Vanity Plates

[Old-Duckman]

I haven't seen any custom license plates in any photos here that I can recall, is this strictly a US thing?

I just put in my application for mine, the plate would read "04-ZED4". As you know we pronounce the letter Z as "zee" but I like the "zed" pronunciation and thought it would make a nice plate, of course my car is a 2004, thus the "04" part.

In my state it is an $82 USD one time fee. Not cheap but worth it to me.

Just wondering if other countries have such thing and if so, what others have chosen ?

 

[scootr]

It's a US thing these Brits just dream about Here it's about $50 fee initially and annually. But some plates are just worth it

 

[Silverstar]

In the UK you can have a cherished number plate. There are some combinations of letter and numbers that you can choose (you can't choose whatever you want) or otherwise you have to choose a plate that already exists and they are way more expensive. You would be looking at around 200 or 300 GBP upwards and plates without year prefix or suffix go for silly money, you can pay 10s of thousands or even 100s of thousands of pounds for a plate. The upside is they generally go up in a value with time. I don't think any other country in Europe has this system.

 

[Bumpy]

You can get "vanity plates" in Ontario, Canada.
With some consternation and approval from the kids here is mine.
It means Treat Yourself.

 

[Timmyboybunter]

You would be looking at around 200 or 300 GBP upwards and plates without year prefix or suffix go for silly money, you can pay 10s of thousands or even 100s of thousands of pounds for a plate.

Never understand why people pay this much money for plates. I've been going to Halfords for years, they will make any plate you want for just £20.







I'll get my coat.

 

[enuff_zed]

We in the UK certainly do not have the flexibility that is available in the states. We have to use pre-existing formats, that have been used over the years, but can use these to create memorable plates that in a lot of cases may only mean something to the owner.
Many though, through a bit of careful squinting, can make numbers look like letters to create words. For example, my wife, Valerie, recently spotted one that was BE57 VAL, where the 5 and 7 could look like an S and T. Stupid money for it though, and no use to her, as we are not allowed to use a plate that makes a car look younger. The way a plate portrays a year is long and convoluted through several different formats over the years and I must be honest, I cannot be bothered to explain every one.
I have to say I am one of those 'pretentious' souls who quite likes the idea. My car was registered in September 2014, making it what we refer to as a '64-plate'. As a bonus, I was also born in 64, therefore, having MY64 ZED on mine appeals to me.
But to get something as specific as [ref]scootr[/ref] has is not possible for us.

 

[buzyg]

MrsG wanted to buy me JG08BMW for mine when I bought it. It was£800 at the time. I talked her out of it, not my thing and worthless to most other people or on most other cars. Spent the money on a lifetime subscription for the cars tracker, money better spent, as it's kept the insurance low all these years.

 

[nhartgolfer]

I got mine last year. I like that it hides how old my car is (to non Z4 owners that is!!) but also isn’t too obvious unless you realise E85 is significant!

 

[Silverstar]

You would be looking at around 200 or 300 GBP upwards and plates without year prefix or suffix go for silly money, you can pay 10s of thousands or even 100s of thousands of pounds for a plate.

Never understand why people pay this much money for plates. I've been going to Halfords for years, they will make any plate you want for just £20.







I'll get my coat.

 

[mmm-five]

I only buy them if they're at the low end of the price range (or if I spot a bargain on ebay).

Mine are not valuable to anyone...not even me...but the one's I've had were:


for the Z4MC (paid £250 direct from DVLA)

and


for the e34 M5 (paid £99 on ebay)

 

[scootr]

They are are great way for the state to make a little extra money while allowing people to have a little fun here.
Favorite plate I have is on the 5L Mustang - thanks for a chance to show it off- I'll see myself out :exitright:

 

[Mr Tidy]

I like that Mustang plate.

My current car already had one when I bought it, but I can't help thinking it is on the wrong BMW! :lol:

 

[scootr]

I like that Mustang plate.

My current car already had one when I bought it, but I can't help thinking it is on the wrong BMW! :lol:

I like that It would be fun to see what is available for the Coupe here ...

 

[Wyldie85]

Mine wouldn’t mean much to anyone else but I had mine for my 21st birthday. It’s my surname. We have W1, W2, W8, W10 and W111 in the family, Although saying that, the other numbers (W3, W4, W11 etc) have been taken already.

 

[ProfCJJ]

Mine is personal to me "XEWKA" in Maltese is "Thorn", as in "Thorn in my side" ... the car was bought soon after a very acrimonious divorce!!!



My current partner has "N3MXA" - "NEMXA" is "freckle" in Maltese.

On my Rover 75 I have "R70 FVE"

Each cost me the minimum DVLA charge of £250

 

[mmm-five]

Mine is personal to me "XEWKA" in Maltese is "Thorn", as in "Thorn in my side" ... the car was bought soon after a very acrimonious divorce!!!

IMG_5057.JPG

But, but, but, it's mis-spaced and illegal...naughty boy

 

[Timmyboybunter]

They do divide opinion don't they - "Wan*er plates" is a commonly used term for them - even within my family we have a mixture of private plate owners and people who think they're nothing more than a waste of money

I like them and have just with my initials on - nothing fancy, but I do find over the years having a private plate on means more often than not you're something of a car enthusiast, more so than the general public who just use cars as a means of transport.

I've passed/read about some memorable plates over the years:

T1MMY - the plate I wish to own, but never realistically will.
JUL1E - remember reading about in the newspaper. Was £50k plus and the chap 'hoped' his wife like it (now shows on a Bentayga)
V8 - used to pass it on the M4 on my daily commute, attached to a Mini Cooper S. Now on an Aston V8 Vantage.
AA1 - again, used to pass on the M4, was attached to a huge yellow low loader owned by the AA. Now on a Renault dating from 1905.
V8 PUS - on a Jaaaaag XKR where I used to get my Jaaaaag S-Type R serviced. Still is.

 

[Zed Baron]

Well that explains it.... I thought they were shouting 'wan*er' at me because I had the roof down in winter, it's because I've got private plates :lol:

 

[BeeEmm]

I bought WH03 SHE for my wife 17 years ago. It is still on the same car.

 

[Huzee4]

I bought an Irish plate for £59 from www.regtransfers.co.uk which has been on three of my Zeds over the last 6 years, great service