Number Plates News

Aussies Wake-Up to Personal Number Plates

23 June 2009

The Australian state of Victoria is leading the way as Aussies wake-up to personalised number plates.

Victorians are dismissing the global economic crisis and splashing out thousands of dollars in order to get their own special plates.

In fact, during the last financial year, the sales of personal registrations actually exceeded the total paid for standard plates by the equivalent of nearly £6m.

Around 150,000 custom plates were registered, with themes ranging from football teams to astrological star signs.

The cost of the option, which was first introduced in 1985, can range from £150 to nearly £2000.

A spokesman for The Victoria Roads Corporation said, "They have grown enormously in popularity as they give people the opportunity to personalise their car."

Many plates have, however, found their way into the public market place, at auctions similar to those held here. At one such event last year, the registration '276' raised over £37,000

Online offers also attract enormous interest. Only last week,'SLO55' commanded £750. 'SEXYHEH' went for more than £1200 and an avid Star Trek fan was prepared to fork out nearly £1000 for 'STREK1'

These comparatively modest sums certainly reflect the infancy of the industry 'down-under'. But those lucky enough to have secured plates at knock-down prices, will almost certainly reap enormous rewards as the culture grows.

Already, the plate 'CATZ-07' - a reference to the Geelong Football Club (The Cats), was considered to be worth £4875, shortly after the team's victory over Port Adelaide. The new owner, Mrs Greenough, feels that her memorabilia plates are priceless and added, "I wouldn't take $10,000 or $20,000 for them,"

In the music world, an ardent fan of the rock group, AC/DC has turned down an offer of nearly £2500 for his 'ACDC-74' plate - which commemorates the year in which Bon Scott joined the band: Wise investor, Denis Gunaydin, paid just £195 for the plate 10 years ago.