Lots of zeros, but who's counting?

By an extraordinary coincidence, the number plate 7 O has just become the 70th most expensive plate on the planet.

The registration was sold in a public auction at Whittlebury Hall Hotel, near Towcester, Northamptonshire. After fees and taxes, the luck bidder can expect to part with £82,814 for what he or she obviously sees as a dream plate.

The 'O' is actually a capital letter 'O' and not a numerical zero, so it doesn't really say '70'. However, given that both characters are identical in the approved number plate font, it makes little odds.

On the other hand, the attraction of this particular combination may be that it looks very much like the word 'TO'.

All ten Arabic numerals can also bear passing resemblances to letters:

0 = O, 1 = I or l, 2 = Z, 3 = E, 4 = A, 5 = S, 6 = b, 7 = T, 8 = B, and 9 = g

Look at these examples, also sold at the Whittlebury Hall event:

ANG 1A (£3,996), CRA 22Y (£5,385), H15 DOG (£2,227), NOW 501D (£6,901) and SO10 ACT (£2,859).

7 O is the last of the 'O' series to be auctioned at a series of events which commenced in January 2009 with the spectacular sale of 1 O for a cool £210,242.

More 'O's were in evidence with the second best placed number, 10 OOO, which set its new owner back £53,384. Again it doesn't really say '10,000', but, if you'll excuse the pun, who's counting?

The economic downturn and predictions of austere times ahead do not seem to worry the number plate market unduly. It has consistently ridden out the financial storms, earning a place as almost the new gilt-edged investment.

The increasing popularity of personalised registrations as collateral can, perhaps, be explained by some significant factors. Firstly, the ease with which the commodity can be bought and sold is appealing. Secondly, it can't be damaged or stolen, so there are no insurance premiums to consider.

Unlike a precious work of art, which may require constant maintenance and be kept under lock and key, a prized number plate is always on public exhibition every time you drive your car.

Back to News Index