British Number Plates: You Can't Beat 'Em!

I've read rather a lot recently about personalised number plates in other countries. You'll be familiar with my reports about new logos and slogans introduced by certain states, the withdrawal of plates of a crude or offensive nature (often questionable), and number plates being used for charitable purposes, etc. Well, I was reading about Norway's decision to introduce 'vanity license plates' for the first time and found myself smiling to myself about how much better our private registrations here in the UK are.

In many countries, drivers can use their imaginations to come up with anything they like. Obviously, some people's ideas will be rejected but, overall, people can have whatever thay like on their number plates. Although this sounds appealing at first, after a few minutes of pondering, I found myself opposing the idea.

Here in the UK, number plates have a history (or at least they will have one day if they're currently new) and, if buying a cherished registration, it feels great when you hunt down that perfect registration. If you can just make up your own, it kind of stops them being so special, doesn't it.

In Norway, personalised plates are all going to be brand new when they're finally introduced. Nope, I prefer the traditional British way myself!

Right, I'm off for a nice, British cup of tea and some crumpets.