Personalised number plates

Well, whether they are TR3NDY or T4CKY, lots of people are driving round with personalised plates these days. In 2003 it was estimated that a personalised number plate could be sold at 10-15% more than the price it was bought for.

There’s an auction running on www.ebay.co.uk for a number plate reading GOO61E – with a whopping £20,000 starting price on it – claiming to be the only Google plate out there! This follows in the footsteps of the MU 11 plate which sold for the same amount – presumably to a big Manchester United fan.

People love customising their cars, so what are the rules when it comes to number plates?

Formats
Cars that are older than 2001 have older style plates in a format like "M0TOR" that, it is agreed, can make some great words. In 2001 the plate format changed, so the new plates are longer, and can be harder to make clear words out of – though a number plate like "GR04NED" is a possibility.

A car can look older, but it can’t look newer. Cars older than 2001 can’t have a new number plate, but cars newer than 2001 can have an old number plate.

Flags
Legislation was introduced in 2001 meaning that the Euro symbol of stars could be displayed on a number plate.

There was a big outcry in the UK by people who wanted to be able to have the Union Jack on their number plate instead of the Euro symbol – and they won! 3 months later, the rules were changed so that the following flags are also legal on UK number plates – Union Flag, Cross of St George, Cross of St Andrew and Red Dragon.

However, for those people wanting to have their favourite football club’s badge or their car maker’s symbol on their number plate, there is still disappointment. Flags are the only kind of adornment that can be added to a plate.

Rebecca Pearson of Duck2water Car Insurance says on personal plates:

"We have found out that about 5% of our customers have personalised plates. Some of our customers told us that they had chosen personalised plates because they were given them as gifts. Plates make super gifts for people because they look great without raising their car insurance like other car customisations do."

-ends-

Editorial notes: Duck2water provides the UK with cheap car insurance and gives free legal expenses insurance with every policy. For more information, go to www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk or call 01243 523306.

Author: Alexandra Gubbins of www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk