Driver Scores a Viral Hit with Playful Number Plate

A seemingly unremarkable Kia Sportage cruising the streets of Perth has become an online sensation thanks to its driver's cheeky use of a personalised license plate. At first glance, the plate, reading "37OHSSV," appears standard-issue, easily blending in with the throngs of vehicles. But a closer look, or perhaps a glance in the rear view mirror of the following car, reveals the plate's true brilliance.

The magic lies in its versatility. When viewed in the upright position, the plate reads "37OHSSV" – seemingly a random combination of letters and numbers. However, the internet, never one to miss a hidden message, quickly discovered the plate's secret. When flipped upside down, the letters transform into a playful and slightly naughty message: "A**HOLE."

The plate's owner has managed to achieve the near-impossible: sneaking a cheeky barb past the watchful eyes of Western Australia's Department of Transport (DoT). According to regplates.com, a website dedicated to personalised number plates, applications for personalized plates go through a rigorous vetting process. In the last financial year alone, the DoT rejected over 1,000 submissions deemed offensive or inappropriate for public display. Rejected plates included "GEN3CID," "SAUC3D," and "RAMP4GE," all attempting to push the boundaries of good taste. One particularly mischievous application, "F4K3 T4X1," was a sly reference to an adult website, while "BUYAGRAM" raised eyebrows with its potential drug connotations. Apparently, the DoT has a keen eye for hidden meanings and isn't afraid to wield its rejection stamp.

So, how did "37OHSSV" slip through the cracks? There are a few possibilities. The DoT's automated screening system might have simply missed the upside-down message. Alternatively, the application reviewer might not have considered a seemingly nonsensical combination of letters and numbers to be potentially offensive. Perhaps the reviewer even chuckled at the cleverness of the plate, deciding to let a little bit of cheeky humour pass through.

Whatever the reason for its approval, the plate has certainly captured the public's imagination. A photo of the car, presumably taken by a fellow driver who spotted the hidden message, was uploaded to the popular Facebook group Bell Tower Times 2.0. The image quickly went viral, garnering thousands of shares and comments. Social media users lauded the plate owner's wit, with many commending their ability to outsmart the system and get away with a playful and slightly rebellious message. Of course, there were also those who found the plate to be in poor taste, but the overwhelming response was one of amusement and admiration.

The story of the Perth driver's cheeky number plate serves as a reminder of the human desire for a bit of light hearted fun, even amidst the seriousness of everyday life. It also highlights the ingenuity of some and the occasional blind spot of bureaucracy. Whether the DoT will take action upon discovering the plate's hidden message remains to be seen. One thing is certain, though: the "A**HOLE" Kia Sportage has become a permanent fixture in Perth's online lore, a testament to the power of a clever wordplay and a well-timed photo.

So what are the top selling number plates in the UK? The DVLA has been selling private plates to UK motorists since 1989. During this time, there have been a number of records set, but most of the top 10 have been bought in the past 15 years. Here’s what currently makes the list:

25 0 – A Ferrari dealer bought this for £518k in 2014. It is now on a £10 million Ferrari 250 SWB.
F 1 – A businessman, Afzal Khan, bought this for £440k in 2008 and put it on his McLaren-Mercedes SLR.
S 1 – This was bought in 2008 for £404k by an anonymous buyer.
1 D – Businessman Nabil Bishara bought this plate in 2009 (before One Direction was formed, so it is not a reference to the band) for £352k.
M 1 – Businessman Mike McCoomb bought this number plate in 2006 for £331k, apparently for his son, who was 10 at the time.
VIP 1 – Chelsea owner and businessman Roman Abramovich bought this plate for £285k in 2006.
51 NGH – This number plate, which looks like the surname Singh, was sold in 2006 for £254k.
1 RH – Businessman Robert Haverson bought this in 2006 for £247k.
K1 NGS – This reg plate, which looks like the word “kings”, was bought anonymously in 1993 for £231k.
1 0 – This very simple but striking number plate was bought anonymously in 2009 for £170k.

These are large amounts of money, but they are all small compared to the top-selling number plates found in other parts of the world. Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, has the record for the most expensive number plate ever sold. That number plate was a simple “1”. It was bought in 2008 by businessman Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri for £7.25 million.

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