2023's Most Prized Auction Personalised Plates by the DVLA
Reg Plates Article2023's Most Prized Auction Personalised Plates by the DVLA
Forget diamonds and yachts, the hottest collector's item in 2023 wasn't found in glitzy boutiques or Monaco harbours. It roared onto the scene with four wheels and a hefty price tag – personalised car plates. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) unveiled its top ten most expensive registrations sold last year, and it's a list that screams exclusivity, status, and perhaps a touch of extravagance.
The crown jewel? Buckle up for "H1 NDU," a seemingly innocuous combination that commanded a cool £112,010 (excluding fees and taxes). While the meaning might escape the uninitiated, its appeal lies in its simplicity and coveted "letter first, number 1" format. Think James Bond with a dash of Wall Street – classic with a hint of power.
But "H1 NDU" wasn't the only plate singing a sweet symphony of zeros. The letter "O" emerged as the undisputed star, gracing half of the top ten entries. "1 DEO" (£106,090) and "DEO 1S" (£80,010) sashayed onto the podium, their allure likely fuelled by the divine connotations of "DEO" (Latin for "God").
Numbers, too, played a starring role. Plates like "5 PS" (£73,000) and "DEO 1S" (£82,000) whispered of lucky charms and mirror-image symmetry, appealing to both the superstitious and the aesthetically inclined.
Interestingly, the list wasn't all about straightforward meanings. "42 O" (£96,670) and "82 O" (£70,000) revelled in a touch of mystery, their potential interpretations as varied as the bidders' imaginations. Perhaps a nod to a family name, a personal mantra, or simply a stroke of creative genius – the beauty, it seems, lies in the beholder's eye (and wallet).
But beyond the eye-watering figures, one question lingers: why? Why spend a small fortune on a personalised number plate adorning your car? The answer, like the plates themselves, is multifaceted. For some, it's a statement of individuality, a way to stand out from the sea of generic registrations. For others, it's an investment, a belief that these coveted plates will only appreciate in value over time. And for a select few, it's simply the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush of securing a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Whatever the motivation, one thing is clear: the world of personalized plates is booming. And with the DVLA moving auctions entirely online, expect the competition – and the prices – to skyrocket even further. So, buckle up, folks, the ride for the most exclusive numbers on the road is just getting started.
How popular any name or initial it contains is: You are more likely to get good money for a registration plate that spells out a name like 5UE than you are with a more unusual name, simply because there is more demand for Sue (or Dave or Mel) than there would be for Hector, Primrose or Zebedee
How valuable the letters and numbers the plate contains are: in terms of numbers, lower numbers with fewer digits tend to be the most valuable when reselling personalised number plates, making BOB 1 more valuable than BOB 379. Sequential numbers (123, 456 etc.) and repeated numbers (444, 88) are more popular than random combinations, and special occasion numbers like 18 and 21 can also boost a number plate’s value a little. In terms of the letters in a number plate, the likelihood of a series of letters being a name or a person’s initials increases the value of the plate, too.
- FREE TRANSFER SERVICE - your paperwork is handled by our trained team
- OVER 30 YEARS EXPERTISE - long established and trusted company
- DVLA RECOGNISED RESELLER - linked directly from the DVLA website
- TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS - MIRAD and CN Guild members
