What Are Cherished Number Plates?

By Author: Martyn Davies
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In 2008, Saeed Khouri, a stockbroker in Abu Dhabi, won a charity auction for a license plate emblazoned with a single number--"1." His winning bid for this unique license plate? Fourteen million pounds. That's fourteen million pounds...all to land an eye-catching license plate. And while that price tag might seem wildly excessive to some, it's a strong testament to the attraction of personalized vehicle registrations.

"Cherished" is the term assigned by the Department of Transportation to personalized license plates. This idiom came about due to the perceived sentiment and tradition associated with the many instances where personalized registrations were passed down within families. This notion extends to modern times, as some cherished number plates have been held by the same family for nearly a century.

Due to their average price, cherished number plates are synonymous with success and esteem. This association makes it easy to understand why cherished number plates are highly sought after status symbols.

Cherished plates have enjoyed immense popularity since they were first introduced by the Department ...
... of Transportation in the early 1900s. For some motorists, certain personalized plates hold a strong sentimental appeal and have been passed down within their family for many decades. For others, cherished number plates are personalized to express interests, careers, hobbies, nicknames, or to commemorate significant dates.

Intense devotion to cherished number plates is a long running phenomenon. In an early and well-noted instance, Earl Russel arrived many hours early outside the London County Council office in 1903 for the honor of obtaining an "A 1" plate. According to legend, he waited outside the office for the entire night beforehand, and still only arrived a second before a rival for the "A 1" plate. Eventually, Russel's car, along with the "A 1" registration, ended up being purchased by a George Petty in 1907. Petty then went on to transfer the registration from vehicle to vehicle for decades until his death in 1950. At that time, "A 1" was willed to a friend, Mr. Laker, on the condition that Laker refuse to sell the plate (which by this time was highly valuable) and keep it until his death. Following Laker's demise, "A 1" was auctioned off to benefit charity in accordance with his will.

The demand for interesting cherished number plates has only increased over the decades. In the 1990s, plates reading "K1 NGS" (kings) were put up for auction. It took only two minutes for the buyer to win with a bid of 235,000 pounds.

Thanks to the storied history of many cherished number plates, they've found their way into a new market in recent years. It's becoming increasingly common for dealers and speculators to buy and sell cherished number plates, tracking down significant and interesting registrations much like an antique dealer. And rightfully so, considering some of the most prestigious plates like "MG 1" and "MS 1" have been in use for over 100 years.

With all the interest in cherished number plates, purchasing your own personalized registration can now be more than a sentimental or decorative choice; it can also be a smart financial move. Historically, the value of cherished number plates rises over time. Couple this with the unwavering consumer demand for cherished plates, and the decision to buy one of your own can be a good investment.

Despite their association with wealth and status, cherished number plates are now more affordable than ever to the average consumer. Although it's not uncommon for some plates to command more than the average cost of a house, these days it's possible for the savvy buyer to locate an affordable cherished number plate and maybe even turn a profit in the long-run. Online resources are now available to help you locate a specific plate or design one with your own significant numbers. These resources can help you determine the availability of any plates you might be chasing down, and also help you compare prices and determine your most cost-effective options for creating your own personal cherished number plate.
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