No Better Time to Invest in Personal Number Plates

The latest cut in UK interest rates may signal a temporary demise in the role of traditional savings as hedge against inflation, but the market in number plates has never been more buoyant. Spencer Day, the 39-year-old speculator, who has just acquired the registration 3 S for an impressive £94,000, says:

“There's no better time than at present to invest money in personalised registrations.”

His purchase was made on the final day of the latest DVLA auction at Whittlebury Hall auction in Northampton, which accrued more than £3 million. Spokesman, Damian Lawson, noted that: “Forty per cent of our all time top-ten selling number plates have been bought since September 2008 and more and more buyers are telling us they're investing in our registrations”.

The DVLA has aranged over 100 such events spanning the last 20 years and the appropriately impressive venue attracted interest from far and wide. One intrepid investor even arrived by helicopter to ensure his place at the country seat, 70 miles north of London.

The event saw some particularly exceptional lots go for big money, the star of the show being the quirky 1 O, which went to Mr Tom Earle, who was more than happy to pay £210,242 over the telephone.

1 O is now firmly established as one of the country's top ten priciest plates. Although, its still has some way to go to match the phenomenal £440,625 price tag placed on the registration F 1 last year.

A registration 'fit for a king' came in at £113,813 when Berkshire-based entrepreneur secured 1 HRH. The anonymous buyer said he was “determined to keep it in British hands". It is, perhaps, interesting that this is the sort of response is traditionally associated with antiques and work of art.

A shortened version of this combination, 1 RH, was sold last September to Rob Harveson, a surrey businessman, for £247,000, demonstrating that, although not as obviously attractive, the smaller number of characters tends to push up the price. Another example being the £130,000 paid by an Asian businessman last year for 6 B

The three-day sale at Whittlebury Hall also produced further amazing results:

• 84 JM (£8,734)
• 18 OY (£18,624 )
• 11 MCR (£17,388 )
• MAL 1X (£12,566 )
• FAR 44H (£10,346)
• 888 M (£13,432)
• 888 L (£8,363 )
• RUT 11S (£10,094)
• H417 NAH (£6,014)

This recent flurry of activity can be read as a clear indication that personal registrations are now one of the few areas seemingly unaffected by the economic downturn. Coupled with the benefits of 'zero maintenance' and the absence of any security risk, the 'cherished number plate' is now firmly established as a real alternative to more traditional assets and one that is now very much at home in the modern investment portfolio.

Back to News Index