Personal registrations

[Clitheroekid]

I've noticed recently that there seem to be a lot more personal registration plates about, though it may be one of those things that once the thought's entered your head it becomes self-fulfilling.

But I just did a random count on my afternoon walk on a reasonably quiet rural road, and out of the 52 cars that came past 16 had personal plates, which I thought was high.

Not all of them were what I'd call `proper' ones, where they are very distinctive - perhaps two or three letters and a single or double number, e.g. JC 56, or BHG 7. A couple were Northern Ireland plates, e.g YHZ 2765 and some were just old ones, clearly much older than the car, e.g KKL 907N, which I understand are bought simply to disguise the age of the car.

I've no doubt the prevalence was because it's a fairly affluent area, with lots of 'new money' around, and the acquirers of new money seem to have a penchant for these. If I'd been walking through Moss Side or Deptford I suspect the numbers may have been somewhat smaller.

But what do you think of them? Are they a bit of fun, increasing the gaiety of the nation, or the equivalent of an automotive tattoo, marking the owner as an exhibitionist or worse. Time for a poll!

[GrahamPlatt]

Have to ‘fess up - once had one. It wasn’t personal in the sense that it related to me, but to the type of vehicle.
It’s a bit like marmite, and gold medallions on old blokes.

[moorfield]

TW 4TS

[Mike4]

Long ago I wanted a personalised number plate but couldn't afford one.

So I changed my name to E326WRO.

[Lootman]

Have to ‘fess up - once had one.

Yep, I had one too, don't see the problem.

[elkay]

I voted other - I don't want one, because I don't like to draw attention to myself. And definitely wouldn't pay extra to do so. But I don't have a problem with people who do.

[AsleepInYorkshire]

I've never owned one. Nor do I see the need to purchase one.

However, I can always recall my second company car's registration.

DAD 874Y

Wish I'd bought it. I would have made a bob or two.

AiY

[88V8]

I read somewhere the regs on letter spacing have been relaxed... well they had to be really, considering the DVLA make a nice pile of money selling 'special' plates that are only special if you mess with the spacing.

V8

[gryffron]

I read somewhere the regs on letter spacing have been relaxed... well they had to be really, considering the DVLA make a nice pile of money selling 'special' plates that are only special if you mess with the spacing.

They can afford to relax the regulations because the software that reads them is getting better. All the strict rules have all been about improving automatic readers

Would I have personal plates? - never. I can't think of any good reason for having a memorable number plate. Surely the least memorable the better.

Gryff

[greenrobbie]

I voted other: generally have no strong opinions on personal plates, but I can see the case for buying a non-dating plate to put on a expensive new car to hide the fact it's new. And have any decals or badges advertising the engine size and trim level removed as well.

[Dod101]

I think personalised plates are horrible, although I saw a Rolls Royce Ghost with number GH 05T LS, with that sort of spacing. I liked that to the extent that I said so to the guy getting in to the driver's seat that I liked the plate. No idea if he was the driver or the owner. The way he was dressed he could have been either.

I like the sentiments expressed by greenrobbie.

Dod

[Mike4]

The nicest "private plate" I ever saw simply said "HI".

This was on a small neat black Mercedes on the M4 into Brentford. A few miles up the road used to be the offices of Hibernian Insurance. I imagine the owner worked there, or perhaps owned it.

[nimnarb]

I don’t know whether to get my coat on now or just hide from the incoming so I will be a rec whore for once and see how many likes I get will tell me all I need to know

Had 4PF and sold that(unfortunately) in 1995 and made a few bob then.

Now...

SO-SLICK and KI55-ME

[staffordian]

I was always mildly amused by a pair of plates which I often saw out and about where we used to live in Derbyshire.

I assume they were originally innocently issued many moons ago by a local licencing authority as they would doubtless fail to pass through the DVLA acceptability filter these days.

They are 4 KOF and 4 COF

[Mike4]

Then there is the ever-popular PEN 1S that eventually crops up in most discussions about personal plates.

I have in mind I actually saw this plate on a car many years ago. Or maybe that was a dream - was it actually issued as a car registration plate? What would its value be now? About a fiver I guess....

[Midsmartin]

With only a few exceptions, I immediately assume that the car owner has more money than sense, is very materialistic, and has an over inflated sense of their own importance. I've never conducted a survey, so I could be wrong about all this.

[Redmires]

With only a few exceptions, I immediately assume that the car owner has more money than sense, is very materialistic, and has an over inflated sense of their own importance. I've never conducted a survey, so I could be wrong about all this.

That sums up my attitude but the odd one does make me smile. A couple of years ago I saw 'MUS 1C' on a big Merc. I wonder who owned that one ?

[UncleEbenezer]

With only a few exceptions, I immediately assume that the car owner has more money than sense,

That's a fair characterisation of any car owner.

Of course most car owners have sufficient money that "more money than sense" is a comment on the former much more than the latter. But always worth bearing in mind when someone pleads poverty while also running a car.

[moorfield]

I read somewhere the regs on letter spacing have been relaxed... well they had to be really, considering the DVLA make a nice pile of money selling 'special' plates that are only special if you mess with the spacing.

HM Gov are missing a trick here. Perhaps they should start selling off personalised passport, driving licence, tv licence numbers etc. etc. to the GU - the possibilities are endless and would pay off the covid debt in short order, no pesky EU law to hinder it.

[Watis]

I've never owned one. Nor do I see the need to purchase one.

However, I can always recall my second company car's registration.

DAD 874Y

Wish I'd bought it. I would have made a bob or two.

AiY

Thirty years ago, I could have bought a car with the plate "BMW 728 L" - when that was a current model!

I've no doubt that plate could have been sold for a profit so have been kicking myself ever since.

Watis