View Full Version : Vanity plates (car registrations)
I rather suspect this may kick up a poo storm but here goes anyway
For the life of me I simply cannot fathom out the attraction of personalised/private/vanity plates on cars, I accept it's a matter of taste and what people choose to spend their money on is their business but the whole concept bewilders me.
The two main categories appear to be-
The owner's name or initials - Why? You already know your name, as do your friends and family and I'm sorry but nobody else cares. Would you wear a Tshirt with your name written on it? Hardly.
The make or model of the car - Again why? The car has badges on the front and back letting everybody know what it is and the manufacturer spends millions on advertising and brand awareness, so why stick it on the number plate? Those with an interest in cars will know what it is anyway and, again, nobody else cares.
A possible third category is business related plates, this I can possibly understand as I assume the cost of the plate can probably be offset against tax, however just look at that Pimlico Plumbing guy if you want to see everything that's wrong about that lol
I've asked the same things on several car forums over the years but usually just get back defensive abuse in return, or the standard "it's up to me what I spend my money on & I don't have to justify it to you" I fully accept that fact but it would be nice to hear why somebody thinks the whole world might want to know their name or what car they drive.
Anybody?
There appears to be a secret language relating to these plates. Some are so tenuous as to make no sense at all. Sometimes I can see what they have tried to spell, but often it looks like nonsense.
Pigmy Pony
02-05-2019, 05:41
I see that several people on here have posted pics of their motor with the number plates blanked out, and I assume this is to do with security, so I don't know if I should mention any specific reg numbers - but I'm going to anyway.
Years ago Anita bought a registration number (for her Escort cabrio so it was a while ago) and it read S13 XYA. She had plates made with the spacing altered so it read S13XY A, which sort of worked if you squinted or simply couldn't spell. Not my idea of money well spent (a couple of hundred), but hey, it's her money. After a couple of weeks I got pulled over on my way to taking the dog to the vets. I was told to get it sorted straightaway. Then the next day Anita was stopped (different copper, but he was aware of the previous day's stop) and gave her a right old bollocking, but fortunately no ticket. Plate is now "on retention" or whatever it's called, and has been for many years.
But now I see plenty of motors with plates whose spacing frankly takes the piss, generally prestige cars like Range Rovers, X5s and big Mercs. May sound a bit racist but I do also detect a pattern. Where are the police with these ones? Maybe it's a Masonic thing ;)
I know someone called Claire who bought a plate for her latest car, and it read C7 URX: now the guy that flogged her that must have been one hell of a salesman, because there aren't enough drugs in the world to make that anything other than what it is.
I did occasionally see a plate which just read "U2" - now that would be worth a bob or two, and would be an easy sell to a U2 fan, as they all have more money than sense, even when they have no money :D
AJSki2fly
02-05-2019, 05:57
I think there is an 3rd category, which may be one of the biggest which is primarily to loose the age of the car. I have had a couple of plates in the past both I sold for more than I paid for them after a few years, one was FSU 853 (Irish plate) brought for £99 sold for £800, the other had my wife’s name SUE in it, brought for £300 and sold for £1000. I have one plate which came on a car that I purchased about four years ago, when I sold the car I kept it on retention. See if you can work out what it is S18ERO.
Pigmy Pony
02-05-2019, 06:14
Did you wear a big Mexican hat while driving it? :D
Stryder5
02-05-2019, 06:38
I have no excuse.......vanity!
I agree it's pretty pointless (although) harmless, and holds no interest for me, but if some folks are into it, then I guess it's their money. One thing, in terms of that, is that some of the rare plates created, which relate in some way to lots of people (common initials, etc), are very desirable and can fetch significant sums at auctions!
Therefore, if you're looking for a 'sensible' reason to own a private car registration plate, then as an investment, that might be it.
Marco.
Wakefield Turntables
02-05-2019, 07:42
It's pretty sad when you've got to use your number plate to remember your name.
investment wise its a pretty sound buy, as long as its a decent one. they continually go up in value. i guess its easy to remember than your new number every year or 2 as well. Obviously to make the neighbors think you've just splashed out 60k for a new car when in fact you splashed 20 on a secondhand one.
I'm not good ar reading these things and getting any sense out of them in general, although the better ones are easier. You get the odd funny one too, but in general they leave me a bit smug i didn't, wouldn't, couldn't. NNP 4ME
investment wise its a pretty sound buy, as long as its a decent one. they continually go up in value.
Exactly!
Obviously to make the neighbors think you've just splashed out 60k for a new car when in fact you splashed 20 on a secondhand one.
Now as far as that risible and insecure idiocy is concerned, anyone guilty of such should be publicly stripped naked, butt-whipped, and their teeny-weeny, baldy 2" wieners ridiculed by everyone!
Marco [can't stand 'keeping up with the Jones' types]:guns:
The one that are most stupid are those where the only person who could possibly understand their significance is the owner. What's the point. Please: If you have to explain to other people why your registration number is so brilliant .... it isn't.
I think people with personalised number plates should have the number tatooed to their foreheads.
Having said that ....
I have seen a couple that were good. There was an estate agent in Cardiff that used to drive round in a rolls with :HOU5E, and I once was 1066AD.
icehockeyboy
02-05-2019, 08:34
A friend has the plate N5 OUL
A bit of spacing skullduggery makes it read N SOUL
He’s a Northern Soul DJ by the way.
And another one has T4 MLA. T4MLA. TAMLA.
That’s a record label if you didn’t know. :)
Now that one's cool!:)
Marco.
tamla was indeed a record label for a short time, before it became motown... i like the 1066ad too; you could have flogged that to hastings direct:eyebrows:
I used to own ‘Bob’ but that was his name not mine,
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190502/b258ee8c274640071db3f4550fc400c0.jpg
As always, the mighty HMHB has this nailed:
'Well we’ve both seen your personalised reg plate
And it’s not the worst crime I agree
But we both know full well that it really should spell
T-W-A-T-O-N-E.
Did you play in the Garden of Eden?
Were the goalkeeper’s gloves to you tossed?
‘Cos it seems to me you’re the reason
You’re the reason why Paradise Lost'
Beobloke
02-05-2019, 11:52
I don't really have any strong feelings on them, but the ones that do annoy me are where the word that they allegedly spell out really is a stretch - on a different forum, one chap reckoned his number plate "spelled out his name" as it was something like D4AVE (I can't remember the exact name - just that there was a 4 in the middle of it). He got a bit snotty when I subsequently pointed out that this didn't spell 'Dave' and then kept subsequently referring to him as Dfourave! :D
However, my last but one car came with a private plate on and I grew quite fond of it so paid £80 to retain it when I sold the car. I still have it, but am saving it for when I have something sufficiently exciting to put it on - a Mondeo with a private plate doesnt seem right!
I will confess I also enquired about three number plates with the DVLA that took my fancy when I turned 40. Two are out there and are owned; the other has yet to be released and they said that they would put it through their checks and then add it to one of their auctions and let me know. Unfortunately this is the DVLA and, FIVE years later, I'm still waiting.
I'm not telling you lot what it is but I'll post it if I ever do succeed in buying it - you'll all groan, trust me! ;)
willbewill
02-05-2019, 12:25
One I fancied way back was BO55 HOG ...on a chopped Harley of course.
A friend has a neat one...N1DVM...nidvm is Roman for Neath, his home town.
America have a more open allowance on name usage I think. apparently there are about 10 million there
walpurgis
02-05-2019, 12:32
I always fancied 'VOM 1T' :D.
Actually, I wouldn't have a personalised plate, simply because of what I think of anybody who has one.........I'd not want to be thought of that way! (pick the bones out of that)
I've no doubt many would howl with laughter at our fascination with valves, dacs, cabinets, platters etc etc
Each to their own [emoji6]
You can bid on MA66 OTS right now on dvla auctions.
Suit a few people I know lol
Truckletheuncivil
02-05-2019, 13:15
I don't really have any strong feelings on them, but the ones that do annoy me are where the word that they allegedly spell out really is a stretch - on a different forum, one chap reckoned his number plate "spelled out his name" as it was something like D4AVE (I can't remember the exact name - just that there was a 4 in the middle of it). He got a bit snotty when I subsequently pointed out that this didn't spell 'Dave' and then kept subsequently referring to him as Dfourave! :D
However, my last but one car came with a private plate on and I grew quite fond of it so paid £80 to retain it when I sold the car. I still have it, but am saving it for when I have something sufficiently exciting to put it on - a Mondeo with a private plate doesnt seem right!
I will confess I also enquired about three number plates with the DVLA that took my fancy when I turned 40. Two are out there and are owned; the other has yet to be released and they said that they would put it through their checks and then add it to one of their auctions and let me know. Unfortunately this is the DVLA and, FIVE years later, I'm still waiting.
I'm not telling you lot what it is but I'll post it if I ever do succeed in buying it - you'll all groan, trust me! ;)
Ill have first guess BE06 RAM ?
We nearly bought an old Moggy ( Morris Minor) at auction that had 1 GOR as it's plate, went for £150 plus fees, I wonder if worth anything now?
We also sold our own Moggy (1963) with YSC 900 plate on it for £250 as we wanted something more practical, boy do I regret that, only had around 12000 on the clock at time of sale in the early 90's [emoji20]
Last time I looked the plate belonged to Ythan Ski Club, that was years ago mind you.
Edit: I see it is now on a 2014 BMW [emoji20]
For a gordon it will be... Over a grand anyway
Ill have first guess BE06 RAM ?
great guess:)
Beobloke
02-05-2019, 15:21
Ill have first guess BE06 RAM ?
Well it wasn’t, no, but that’s a hell of an idea!!
Martyn Miles
02-05-2019, 15:46
As far as I’m concerned, personalised number plates are a complete waste of money...
Truckletheuncivil
02-05-2019, 16:44
Well it wasn’t, no, but that’s a hell of an idea!!
Damn! Have to have another think
willbewill
02-05-2019, 18:29
Ill have first guess BE06 RAM ?BE08 LOK
My late father once bought a Daimler V8 car which happened to have the reg: 1 RHW. Those weren't his initials but he retained the number plate for successive cars as it was easy to remember. He was offered a relative fortune for it by someone who's intitials were RHW, but declined.
I can understand the vanity of those seeking plates containing the initials of the owner, especially if it is preceded, or followed with a "1", but plates which supposedly spell out a name or message are IMO naff.
Ninanina
02-05-2019, 18:50
I will get a private plate someday... It will contain: TOG..... it's a long story...
Not for any vanity reason though it would just make me smile.. that's all...
TOG - "Terry's Old Geezers".
Now we know what you listened to on the daily commute. :lol:
Minstrel SE
02-05-2019, 19:08
Oh I dont know. I wouldnt mind my initials followed by 1 until I saw the general price that would cost. I dont think its available anyway.
Its a status symbol and I only think it gets naff when they try and spell the name of something using letters and numbers.
so I think the point Im trying to make is if it can be tastefully done when some would say the whole thing is a bit tasteless.
I suppose you are likely to get a bit of attitude from them in a road rage incident...Do you know who I am. :)
Ninanina
02-05-2019, 19:08
I knew someone would come up with that... but no it's not that...
TOG actually comes from the 60's childrens program Pogles' Wood ... here's a pic of TOG...:
TOG's on the left...
http://i.imgur.com/IqDh8e5.png (https://imgur.com/IqDh8e5)
Patrick Dixon
02-05-2019, 19:20
A mate of mine once had 21 DLE. I quite liked that.
Given the prevalence of selfish, discourteous and just plain bad drivers, the obvious personalised plate to go for is FU 2.
Ninanina
02-05-2019, 19:25
Given the prevalence of selfish, discourteous and just plain bad drivers, the obvious personalised plate to go for is FU 2.
:rfl:
So true..
Photographer friend of mine has C2 NEG
Pigmy Pony
02-05-2019, 21:13
Not quite the same as private plates, but remember those little triangular name signs that folk sometimes had on their desks? Well I once heard about a boke who changed his name by deed poll to 'Toblerone' so he could put that on his desk.
Pigmy Pony
02-05-2019, 21:18
Also slightly away from topic, I wonder how much the BBC had to pay to get a personalised post code and text number? Radio 1's post code was (and maybe still is) W1N 4DJ. Surely not by happy chance. And Radio 2 had a text number 88291.
There used to be a pest control company where I used to live, they had a van with the number plate ANT 54T......ants for tea, quite liked that one.
Beobloke
02-05-2019, 23:40
I always fancied P155OFF but for decency reasons they apparently never released any ‘P15’ or ‘P155’ plates!
Ninanina
02-05-2019, 23:41
I always fancied P155OFF but for decency reasons they apparently never released any ‘P15’ or ‘P155’ plates!
Shame though...
mad-moon
02-05-2019, 23:43
I always fancied P155OFF but for decency reasons they apparently never released any ‘P15’ or ‘P155’ plates!
or TO55 either...TO55 POT
mad-moon
02-05-2019, 23:45
I did read once...in very very small print on the rear number plate of a motor bike under the reg no....I had to squint to read it....I smiled..it read "fuck you I'm off"
Ninanina
03-05-2019, 00:09
I did read once...in very very small print on the rear number plate of a motor bike under the reg no....I had to squint to read it....I smiled..it read "fuck you I'm off"
That's what bikes do to you...
Pigmy Pony
03-05-2019, 06:05
The text under the plate of my previous fireblade read: "You're ugly...and your mum dresses you funny". Came with the bike and I've no idea what it was about, but it did raise a few smiles. My current blade has a background pic of Bart baring his arse. Not strictly legal, but I've never been stopped for it.
I did once consider buying a plate that read STE 600 from someone local, but when I found he wanted 700 quid for it I decided I wasn't that desperate. Wonder if it might have increased in value over the intervening 15 years?
MikeMusic
03-05-2019, 10:50
I like the amusing ones
FAT 61T
(the 6 was slightly modified)
one from many years ago.
He were a big lad too
Actually saw
PEN15
which belonged to Fiona Richmond at the time
or TO55 either...TO55 POT
Nor 'TIT'; 'COC'; 'FUK'; 'BUM', or anything else that might be construed as giving offense.
walpurgis
03-05-2019, 15:17
Can I have 'B01 LOX' please? :)
Can I have 'B01 LOX' please? :)
What, you lost yours? Lol
Can I have 'B01 LOX' please? :)
OBO 110 X used to be on a Bentley about 20 years ago, I saw it in a car park at Silverstone along with a TVR with the reg BAD 541 T, clearly both issued before the Dvla started weeding out naughty words
Patrick Dixon
03-05-2019, 17:48
Given the prevalence of selfish, discourteous and just plain bad drivers, the obvious personalised plate to go for is FU 2.
That did used to belong to Fiona Richmond I believe; I once saw it on a Range Rover in Slough a long time ago. No idea who was driving.
Pigmy Pony
03-05-2019, 19:23
Who's Fiona Richmond? I know I've seen that name before.
Who's Fiona Richmond? I know I've seen that name before.
She was a pin-up model for Mayfair magazine. Later, when age took its inevitable toll and she could no longer appear as a centre fold, she wrote a column describing her adventures 'road testing' men. :D
Pigmy Pony
03-05-2019, 19:44
Ah, so that's where I remember her from. So when she reached a certain age, and the staples could no longer protect her modesty, Mayfair granted her some "column inches" eh?
I see that several people on here have posted pics of their motor with the number plates blanked out, and I assume this is to do with security, so I don't know if I should mention any specific reg numbers - but I'm going to anyway.
Years ago Anita bought a registration number (for her Escort cabrio so it was a while ago) and it read S13 XYA. She had plates made with the spacing altered so it read S13XY A, which sort of worked if you squinted or simply couldn't spell. Not my idea of money well spent (a couple of hundred), but hey, it's her money. After a couple of weeks I got pulled over on my way to taking the dog to the vets. I was told to get it sorted straightaway. Then the next day Anita was stopped (different copper, but he was aware of the previous day's stop) and gave her a right old bollocking, but fortunately no ticket. Plate is now "on retention" or whatever it's called, and has been for many years.
But now I see plenty of motors with plates whose spacing frankly takes the piss, generally prestige cars like Range Rovers, X5s and big Mercs. May sound a bit racist but I do also detect a pattern. Where are the police with these ones? Maybe it's a Masonic thing ;)
I know someone called Claire who bought a plate for her latest car, and it read C7 URX: now the guy that flogged her that must have been one hell of a salesman, because there aren't enough drugs in the world to make that anything other than what it is.
I did occasionally see a plate which just read "U2" - now that would be worth a bob or two, and would be an easy sell to a U2 fan, as they all have more money than sense, even when they have no money :D
Haha, good one!!
She was a pin-up model for Mayfair magazine. Later, when age took its inevitable toll and she could no longer appear as a centre fold, she wrote a column describing her adventures 'road testing' men. :D
Ha - now *that* I'd like to have read! Was she a 'size queen'?:eyebrows:
Marco [girth trumps length].
Pigmy Pony
04-05-2019, 12:56
Ha - now *that* I'd like to have read! Was she a 'size queen'?:eyebrows:
Marco [girth trumps length].
Shouldn't that last line read: Marco [bum trumps often]? :D
Aye... Never more of a truism was uttered!:lol:
Marco [king of the farty pants].
Pigmy Pony
04-05-2019, 13:04
Aye... Never more of a truism was uttered!:lol:
Marco [king of the farty pants].
Yes I heard you have one of your subjects give the seat of your throne a wipe down daily :)
....which reminds me of the wee boy who says to his mum: "Mummy, mummy, can I lick the bowl?", to which she replies: "No, flush it like everyone else!"
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
04-05-2019, 13:34
....which reminds me of the wee boy who says to his mum: "Mummy, mummy, can I lick the bowl?", to which she replies: "No, flush it like everyone else!"
Marco.
You minger! I like that one :)
mad-moon
05-05-2019, 09:01
Our lasses ex..has a range rover....his reg reads..LU55 HRA....he has it spaced LU55H RA.... What a girls blouse..he needs bitch slapping...
Our lasses ex..has a range rover....his reg reads..LU55 HRA....he has it spaced LU55H RA.... What a girls blouse..he needs bitch slapping...
im not good at these so whats it supposed to say?
mad-moon
05-05-2019, 09:21
it's Lush...with his initials at the end....... LUSSH RA
A good one i've seen often around here is V600 00H, massaged to read V6 0000H.
it's Lush...with his initials at the end....... LUSSH RA
ah, ...dick his first name is it? ;)
mad-moon
05-05-2019, 09:59
ah, ...dick his first name is it? ;)
Hahahahahahha....as it happens....Yes it is....
joethebus
12-07-2019, 13:43
One year at Le Mans, in the market area where the Morgans park next to the Exposition Centre, I was chatting to a very good natured guy arriving in his, I think Morgan +4. Eventually it percolated through that the car's number was B9 OAF.
Tickled my sense of humour, and was probably a fairly true if somewhat tongue-in-cheek assessment of its driver.
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