Record Breakers and High Fliers

This article sets out some of the facts and figures for which we are most frequently asked.

On this page:

• First British/UK Registration Numbers Issued
• Most Expensive UK and World Car Number Plates (Table) 

First British/UK Registration Numbers Issued

 

1. The Myth

It is commonly reported that the first vehicle registration issued in Britain was A 1. This, however, is not correct. While A 1 would have been the first registration issued by the London authority, other authorities did, in fact, begin issuing registration numbers before London did.

Many have assumed that chronology should tally with both alphabetical and numerical order. However, the fact is that the letter component of those early registrations identified the issuing authority, not the order of issue. It is ignorance of this that is to blame for the common, and erroneous, belief that A 1 was the first British car registration.*

The real story of A 1 is interesting, even though it wasn't actually the first ever number plate. In 1903, when London began issuing vehicle registrations on a first-come-first-served basis, Earl Russell sat up all night to ensure that he would be first in the queue for this historic number plate. Competition was fierce, and it is reported that Earl Russell beat his nearest rival by a matter of only a few seconds.

Noel Woodall, number plates expert and inventor of the term "autonumerology" to describe the study of the subject, detailed part of the history of A 1 in his "Car Numbers" series of books. In recent years, however, A 1 seems to have slipped "under the radar", and there is uncertainty regarding the registration's current whereabouts and status.

* Some car registration reference books list the year of issue of A1 as 1904, however its acquisition by Earl Russell was reported in a December 23rd 1903 issue of Car Illustrated so the year of issue is established beyond doubt as 1903. It is widely speculated that, should it become available, A 1 could command a price as high as £1 million.

2. The Reality

Unfortunately, at this time, it is not possible to say with certainty which was the very first issued UK registration, but Regtransfers.co.uk continues to research the issue. This document will be updated as additional reliable information becomes available.

Highest Prices Paid for Car Registrations

The areas where private car registrations seem to command the most spectacular sums are the Middle East, South East Asia and the United Kingdom. The table below is regularly updated to provide as much information as possible at a glance.

Please scroll down the table to see the full list.

Note: The registration '7' was purchased in February 2008 but the new owner resold it in February 2010 for nearly twice the amount.

Prices include estimated fees and taxes. The variable nature of currency exchange rates may cause apparent minor inconsistencies in the data above, and so the amounts quoted should be considered approximate rather than wholly accurate in every case.