With Personalised number plates now being more profitable than watches or classic cars, people are flocking to invest in them. The demand for personalised registrations shows no signs of slowing down and in the space of the last 10 years their portion of the market has more than tripled in value, from around £85 million to over £300 million, every year has seen growth (even through the tough recession years), so now could be the ideal time to sell a private number plate uk.
Personalised number plates are attracting more attention as they deliver higher returns than traditional investments
No matter what happens to your car, the price value of a private number plate will continue to rise. This was demonstrated in 2021 when the pandemic encouraged people to seek out new avenues for investment – and this is when it was discovered the high value of personalised plates. As news articles in 2021 explored, those plates which spell out forenames and professions rose heavily in value during the pandemic and have remained high ever since – with the most expensive private number plate ever being a simple ‘1’ and selling for £7.25 million.
So, why are Private number plates such a good investment:
- They are seen as a sign of social status
- Their value and sales are not usually affected by economic downturns
- They can outperform other investments like classic cars and watches
- They can be sold at auctions, where bidding drives up the price
- No storage and maintenance costs
- Growing popularity - the industry is worth over £1 billion. Demand has increased by a whopping 58% since 2018.
Top reasons people spend big on private plates
Names, initials and words
Number plates that spell out - or are very similar visually - names, initials and words are the most common reason for why people splash out on a private registration.
People wishing to express their individuality and personality, or as a keen investor will know certain words will continue to rise in value.
Buyers turn over plates very quickly, and unlike other investments like cars or art there's no storage costs. You can even drive your car with your plate on without it losing any value!
Some plates can double in value in just 12 months, so patience is key when investing.
Businessman Afzal Khan has reportedly turned down £10 million for his 'F1' plate that he purchased back in 2008 for £440k.
Personalised number plates are now more profitable than watches
and investors say people are flocking to invest
Investment
Investors go where the returns are good, and the performance of private number plates is pulling investors away from traditional investments.
With higher returns than wine, watches, jewellery and classic cars and art, it's not surprising that personalised plates are creating bidding wars.
Unlike other investments that can lose value faster than a melting ice cream cone, private plates have serious staying power. In fact, some plates can fetch a pretty penny at auctions and private sales. So not only do you get to flex your style muscles, but you also get to watch your investment grow over time.
Covering up a car's age
While you can't customise and display a plate that makes your car look newer than it is, you can put private plate on that conceals the age of your car.
You don't have to drive around with an age-identifiable DVLA plate.
Power symbols
There's inner confidence and then there's needing to prove it.
Drivers with private plates resembling status such as success, money, or influence use short words or acronyms to project the image of themselves they want out there and let's face it, in a sea of bland cars, it's easy to get lost in the rat race. But with a private plate, you can ensure your ride turns heads wherever it goes. With a unique combination of letters and numbers, you're not just another faceless car on the road—you're a trendsetter, a conversation starter, a bona fide showstopper.
What's even cooler? Private plates have this magical ability to bring people together. Whether it's a witty pun or a mysterious message, these plates have a knack for sparking conversations and forging connections between strangers. So next time you're stuck in traffic, don't be surprised if your private plate becomes the talk of the town.
Tailored Luxury, Just for You
And let's not forget the luxury factor. Private plates offer a level of customisation that's off the charts. From hand-picking your initials to choosing lucky numbers, it's like having a bespoke suit for your car. It's not just about looking good—it's about feeling good, knowing your ride is as unique as you are.
Sentimentality
Some people have a locket with a photo in, others a tattoo. But for some drivers, a private plate is the best means to remember and commemorate special dates, events or references to loved ones. We all have our own ideas around what is sentimental and what holds meaning for us, but you cannot argue that a private number plate that pays homage to your loved one or to your family name is a solid investment in terms of sentiment.
Following on from this, private number plates can also make for a highly memorable gift – even more so for the recipient when their number plates are sure to rise in value and take on a higher resale value in the future.
Why Should you Invest in a Private Number Plate?
For many buyers, the link between private number plates and the coveted luxurious lifestyle is enough to tempt them into seeking out a plate with their name or initials on it. But what are some of the other reasons why a private number plate is a good investment right now?
Unlimited Ownership
One of the top reasons why investing in a private number plate now is such a good idea is that there is no limit to how many you can own. As a buyer, you can invest in an unlimited quantity of number plates, selecting those which you believe could increase in value over time – without worrying about hitting a cap on ownership.
They’re not all unaffordable…
Many of us link private number plates to the rich and famous, but that’s not the case, there are plenty of private and personalised options out there which sell for more affordable prices. The main thing to realise is that only the most highly sought after plates will garner huge auction and sale prices, and so for many getting a private number plate it’s a more affordable investment.
But some have sold for a lot of money!
When it comes to understanding the value of an investment, most of us like to know about the top sale prices and the highest value investments ever made.
So here are four of the highest ever sale prices garnered by private number plates:
- ‘250’ – sold at auction for £518,000 to a Ferrari trader.
- ‘F1’ as previously mentioned – undoubtedly one of the best number plates to place on a car, this plate was bought by a business entrepreneur for £440,000.
- ‘S1’ – Scotland’s first ever number plate, and one which sold for a huge £397,000 in 2008.
- DEV 1L came up at the DVLA Auction back in December 2021, it was very much sought after and attracted a lot of bidders, eventually after 2 days of intense bidding the hammer finally went down for a whopping £240,010, with VAT & fees totalling £308,253 – owned by us here at Moonstone Plates
In Conclusion
So, there you are, a little bit more information on how and why the demand for Private Number Plates just keeps on growing and growing - Selling a private number plate NOW could prove very lucrative for you!!
Looking to buy your own Private Plate?
Look on our website at the thousands and thousands of private number plates to suit all budgets with prices starting at just £275, it is a perfect & unique gift for everybody.
Click the link www.moonstoneplates.com/buy or press our logo to go back to the home page to begin your number plate journey!
Or if you would like to speak to someone you can call our team Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm at 01995 213112 or click here to contact us!
Looking to sell a private number plate UK?
Alternatively, if you have a registration plate and are looking to sell or know someone who might you can click here to go to our sell page or give our team a call on 01995 213112.
We are always updating our social media pages with all the latest news and offers, why not give us a follow and stay connected.
