sort out your REG plates in England. You can do a search on the DVLA website to find the plate (Number) you want.

http://www.dvla-som.co.uk/home/en/Search/p/prefix
Click the above and try a number plate of your own making.