Private number plates - narc or normal? :-)

ThisIsWeird

Yes, people like to be different, and customising cars is an enjoyable aspect of that. It is also something that can be enjoyed and appreciated by others.

I think there's a difference, tho', when it comes to 'monogramming' your car, or your shirt or cufflinks for that matter. It comes down to the almost certain disparity between how the 'grammer thinks it will be perceived, and how it is in reality. 

There is also probably an age element to it, with naturally hedonistic yoof feeling no embarrassment in doing such a thing, but then we should grow up

caprikid1

I work in a company that does use Vanity plates as a money saviing Idea, buying relatively cheap plates for it's directors and then running their cars beyond 3 years IE 4-5 when most change at 3.

I run classic cars and the changing of plates is a bit of a taboo especially selling them off !.

NBLondon

mark5 said:

I don’t mind them so much if they make sense, when they have to move numbers/ letters around, use the wrong colour screw caps etc they look stupid.

Exactly this.  If it means something to you - fair enough.  If a casual observer can see that it relates to the car - fair enough.  If you have to explain that the 4 is an A, the 3 is a backward E and mess about with spacing and so on then that's over the line into naffness.

Ditzy_Mitzy

In certain parts of Essex, vanity number plates were ubiquitous to the point that they served a secondary function in helping motorists identify unmarked police cars.  The police, at the time, had number of dark coloured BMW estate cars, none of which had personalized number plates.  Essex man and woman, at the time, had a penchant for dark coloured BMW estate cars with personalized number plates.  The smart driver was wise to this and knew to be wary upon sighting a dark BMW with a normal number plate.  Often it was an unmarked car.  Anything carrying a personalized plate could immediately be written off as a non-police car.  

Martyn1981

I appreciate the OP said when it forms a name, but about 15yrs ago Wifey pondered if there was a reg that matched her initials, as she only has two. There was, and none had been issued, so we got a plate starting with her 2 initials, and ending with my 3. I think it cost £299 at the time.

No need to remember new plates, and back then we got a new car every 7-9yrs, and were a little bit paranoid about people scratching new reg cars.

Nobody would know it was a personalised plate, at least not at first, but now it clearly doesn't match the age of the car. My niece spotted the end initials matched mine, after about 5yrs, and commented on what a lucky coincidence it was, before Wifey pointed out that it matched hers too.

Very silly I admit, but hopefully just a bit of innocent fun. Also we went for 04 out of the choice, so it looks like the silly school 'thing' of writing XX 4 MXX. More than happy to laugh at ourselves, and for others to find it silly too - no harm no foul.

PS - when we got a new car recently, and hadn't yet changed the plate, I had to go back to the car and take a pic of the numberplate, as I was completely stumped at the ticket machine.  

ThisIsWeird

Martyn1981 said:

I appreciate the OP said when it forms a name, but about 15yrs ago Wifey pondered if there was a reg that matched her initials, as she only has two. There was, and none had been issued, so we got a plate starting with her 2 initials, and ending with my 3. I think it cost £299 at the time.

No need to remember new plates, and back then we got a new car every 7-9yrs, and were a little bit paranoid about people scratching new reg cars.

Nobody would know it was a personalised plate, at least not at first, but now it clearly doesn't match the age of the car. My niece spotted the end initials matched mine, after about 5yrs, and commented on what a lucky coincidence it was, before Wifey pointed out that it matched hers too.

Very silly I admit, but hopefully just a bit of innocent fun. Also we went for 04 out of the choice, so it looks like the silly school 'thing' of writing XX 4 MXX. More than happy to laugh at ourselves, and for others to find it silly too - no harm no foul.

PS - when we got a new car recently, and hadn't yet changed the plate, I had to go back to the car and take a pic of the numberplate, as I was completely stumped at the ticket machine.  

Nice story :-) 

Murphybear

sevenhills said:

As a relatively poor person I find PP ridiculous and expensive, no way would I spend a month's wages on one.
I can see why someone would put older plates on a new car, to avoid peoples jealousy. If I bought a van, an older van, I would consider spending <£500 on a plate to pick up odd jobs, so people wouldn't remember the.
PP do say something about a persons personality, just as what type of pet you own does.

I saw an RR plate advertised.  Not a months wages, probably half a lifetimes . My brother wanted personalised plates but gave up the idea when I reminded him his initials were “MG”.  

strawb_shortcake

One of my friends has one, it was a gift - but you'd never know it was a private plate looking at it. I get the impression it was bought it as the gifter was all out of ideas.

I recently saw DE11 BOY whilst I was driving down the motorway, it belongs to the founder of The Range stores 

Grumpy_chap

Murphybear said:

sevenhills said:

As a relatively poor person I find PP ridiculous and expensive, no way would I spend a month's wages on one.
I can see why someone would put older plates on a new car, to avoid peoples jealousy. If I bought a van, an older van, I would consider spending <£500 on a plate to pick up odd jobs, so people wouldn't remember the.
PP do say something about a persons personality, just as what type of pet you own does.

I saw an RR plate advertised.  Not a months wages, probably half a lifetimes . My brother wanted personalised plates but gave up the idea when I reminded him his initials were “MG”.  

He could have not only a personalised plate, but a whole personalised car.

SallyDucati

I have one - last 3 letters SAL.  Only because I like it, not to try to show off or anything, and cost £500 so not extortionate.

When you have to ponder what something means with different spacing or numbers trying to be letter I do wonder what the point is though.