Personalised Number Plates and Diplomatic Plates

Singapore's Top Diplomat in India Warns of Fake Diplomatic Vehicle

In a concerning development, Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, has alerted the Delhi Police about a vehicle bearing counterfeit diplomatic corps number plates resembling those used by Singaporean embassies. The vehicle, a silver-colored car, was spotted in the national capital.

Taking to social media, High Commissioner Wong shared a photograph of the car and cautioned the public, stating, "This is not our embassy car." He urged people to exercise heightened vigilance, particularly when encountering the vehicle unattended, especially at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

In India, diplomatic vehicles are distinguished by their blue number plates bearing the inscription "CD-Corps Diplomatique" followed by a two-digit code and a registration number. The unauthorized use of such number plates is a serious offense and could pose a security risk.

The High Commissioner's prompt action in alerting the authorities highlights the importance of public awareness and vigilance in safeguarding against potential security threats.

Over 300,000 Vehicle Number Plate Applications Cleared in Sindh

In a significant move to streamline vehicle registration and issuance of number plates, the Sindh Excise and Taxation Department has successfully cleared a backlog of over 300,000 applications. This achievement stems from the implementation of a new computerized system, which has eliminated the delays and frustrations caused by the previous contact system.

"With the new computerized system in place, we can now issue modern number plates with advanced security features, including tracking chips, within a day for those who have completed the vehicle registration process," stated Saeed Memon, Deputy Director Motor Vehicles Excise and Taxation. "The entire process, from application to issuance of number plates and return of the file to the owner, now takes just a week."

Memon, who recently assumed his role, is determined to address the hardships faced by vehicle owners due to the backlog. "We are replacing old yellow number plates with new computerized ones featuring Sindh Ajrak designs. On a daily basis, we issue around 1,400 to 1,500 number plates in Karachi," he added.

Memon has prioritized eliminating the involvement of middlemen and commission mafias in the department. "I encourage people to come directly to my office if they face any difficulty," he emphasized.

The new computerized number plates incorporate enhanced security features, making it virtually impossible to create duplicate copies. These plates include printed stickers, barcodes, and chips containing all vehicle and owner information. Additionally, the Sindh government plans to provide scanners to the traffic police to retrieve information by scanning the number plates.

The National Radio and Telecommunication (NRTC) and the Excise and Taxation Department are collaborating on a project to computerize all vehicle number plates in Sindh. "We have also introduced an SMS service to keep vehicle owners updated on the status of their file whenever they apply for a computerized number plate," Memon concluded.

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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