Private plates-good idea or chavtastic?

marmitedog

I've just reported a speeding driver who passed me dangerously close. It was made so much easier due to his disticntive plate.

To the OP, Just because your car has a sport badge doesn't make it sporty. Oh, and they're called vanity plates in the U.S.

chigley

I think that they are rather tasteless really - a sort of step up from the Wayne and Waynetta windscreen stickers that were common a few years ago.

What I also fail to understand is why some people fork out tens of thousands of pounds for a car, then stick one of the really cheap DVLA plates on, the ones that still carry a date prefix and their initials. If you must have a vanity plate, at least get a truly 'dateless' one, maybe costing around £1500.

Too be honest though, in my job, its very usefull to be able to identify where someone lives as they regularly park a car outside a house which has their initials on......:rotfl:
Every little helps!

pault123

marmitedog wrote: »

I've just reported a speeding driver who passed me dangerously close. It was made so much easier due to his disticntive plate.
.

And what would this achieve?

Were there any witnesses/video evidence?

Bossworld

As Jeremy Clarkson said they get daft when you end up having numbers and letters that can't be justified because they're so tenuous - people saying they've got '367' fence posts in their garden type of thing. Some of those norn iron ones look naff because of that, you know the 845 BAZ type ones.

Mine cost £250, I would have dearly loved one that perfectly spelt both my name and surname but it went straight to auction when it came out and is currently on some very flash Merc. Probably some !!!! who runs a business rather than someone with my surname, if I ever wanted to buy it off him I'd have to to do it through a third party as if they got wind of my surname, they'd have £ signs in their eyes straight away.

Without wanting to spell it out on a public forum, my £250 one is my first initial, then my surname spelt 80SS then my last initial. Ok, so my last initial is duplicated because of the surname in the middle but I think it looks good, better that then having something like an X on the end which would look chavvy. Because my surname is short it fits fine even with the space in the middle. No dodgy spacing, no crooked letters, no badly inserted bolts either.

That was previously on an old pug 306 diesel and is now on a brand new clio. To be honest I think it's better than having a 59 plate, in the back of my mind I think people are less likely to key it than if they knew it was a brand new car (although they'll probably do it anyway for having a private plate).

chigley

The above poster mentions the letter X, which reminds me of the number of plates that I have seen which must have previously been fitted to an X5 (the ultimate Chav mobile) and which now adorn there cars.....:rolleyes:

Hadrian

amandada wrote: »

I'm having a struggle with myself....for as long as I can remember, I've never thought private/personal registrations are a good idea, PURELY because I've always had a bit of a thing about being anonymous as I'm going about my life.

HOWEVER, I'm coming up to a birthday with a 0 on the end and the more I think about it, the keener I am on the idea.

Part of the background is because about a year ago, having finally got past the stage of needing a biggish car for pushchairs and associated children's cr*p, I was able to get something a bit sportier (Audi A3 sport) and feel like I was getting some of my identity back, I always preferred sporty-ish cars rather than "mum-mobiles"
The A3 is MY car, registered and insured in MY name and I very occasionally allow dh to use it (although "his" car is at my disposal whenever I demand it:D).

So, is a personal plate a good thing, or am I being daft?

Personally I think people who spend good money on these type of 'plates' need their heads examined. As my old Granny used to say when I bought something useless "I hope you never need that money".

happywarmgun

I'll put my hand up I have one. Got it from the DVLA direct about 7 years ago. Cost 255 quid. I have a three letter first name and with one screw holder put between two numbers it reads as my first name followed by the first two letters of my surname? Chavtastic? Maybe....

Waste of money? Not so sure - one of the problems with my last job was the expectation to 'look the part' (for clients/customers etc) - that meant having smart modern cars. Getting a decent nick older plate car, swapping the plate over - and you still 'look the part' but got the nod to take the cash allowance instead of having to get a company car. Saved me thousands!

The world shouldn't be like that - but it is.

Kilty_2

I'm thinking about buying one when I have the money - both to disguise the age of my car a bit (it's in fantastic condition for it's age) and to have something that means something as well.

Wouldn't ever go down the misrepresentation putting screws here and there, dodgy spacing route though.

Helena.B

If you consider that its a luxury and an accessory then you'll understand why those who have the quality short & dateless numbers can afford them amongst the big houses & expensive vehicles.

When the plate is of a sentimental value and has a real personal meaning then you should be proud to adorn it on your pride & joy.

The above two perspectives - I can appreciate and understand.

I also agree that double sticky tape & bolts just eliminates any value or class to a plate INSTANTLY and indeed falls into the category of "Chav-Tastic".

I love them, personally speaking.

Jokaty82

Sorry I think they are naff, and can think of thousands of things I would rather spend my money on. Personal plates stand out a mile and you end up seeing the same person driving around cos you recognise their plate - I wouldn't want that!!

If you have a nice, flash car then why do you need it - you car says enough.

If you don't have a nice, flash car it will just look chavvy!