Regblogger

12 Series Plates Now online

2012-01-25T14:40:00.002Z

12 Series Plates Now online, Have Fun!

61 series plates now live

2011-06-27T08:27:00.002+01:00

I have just added the latest DVLA 61 series plates, a AB 61GUN! 35,805,844 registrations.

Admin

Regfinder site updates

2011-06-15T08:04:00.003+01:00

After a long hiatus (nearly a year!) we've got back to doing some more work on Regfinder.net . Over that period we kept the plate data up to date but paid work commitments mean't nothing else got done.

Looking at our search data and web stats it appears that even though we've not paid much attention to Regfinder for a year, the site visits and number plate searches are around three times what the site got a year ago, and it was quite busy then!

So we're pleased to announce that over coming days/weeks we'll be adding a lot of new features that we hope will make Regfinder a better service. Some of these are:

The new 61 plates (being processed by us at this moment)
New site design (looking good so far)
A cross platform mobile app for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone (iPhone is in beta)
More tools to help dealers and private sellers trade in number plates and widgets so that you can put bits of Regfinder (search etc) on your own web sites.

And a bit of advertising (unfortunately).

If there's anything that you think can be improved on the site then please reply here.

Cheers

Regfinder Admin (not the other bloke).

Bus spotter must pay £11,000

2011-01-23T10:10:00.003Z

Bus fanatic Steven Curl must pay nearly £11,000 after running up a bill with the DVLA by using his employer’s computers.

Curl, of Haverhill, was sacked by AXA Insurance and prosecuted for fraud by abuse of trust after he used its computers to check on the ownership of buses.

Curl, 45, of Pearmain Walk, was given a five-month suspended jail term in November after admitting the charge.

The bus spotter appeared back at Ipswich Crown Court this week for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

It heard that over nearly two years he contacted the DVLA 3,000 times, at a cost of £3.75 per number plate inquiry.

He ran up a bill of £10,983 which Mr Recorder Simon Spence has ordered him to pay by July 11. If he fails he will be jailed for seven months.

He must also pay an additional £1,200 towards the cost of the prosecution.

Reg

11 plates withdrawn from sale

2010-11-23T10:53:00.007Z

Hehehe. Just received this email from the DVLA. Seems they missed a few;

"These '11 number plates have been withdrawn and will no longer be offered for sale."

UF 11 UKA
UF 11 UKR
AC 11 NTS
BC 11 NTS
CC 11 NTS
DC 11 NTS
EC 11 NTS
FC 11 NTS
GC 11 NTS
HC 11 NTS
JC 11 NTS
KC 11 NTS
LC 11 NTS
MC 11 NTS
NC 11 NTS
OC 11 NTS
PC 11 NTS
RC 11 NTS
SC 11 NTS
TC 11 NTS
UC 11 NTS
VC 11 NTS
WC 11 NTS
YC 11 NTS

I'm surprised they didn't spot these earlier.
(They should use Regfinder.net : )

Reg

A great single/single number plate gallery.

2010-11-17T12:32:00.008Z

I met a man on the Internet. (No wait! That's not how it sounds!)

As regular readers of this blog will probably be aware, interest in number plates - be it professional or hobby - can be a bit of a lonesome affair.

In my relatively short time in the world of vehicle registrations, I have learned that 'indifference' is rarely a word that can be applied to it. People seem - more often than not - to have a deep seated "Clarkson-esque" loathing of the entire subject or, at the opposite end of the scale, a weird kind of snobbery about it.
(Paradox: "Even the most serious personalised number plate fans seem to dislike most personalised number plates").

With this in mind, it's always good to meet 'Number Plate Nerds' who are a bit more positive about their passion.

There are a couple of strings that I follow on the 'Pistonheads Gassing Station' forum.

("Real Good Number Plates (Vol 2)" and "Spotted! Real Rubbish Chav Number Plates". You'll need to register before viewing/commenting on them, I think).

Commentators here, do tend to suffer from a touch of the afore mentioned snobbery at times (I'll have to include myself in that statement if I'm honest, though my snobbery is inverted and so doesn't count) but, if you don't get involved then it's a great source of information and - believe it or not - sometimes even a good laugh!

Single/singles' are never far from the central topic as they are widely regarded as the Holy Grail of UK number plates, being among the very first ever issued, and pictures of these plates are always a welcome addition.

One of the regular contributors to these Pistonheads forum strings has come up with the idea of publishing a picture gallery purely for single/single registrations which is a good thing for two reason. Firstly; it's a great resource (for me, obviously), and secondly; It's something that seems to be agreeable to all commentators. (Which is bloody rare!)

The guys' user name is "Shmee" and his picture gallery is;

"Shmee150's Photostream"

If you have a single/single number plate picture that doesn't appear to be in the gallery then feel free to send it to Shmee at; plategallery@shmee150.co.uk
He's up to 111 'plates at last count and is always keen to add more.

Reg

PS; I've added "Shmee150's Photostream" to the resources box on here for easy of access, in case anyone snaps a plate they want to add at a later date.

The 11 number plate series ready to view

2010-11-09T12:39:00.003Z

Even the DVLA are excited about this sequence of number plates !

YO11 ARE/ not GO11NG/ TO 11EED/ to be a LO11ERY winner to find six and seven LE11TER word NU11BER PL11TES in this lot!

(The regfinder scan is under way. Watch this space.)

Reg

Council agrees to sell £7000 private number plate

2010-10-26T11:31:00.006+01:00

WEST Lothian Council has agreed to sell off its private registration plate worth an estimated £7000.

After numerous calls from taxpayers, officials at the council believe the sale will send out the right message to staff and the community, as Scotland’s local authorities struggle with a debt in excess £9 billion.

Retaining the ASX 1 number plate is no longer a priority, said Council leader Peter Johnston as he also announced plans to get rid of the chauffeur driven Volvo S80.

He said: "We've said from the beginning that no stone can be left unturned in our quest to find vital savings in the face of a £60 million budget shortfall.

"Councillors must lead by example and we will be moving to approve these changes at the council executive in early November."

But other cash strapped councils are still refusing to follow this example, even though half of the Scottish local authorities own prestige number plates, a few of which are believed to be amongst the most valuable in the UK.

Glasgow City Council owns two registrations which are each said to be worth up to £500,000, and the City of Edinburgh Council owns the S0 plate, valued somewhere in the region of £100,000 and £500,000.

'G0' is one of the official registrations owned by Glasgow City Council

Edinburgh Council's 'S0' plate

ES 1, the plate that currently graces the provost of Perth and Kinross's car, is thought to be worth around £150,000.

West Lothian Council's move to sell unnecessary assets has been welcomed by groups campaigning for less waste in the public sector and Emma Boon, from Taxpayer's Alliance, said it was time the other authorities did the same.

"While it's great that West Lothian are selling their number plate and getting rid of their civic car, it's disappointing that other Scottish councils are yet to follow suit. Said Emma.

"In these tough financial conditions councils must find significant savings.

"It would be unfair to expect taxpayers to continue to fund a civic car and it's disgraceful for councils to cling on to these luxuries at a time when taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Services have yet to finalise their proposed savings for the coming year."

And officials at the City of Edinburgh Council said the local authority would not be putting its personalised number plates up for sale as they were of "historical value to the city".

A Rover 75 used by Midlothian's Council has the registration plate SY 0, with an estimated value of £50,000.

A spokesperson said: "There are no plans to change the civic car provision in the near future and consideration has not been given to changing its number plate.
The SY 0 plate is part of Midlothian’s heritage and an asset which grows in value every year."

"The vehicles are not just used by council dignitaries but are also essential for guests including visiting royalty and important businesses."

Reg

Council slammed for not selling NH1 number plate worth "£400,000"

2010-10-22T09:12:00.003+01:00

Bosses at another Council have been slammed for refusing to bolster the coffers by selling the mayors private registration plates, worth an estimated £400,000.

The number plate 'NH 1' has been on the Mayor of Northampton's ceremonial car for decades.

But Northampton Borough Council say it is not worth selling because it would only reduce the local individual’s council tax bill by £4.

But the TaxPayers’ Alliance yesterday urged the council to sell the reg plates and raise money for those struggling to make ends meet.

A spokeswoman said: "These number plates are a luxury that the council can ill afford at a time when it is facing spending cuts.

"It's a disgrace that they're trying to hang onto these at a time when some taxpayers in the area are struggling to make ends meet.

"The plates are an indulgence and they should sell them off as soon as possible."

Northampton Borough Council leader Brian Markham said the plate is part of the town's heritage.

He said: "If we got £400,000, that would be the equivalent to £4 off the average council tax bill for a whole year for the council taxpayers of Northampton. But that is only one year, next year you can't sell the number plate again.

"More importantly, that number plate is part of our heritage – not just for the council but for the town – we've owned that since the first number plates for cars."

Reg

China bans unlucky number plates

2010-10-22T08:34:00.003+01:00

China turned superstitious by barring the issuance of number plates bearing the "unlucky" number '4', causing a mixed reaction from the public.

Beijing's traffic management bureau has stopped issuing car registration plates bearing the number as many Chinese consider it to be unlucky because it sounds similar to the word for death.

From this week, drivers in the capital who bought new cars no longer need to make a special request to omit the number, as it has been removed from the registration plate choosing system by the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau.

The BTMB have stated that the decision was made because number plates bearing a '4' have always been unpopular.

Reg

10 O number plate sells for £92,920 at DVLA auction

2010-10-09T13:09:00.003+01:00

The final day of DVLA Personalised Registrations autumn auction got off to a great start when the registration 10 O sold for 92,920 pounds.

The winning bid was made by phone during at a tense and busy auction room at Rudding Park, near Harrogate so mystery still surrounds the successful bidder.

10 O is the latest in the O series released by DVLA Personalised Registrations in January 2009 to mark its 20th anniversary. Since then, more than 1.62 million pounds has been generated from this series alone.

While DVLA staff celebrated the sale of 10 O, the precise 92,919.69p (73,500 hammer price plus VAT, buyers premium and assignment fee) still falls short of the 210,000 pounds paid for 1 O in January 2009.

In total, the sale of personalised number plates by the DVLA has raised £1.6 billion. All money raised goes to the Treasury.

Reg

£26,000 personalised number plate for daughter aged 11

2010-10-09T12:52:00.004+01:00

Doting dad Harbhajans Bains has spent 26,000 pounds on personalised car number plates for his daughter - aged 11.

Mr Bains bid at a DVLA auction for 99A, the year she was born and the first letter of her name, six years before Amun can even start learning.

The 41 year old pharmacist, of Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, said: "My limit was to be 15,000 pounds but Amun had told all her friends. And I can't resist a unique plate."

Harbhajans now has 24 number plates, including ones for other kids Jeevun, 10, and Bahadar, 8.

Reg

RIP Sir Norman Wisdom

2010-10-05T15:29:00.003+01:00

Reg

Great number plate collection

2010-09-27T11:02:00.003+01:00

To find and own your perfect numberplate is always a special thing, especially if it's dateless as avid numberplate enthusiasts will agree. To find 'his and her' sequential plates is even better. To have a collection of five in a sequence is exceptionally rare and pretty special indeed!
But here's one lucky owner, Mr Powis who has just that; number plates 1 POW, 2 POW, 3 POW, 4 POW and 5 POW, each proudly displayed on his cherished car collection too.

"I've always had a fascination with personalised plates" comments Mr Powis. "I don't know whether it's a vehicle vanity or de aging thing or whatever, but ever since my first car, I've had some form of private plate on all of my cars. Admittedly, the plates have generally got more 'special' over the years, but I never anticipated ending up with my 'Royal Flush' of POW plates."

Mr Powis bought his first private plate in 1997, and over the years bought a number of POW plates which have since either been given to family members, or currently for sale through PrimoRegistrations. The main dateless collection started in 2007 and took just under four years to complete. "I certainly didn't start looking for this many' or this actual sequence in fact" retorts Powis. "I originally wanted 1, 11 and 111 POW" he highlighted. But he lost 111 POW to another bidder at auction and had to rethink his strategy.

"I bought the first three plates through dealers, and then asked for the last two to be released at auction, it was certainly exceptionally nerve racking with the final one, as I knew I had to win it to complete the collection. Luckily nobody else bid for that one and I secured it for the list price."
Which brings us onto money. Who knows what this collection is now worth? The perfect sequence of these low number, dateless plates makes the collection considerably more valuable than their individual components, and POW are good letters too and could refer to a wide number of things (POWER springs to mind!). We consider the valuation to be in the region of 250,000 pounds, but as Powis quickly responds "yes, but you've got to find somebody not only rich enough, but who has enough cars for them all, and has a particular connection with POW for it to be worth anything like that amount!"

And he concluded with an amusing anecdote; "The funniest thing happened though, when we moved home into our local village. A rumour got out that we were linked to the Royal Family [POW referring to the Prince of Wales], which the local postman thought to be true, and therefore thought suitable to spread across all of his post rounds! Even now, years later, we're asked if it's true! Maybe I will write to Prince Charles to see if he wants to buy them. I'm sure he meets all the criteria!"

Reg
Thanks to PrimoRegistrations for the article.

DVLA's Penultimate Sale of 2010

2010-09-22T12:59:00.003+01:00

DVLA Personalised Registrations' autumn auction is almost upon us, with the prestigious Rudding Park, near Harrogate, the setting for this year's penultimate sale.

As ever, next month's three day event, which gets underway on Tuesday, October 5, will feature 1,500 personalised registrations, with reserve prices ranging from £250 to £10,000.

DVLA have again served up an eclectic mix of number plates, ranging from the sublime, like the "star" 10 O, GEN 151S and FLY 805S, to the humorous like RA55 STA, TUN 151A and CHE 4T!

For owners of arguably the greatest modern Ferrari, the A599 GTO will undoubtedly strike a chord along with F50 XXX, other popular registration plates directly reflecting car marques and models will be F635 BMW and LAM 80S while FHM 848E will certainly add a touch of glamour!. For the Liverpool FC fan, LFC 80Y surely is a must.

To register an interest or to download an auction catalogue, Click Here.

Reg

Vinnie Jones wears his name on his number plate

2010-09-22T12:45:00.003+01:00

For Vinnie Jones, it's important that everyone knows exactly who is driving the shiny black Range Rover as the footballer turned actor's number plate spelled out the words 'UK VIN'.

And cruising behind him wife Tanya brought up the rear in a matching black Jaguar with the plate 'UK TANYA'.

Quite why the couple were driving in convoy is unknown, but it's clear that they are fans of the high profile Los Angeles lifestyle.

The reformed footballing hardman has fit in well in Tinseltown enjoying a certain amount of big screen success since debuting in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells.

He recently revealed how other former players keep calling him in the hope of landing a movie role.

Ex Wimbledon teammate John Fashanu and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon is among those who have called on Hollywood based Vinnie for advice.

Vinnie said: 'I've had so many calls. They want to be in a film. Or they want me to get their sons in.'

He also said he wants to open his own stage school to help budding British actors.

Vinnie added: 'It's so scary out there! These youngsters come to Hollywood and don't know where to begin.

'I'm going to give them a bit of guidance if I can so that they don't get ripped off. It's hard to know who to trust.

"It's so difficult to get an agent, let alone an acting part! I've been around a while so hopefully I can help,' he told The Sun.

Read more Here!

Popemobile to have SCV 1 number plates.

2010-09-16T12:45:00.007+01:00

The latest Popemobile has been unveiled ahead of the Pontiff's visit to the UK, a Mercedes with an average speed of 6mph.

The M class vehicle, with space for the Pope to stand and wave at the crowd, will be driven by a so far unnamed British driver.

It is not the first time the car has been used, having already made several outings in other countries.

The Popemobile carries the number plates SCV 1, which stands for Stato della Citta del Vaticano, or Vatican city state in Italian. (The 'SCV 1' on the Pope Mobile is Vatican registered, so is a duplicate of the UK one which is currently on a Cherokee Jeep)

Although the average speed is just 6mph, the vehicle can go much faster if needs be.

Historically, different Popes have used a variety of methods to enable them to greet the public.

Many years ago a simple chair was used that was held aloft and carried by papal attendants.

The first modified vehicles were used by Pope John Paul II in the 80s and were often crude adaptations of vans or trucks. The vehicles were issued the number plate VIP 1 for his visit. The cherished number plate VIP 1 was then sold to Roman Abramovich for £285,000 in July 2006.

Today he will travel from Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh through the centre of the Scottish capital for his first day of his visit.

After traveling to London for events tomorrow he will be driven in the Popemobile at 5pm from Lambeth Palace through to Westminster.

On Saturday evening, prior to a prayer vigil at Hyde Park, the vehicle will again be making its way through central London.

Pope Benedict moves to the West Midlands on Sunday where people will be able to line Hagley Road in Birmingham as he makes his way to an open air mass at Cofton Park.

Reg

Tourist beware. Watch your speed in Spain.

2010-09-03T06:29:00.005+01:00

A new speed campaign has been launched on the roads of Spain and the authorities targeting foreign drivers with their radar gun sights.

Plans to stop and fine tourists breaking the speed limit have been boosted by a new system. Each roadside camera can photograph number plates from any country. The picture is then shown to the driver on the spot, there is no escape.

"In 2009, 30 percent of offenders were foreign vehicles, and on some speed traps in the summer the figure exceeded 40 per cent. Here we have an alternative that enables us to show the driver the offence they have committed," explained
Frederico Fernandez, the deputy head of Spain’s
Dirección General de Tráfico.

The new speed cameras have been installed at four locations in regions where there is a high number of vehicles with foreign registration plates. The move has heightened the debate in Spain on whether speeding fines save lives or if it is just another way for the government to raise funds.

You could always get one of these ; )

Reg

The law finally catches up with number plate fraudster

2010-09-03T06:11:00.003+01:00

Justice has finally been served to a fraudster who ripped off a motorcyclist from a village near Burton more than a decade ago.

Mark Seabridge, 46, boasted to a friend as he flew off to a new life as a restaurant owner in Tenerife that he had conned someone out of 6,000 pounds for a private number plates, Stafford Crown Court heard.

The victim was Mark Sadler, from Wychnor, who had handed over a banker's draft for 6,000 pounds for the cherished registration M4RKS in 1999.

However, Anthony Johnston, prosecuting, told the court that all Mr Sadler got for his money was a pair of number plates, as Seabridge did not own the actual right to it.

It had been bought by someone else at auction.

Mr Sadler, who wanted to put the number plate on a motorbike, got his documentation returned and when he tried to contact Seabridge, he had disappeared.

Mr Johnston said Seabridge's partner had revealed the money was spent on living expenses in Tenerife.

Amanda O'Mara, defending, said Seabridge had subsequently lost his restaurant business on the Spanish island.

He was arrested when he came back to the UK in 2006 to be a prosecution witness in a trial.

However, he then went missing again until his recent arrest.

The court heard Seabridge had already served 37 days in custody, including a sentence for skipping bail following his arrest in 2006.

Seabridge, from Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted a charge of obtaining money by deception and was given a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid community work.

Judge Mark Eades told him: "This was a case of blatant fraud on Mr Sadler.

"You regarded it as a con to get money to feather your nest in Tenerife.

"If I was Mr Sadler, I would feel extremely aggrieved." Judge Eades also told Seabridge that he was lucky he was coming before the courts now, at a time when sentences are less severe than previously.

Referring to current sentencing guidelines, he told the defendant: "If you had come up for sentence in 1999, the notion of getting a four week sentence would have been laughed at."

Reg

Town Hall Number Plate Spies, Caught in the Act

2010-08-30T08:29:00.003+01:00

Snoops at local town halls across the country have been caught in the act, using the DVLA’s database to spy on people.

The Big Brother tactics emerged after councils were given the go ahead to use DVLA car registration records, strictly to track down owners of abandoned vehicles.

Instead, bureaucrats have been checking up on residents suspected of other offences that have nothing to do with motoring, in a blatant breach of the rules.

As a result, several councils have been banned from accessing the database and many more have received warnings after serious breaches were uncovered.

155 of the 432 local authorities allowed to use the database were audited, showing that the DVLA’s system was accessed 750 times a day in the 2009/10 financial year.

However, it was discovered that councils were using the system to try and find people for a variety of non motoring offences including horse fouling, littering and owning unruly/dangerous dogs.

Red coded warnings were sent by the DVLA to the chief executives of 56 authorities where serious breaches of the system had been uncovered. A further 99 also received warnings about abusing the system and 12, which failed to make the changes requested by the DVLA, have been banned altogether.

Campaign director of Big Brother Watch, Dylan Sharpe, said: "The outrageous and often illegal abuse of the DVLA database is yet another example of the way in which local councils will use any available means to keep a check on their residents.

"Law abiding people, or those suspected of very minor offences, are regularly having their personal lives exposed.

"They are being spied on for nonsensical reasons by these inflated town hall bureaucrats.

"The Government needs to rein in this sort of clandestine snooping as a matter of urgency."

Inspectors found councils breaking the rules by searching for registration plates with partial numbers, or by failing to log in and out of the database correctly.

Councils were given 24 hour access to the database to make it easier to find the owners of abandoned vehicles.

After a move by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the access was upgraded to help council staff investigate so called SDHp "environmental crimes".

A DVLA spokesman said: "We carry out regular audits of users to ensure they respect the terms and conditions of the contract and user agreements which cover this service. The reasons for suspension range from failure to respond to an audit letter to failure to comply with record keeping or data access requirements.

"In most cases, suspensions were related to mismanagement and record keeping, rather than inappropriate access."

The barred authorities are Nottingham City and Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, Corby in Northamptonshire, Brighton and Hove, Hastings and Lewes, all in East Sussex, Elmbridge in Surrey, Hull in East Yorkshire, Tower Hamlets in east London, Blackpool in Lancashire, Bedford in Bedfordshire and Stroud in Gloucestershire.

Reg

Driver allowed to keep satanic plate

2010-08-20T15:07:00.005+01:00

A driver in Skye was cleared in court after it was claimed that cyclists, who complained about her driving, did not like her "satanic" S666 SKY car number plates.

Sally Phelps, 65, was accused at Portree Sheriff and JP Court of careless driving in her black Volvo sports car by passing too close to a couple of women cyclists and frightening them. She was found not guilty after defence solicitor Duncan Burd produced a Bible in court and told the three magistrates on the bench: "The two cyclists were annoyed at the devil's car going past them so decided to report her to the police."

Yesterday, Mrs Phelps, a community councillor, of Kilmuir House guest house, Kilmuir, said: "I am not scrapping my unique registration plate, despite its apparent controversy. I had no idea my car number had connections with the devil.

"When my husband, Roy, bought the number several years ago it was for the 'SKY' part. The 666 bit came with it."

One of the cyclists, Fiona MacDonald, 49, who said in evidence she was a Christian, claimed she "felt the heat" of the car as it passed her with its "number of the beast" registration plates.

Mr Burd told the court; "In the Bible, Revelations 13:18 says 'Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast for it is the number of a man. His number is 666'."

Fiscal Stewart Maciver told the magistrates; "It is not the case that the cyclists were out to get her as she shot past in her fancy Volvo. There is nothing more sinister than it is a distinctive plate."

Both Mrs MacDonald and her friend, Victoria MacLean, 42, both of Uig, Skye, denied that the 666 registration plates had prompted a complaint to the police.

The chairwoman of the magistrates told Mrs Phelps; "It has been a difficult decision but there is reasonable doubt, so you are entitled to an acquittal. You are not guilty."

Reg

Unfineable Number Plates in London

2010-08-14T14:24:00.001+01:00

Reg

Council names and shames foreign super car drivers who flout parking laws

2010-08-14T13:59:00.004+01:00

Brazenly pulled up on yellow lines in some of London's most salubrious locations, the wealthy owners of these super cars pay little heed to the rules of the road.

But a council is naming and shaming drivers of foreign-registered vehicles in an attempt to recover nearly 4 million owed in unpaid parking fines.

Westminster Council claims the owners of Bugattis, Ferraris and Lamborghinis routinely flout parking restrictions because they know officials are powerless to trace them in their own countries.

The council, Britain's largest parking authority, accuses the culprits of a "blatant disregard" for the country's road laws by refusing to pay the penalties.

In the past three years, offenders have failed to settle a total of 36,332 parking tickets, leaving the council 3,776,490 pounds out of pocket.

Top of the authority's most wanted list is the owner of a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom, who owes them 2,000 pounds for 18 parking tickets.

While the owner of a Bugatti Veyron L'Edition Centenaire would have lavished 1.2 million on buying their 250mph car, they have failed to pay a 120 pound fine for parking on a single yellow line outside Selfridges.

Despite having the distinctive car registration 111111, the council is also struggling to track the driver of a red and black Bugatti Veyron ticketed this month near Marble Arch. All three cars are on Arabic plates.

Other prolific offenders include owners of a US registered Hummer and a Lamborghini Murcielago from Dubai.

Westminster Council is calling on the Government to help establish a system of international co operation to allow local authorities to trace foreign motorists – 80 per cent of whom refuse to pay fines.

Currently, there are no laws to provide parking authorities with access to overseas driver and vehicle registration data to chase up parking fines.

New EU legislation will allow member states to share such information but experts say British authorities will not be able to use the law because parking offences are not classified as criminal offences in this country.

Cllr Lee Rowley, Westminster Council's cabinet member for parking, said: "British taxpayers can no longer foot the bill for foreign motorists who seem think the rules of this country do not apply to them.

"We would like to see a more rigorous system put in place to hold these drivers to account and send a clear message that this blatant disregard of the law will not be tolerated."

Officials say the problem is most pronounced among vehicles registered in the Middle East, which are frequently seen parked on yellow lines, in bus lanes or in residents' parking bays in expensive parts of the capital.

Many wealthy Arabs have their sports cars flown into Britain by private jet during the so called 'season' in July and August, when it has become fashionable to visit London.

The issue follows complaints, from residents in Knightsbridge over sports car owners shattering their night time peace by racing through the streets around Harrods.

The Daily Telegraph disclosed last week that campaigners claim wealthy Middle Eastern visitors are making residential roads "like the starting grid of Le Mans" since the Qatari royal family purchased the department store in May.

Official figures earlier this year show that owners of foreign registered vehicles evade motoring fines totaling nearly 15 million pounds each year across Britain.

Sparks, a coalition of London councils established to tackle the problem, said 330,000 tickets worth 12.9 million are issued to foreign registered vehicles in London each year for parking and other contraventions. One in eight foreign registered vehicle owners fails to pay their congestion charge.

In June it emerged that foreign diplomats in the capital owe more than 37 million in unpaid congestion charges, parking fines and other motoring penalties.

Last year, Westminster Council wrote off more than 20 million in unpaid parking fines after failing to trace the owners of offending vehicles.

Owners of vehicles on foreign number plates are allowed to drive them temporarily in Britain for a total of six months in any 12 month period without registering them or taxing them in the UK.

After that they must register and tax them with British plates through the DVLA.

Those with number plates bearing letters or numbers not identifiable in Britain must obtain a temporary registration mark from the DVLA for the duration of their visit.

Original article by Murray Wardrop
Published: 7:30AM BST 14 Aug 2010
Telegraph.co.uk

Brussels "Unifies" European Number Plates

2010-08-11T08:18:00.005+01:00

Europe's holiday makers are hitting the roads, this summer, with more or less uniform number plates, after a 12 year debate over their design and colour schemes. Belgium finally settled a political argument over the tags in June, removing the last obstacle to introducing the new plates in all 27 European countries.

However, "uniform" is a relative term in Europe, where there are dozens of languages and so ways to even say "number plate". There are already exceptions to the suggested EU standard of black lettering on white background and a European flag on the left. British drivers, of course, being allowed to opt out altogether.

Drivers still show their nationalities on the EU number plates, with a country code placed within the ring of gold stars on the EU flag, or just below it: D for Germany, NL for Netherlands, S for Sweden, E for Spain and so on.

Issuing nations may also allow local or regional symbols.
For motorcycles, there is a square EU-style tag.

American style number plate slogans would probably go against the rules, but
one option might have been "In Varietate Concordia" ("United in Diversity"), the EU motto that is available in Latin and the union's 23 languages, no one opted to take this up, though.

EU officials first recommended uniform black on white plates back in 1998, as they would be more readable and embody the union's single market. The European number plates would also help cameras spot speeders, tax dodgers and vehicles jumping through electronic toll booths in a continent with largely open borders.

Most EU members, and even some non members like Norway, now make EU plates mandatory.

In places like Finland, Sweden, Cyprus, Denmark and Britain however, the number plates are available but optional. In Britain, drivers are entitled to replace the EU flag with those of either England, Scotland or Wales.

Paul Watters, head of public policy at Britain's Automobile Association, said few UK motorists choose the EU flag.

"The government has allowed us to have the freedom to choose to display national flags," he said. "We wouldn't want to see the EU flag become compulsory in the U.K."

France began issuing the EU tag in 2009 and also tried to drop traditional regional indicators, to avoid stigmatizing drivers from less fashionable areas.

Parisian cars mostly carried the number 75, while 93 is the indicator for nearby Seine-Saint-Denis, a Parisian suburb with a large immigrant population.

Richard Mallie from the French "departement" of Bouches du Rhone (regional indicator 13) and 230 other French lawmakers rebelled, insisting the departement number was "a matter of roots, of attachment to an area."

They won the day which means French drivers can now pick any department number they like. Mallie says 75 percent still opt for their departement of residence.

In Belgium, the most ardent proponent of European number plate unification and home to the EU headquarters in Brussels, the EU tag started two years of debate between Dutch and French speaking politicians. The French speakers rejected black on yellow tags as they are the colors of Belgium's Dutch speaking north. Neither side where interested in black on white.

In June, Belgium decided its HGV's would adopt the EU plates, but passenger vehicles could have dark red letters instead of black.

Denmark opted for a black on white EU plate but included a red boarder around it, hinting at its red and white flag.

Europe's shift to standard number plates may sound innocent enough but it is an emotive point.

In the 1990s, EU officials sensed a backlash to what former British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd called a "European superstate inveigling its way into every nook and cranny of Europeans' lives." That backlash would be blamed in 2005 for the death of the EU constitution.

Reg

Next DVLA Number Plate Auction

2010-08-02T06:56:00.003+01:00

The next DVLA number plate auction is to be held at the Heritage Motor Center, Warwickshire on 4th, 5th and 6th August.

There are some great number plates with low reserves, such as '999 A' at 2900 pounds, '56 ME' at 2700 pounds, and the highly sought after '8 O' at 10,000 pounds, but you can expect to see the latter fetch upwards of five times that amount.

CLICK HERE to view the full auction catalogue.

Reg

Number Plate Advise.

2010-07-30T10:56:00.005+01:00

I just wrote this as a reply on a forum then thought, I might as well post it here.
See what you think;

A friend of mine went to a DVLA auction a couple of years back with the intention of buying a ***1 or 1*** number plate.
Within reason, he wasn't fussy about the letter combination as he was thinking in terms of investment/heirloom.

At the auction, he soon realised that he was being out-bid by one man on every '1' plate that came up.

During an interval, the auctioneer approached my friend and explained that his rival was a dealer and suggested that he ask the dealer to 'step aside' on just one of these number plates, so as he could buy it and bugger off. This would leave the dealer with no competition on the rest of the one plates, ergo he could buy them cheaper.

A win/win situation you'd have thought but no.
The dealer refused this proposition and my mate, being a stubborn git, stayed for the duration of the auction just to bid the dealer up on every '1' plate.

When relaying this tale to me, he couldn't grasp the reasoning behind the dealers decision not to step aside as, over the course of the auction, this cost him "10's of thousands".

As I explained to him. It's all about the bigger picture.
It won't matter to the dealer if you beat him up by 1K on every plate at the auction.
(He claims that the most any of them sold for was 8K, BTW)
What's important is that he gets 'control' of as many of this type of number plate as possible that come onto the market.

If you control 80% of a commodity, then you control the open market price of it.
The other 20% are not going to complain if you force the market price up.

Reg

Should East Lancashire councils sell valuable number plates?

2010-07-20T11:50:00.004+01:00

CASH strapped town halls have been slammed for refusing to give up number plates worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The mayoral car registrations are among the most sought after in the country.

Blackburn with Darwen's plate has been valued at up to 200,000 pounds, while Burnley's would raise 100,000 and Rossendale's 20,000.

Campaigners say keeping these 'egotistical luxuries' is a 'disgrace' at a time when people are struggling to make ends meet.

But defiant councils said they have no plans to cash in despite facing multi million pound spending cuts.

The Lancashire Telegraph has been given three independent valuations for the three high value plates.

Pendle, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Lancashire County Council do not have personalised plates.

Top of the pile was CB1, the plate of Blackburn with Darwen's black mayoral BMW, which was valued at between 150 and 200,000 pounds

Councilor Colin Rigby, executive member for resources, said: "There are no plans to sell the number plate.

"Any proceeds would only be a one-off, which might delay savings, but we still need to make ongoing savings year on year."

And Tory Mayor Sheila Williams said: "It might paper over some cracks for a year, but where do you go from there?

"It’s part of the town's history and this would be like selling off the family silver."

Labour opposition group leader Kate Hollern said: "I'm sure people of Blackburn could come up with plenty of things that money could be spent on.

"It would refurbish 10 houses for a start."

And Lib Dem deputy mayor Karimeh Foster said people would want the plates, which date back to 1904, sold if it helped protect front line services.

Mary Anderson, who is leading the fight to save Shadsworth Community Centre, said she was stunned at the value of the Blackburn with Darwen number plate.

She said: "It is a disgrace. This is the exact amount they are saving from the four community centres. The public needs to be aware of this."

Burnley council's HG1 plate is worth 100,000 pounds, according to all three companies.

It was taken from a fire engine in the 1930s when the council was also responsible for the fire service.

Council leader Charlie Briggs said the town hall had once tried to sell the plate to former Opportunity Knocks host Hughie Green.

He said: "He wouldn't have it. I knew then it was worth a considerable amount of money, but I didn't realise it was worth that much.

"But why would we want to sell it? It's part of Burnley.

"When you see HG1 coming you know the mayor's inside the car.

"If we're talking about selling the family silver that would really be scraping the bottom of the barrel."

Burnley businessman Andrew Brown, who ran as an independent candidate in this year's General Election, said the council should sell the registration plates because of the cuts it was facing.

He said: "It would make sense for the council to put it up for sale with a reserve price of 100,000 pounds if that is what it is valued at.

"If the reserve is met then everyone is happy."

Rossendale council's 1MTC plate was valued at 20,000 pounds.

The council said it was not certain where it had come from, although it is believed to have been donated to the authority in 1971.

Again bosses did not want to sell.

Mark Wallace, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "It's disgusting that councils are hanging on to these egotistical luxuries at a time when taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet.

"Councils facing spending cuts should be selling these private plates as soon as possible."

Reg

Emerates '1' number plate at auction

2010-07-12T07:34:00.001+01:00

The world's most expensive number plate purchase.

Reg

Police number plate recognition camera rules tightened

2010-07-05T03:25:00.005+01:00

Police cameras that record motorists' movements must be more tightly regulated, Home Secretary Theresa May has ordered.

The 4,000-strong automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) network logs more than 10 million vehicles every day.

The government is to look at limiting access to the database of 7.6 billion images, details of number plates and the date, time and place of capture.

Privacy campaigners said restrictions on the ANPR network were long overdue.

The cameras capture the front of cars and photographs can include images of the driver and any passengers.

Ministers will consider how long these records can be held. The current limit is two years.

Mrs May says she wants proper accountability and safeguards in the use of this database.

It comes as a decision was taken to remove 72 ANPR cameras in Birmingham after it emerged their installation, in areas with large Muslim populations, had been funded through a Home Office counter-terrorism fund.

Home Office minister James Brokenshire told the Guardian the national changes were necessary for public confidence.

"Both CCTV and ANPR can be essential tools in combating crime but the growth in their use has been outside of a suitable governance regime," he said.

"To ensure that these important technologies continue to command the support and confidence of the public and are used effectively, we believe that further regulation is required.

"We are examining a number of options and will also be considering the work of the interim CCTV regulator, who is due to report to ministers shortly."

The government is also looking at introducing a lawful right for police forces to log the information and greater transparency over where the cameras are.

The system was rolled out in 2006 to track uninsured drivers and stolen cars.
Review 'overdue'

The cameras work by scanning registration plates and checking them against information stored in various databases to identify vehicles of interest to the police.

An ANPR camera can read a number plate every second.

However, civil liberties group Big Brother Watch branded the network "an unnecessary and indiscriminate invasion of privacy."

Campaign director Dylan Sharpe said the review was "long overdue".

"ANPR gives the state the ability to track every car journey we make. It is about time that some restrictions were placed on the use of this intrusive technology."

The organisation is funded by the Taxpayers' Alliance pressure group, which lobbies for lower taxes and greater government efficiency.

Police say use of the cameras has led to the arrest of burglars, robbers and drug dealers, among others, and that they target criminals and not innocent law-abiding motorists.

.

ASBO Hounds Not Number Plate Fans

2010-06-25T11:34:00.001+01:00

Dog Gang - Watch a funny movie here

Reg

Next DVLA Number Plate Auction Announced

2010-06-19T10:52:00.002+01:00

The Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire is the setting for the next three-day auction commencing on the 4th August. Go to http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/auctions to view the 1500 registrations on offer.

DVLA Personalised Registrations has secured a limited number of free tickets enabling registered bidders to visit the motor museum containing the world's finest collection of historic British cars.

Number plates in the auction include 8 O (10,000) C44 RLS (900) BMW 80Y (900) and TVR 80Y (400).

Reg

Lucky number plates go up in value when times are bad

2010-06-15T06:50:00.003+01:00

The basis for many superstitious beliefs may be little more than fantasy but their economic effects are all too real. According to Travis Ng and colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, casual estimates suggest that between $800 and $900 million is wiped off the value of US businesses every Friday the Thirteenth! Now Ng's team has explored the economic cost of superstition by comparing the value of Hong Kong car number plates purchased through auction from 1997 to 2009.

The new research focuses particularly on the presence of 4s and 8s in Hong Kong plates. There's a consensus in Hong Kong that '8', which rhymes in Cantonese with 'prosper' or 'prosperity', is a lucky number, whereas '4', which rhymes with 'die' or 'death', is an unlucky number.

Controlling for visual factors that affect price (for example, plates with fewer digits are more sought-after) Ng's team found that an ordinary 4-digit registration plate with one extra lucky '8' was sold 63.5 per cent higher on average. An extra unlucky '4' by contrast diminished the average 4-digit plate value by 11 per cent. These effects aren't trivial. Replacing the '7' in a standard 4-digit plate with an '8' would boost its value by roughly $400.

As well charting the monetary value of superstitious beliefs, Ng's study was also able to record how the economic influence of superstition varies according to ongoing macroeconomic circumstances. For instance, the presence of a '4' in a plate always drops its value, but during bad economic times, the diminution in value is greater. On a day that the stock market had dropped by 1 per cent, the 'cost' of having a '4' in a standard 4-digit plate was increased by 19.9 per cent. 'A "4" is bad,' the researchers wrote, 'but it is even worse in bad times.'

Curiously, the effect of ongoing market conditions on the impact of 4s and 8s wasn't equal. The stock market price exaggerated the 'cost' associated with an extra '4' on both 3-digit and 4-digit number plates, but it only affected the premium associated with having an extra lucky '8' on 3-digit plates. 'We are not able to come up with a good explanation for the asymmetric effects,' the researchers said.

'We have shown that the value of superstitions can be economically significant,' the researchers concluded. 'We have also shown that some results are consistent with the view that people tend to be more superstitious in bad times.'

Ng, T., Chong, T., & Du, X. (2010). The value of superstitions. Journal of Economic Psychology, 31 (3), 293-309 DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2009.12.002

Ireland introduce bicycle number plates

2010-06-14T10:59:00.004+01:00

UP to 1,000 bicycles are to be fitted with number plates. The new scheme, to be launched in Co Mayo, is designed to increase awareness of road safety for cyclists.

Only vehicles with combustion engines have to carry designated number plates, under current law.

But Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council, said that the bicycle registration scheme would bring cyclists into line with drivers of larger, more powerful road vehicles and was hoping it would give them a higher visibility.

"The purpose of the number plates is to raise awareness of cycle safety and encourage more people to take the two-wheel mode of transport, rather than four wheels," he said.

"We also want to get the young cyclist to remember that they have a responsibility for their own safety when using a bicycle.

"The number plates are made from a reflective material and will be hung under the bicycle saddle, increasing the chances of other road users seeing the cyclist. They can be customised or personalised to show the name of the cyclist, making them a great novelty gift for every child," Mr Gibbons added.

Reg (new tax imminent?)

Vespa number plate sells for 1185 pounds

2010-06-12T12:45:00.004+01:00

Vespa fans are used to adorning their two-wheeled wonders with accessories but only one devotee can now show off the ultimate add on.

For Neil Little placed the winning bid on the personalised plate VE55SPA during first of two DVLA Personalised Registrations auctions being held this summer.

Neil, who paid to total of 1,185 pounds for the registration, will soon be sporting it on his new, limited edition, Vespa LXV.

"I have private plates on all my vehicles but I believe this one will really stand out from the crowd. It's the ultimate registration for my scooter!" Said the 40 year old carpenter from Meopham, Kent.

"I don't usually spend the amount I did on the VE55 SPA plate but, as soon as I saw it was going under the hammer knew I just had to have it."

The second DVLA Personalised Registrations auction of the summer is set to commence on August 4, at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Reg

Number plates for the future

2010-06-12T10:46:00.004+01:00

A car fan from Harrow splashed out on Monday morning when he bought a collection of personalised registrations encompassing the new 60-series within minutes of them being released for sale.

Rishi Gautam (pronounced Gotam) has patiently waited for the 60's release to buy a series of registrations which represent his surname; GG 60TAM, MR 60TAM, DR 60TAM and MS 60TAM.

While he already has the number plate R15SHE on his Jaguar X Type, he spent just shy of 2,800 pounds to secure the collection of 60 registration plates for his future generations.

The automotive design engineer said: "I'm a self confessed petrol head. I love everything about cars and I especially admire private number plates."

"Although I've owned R15SHE since 1997, I've always wanted to add more plates to my collection and have been looking for ways in which to spell my surname.

"After researching the possibilities I realised a couple of years ago the 60 series would be ideal and have since just sat back and played a waiting game. I contacted the DVLA and asked when they'd go on sale and have since had Monday, June 7, in my diary."

He added: "I'm extremely proud of my surname and wanted some personalised registrations to show it off and my collection will do just that even though I've bought them for my future wife and children!"

Explaining his reasoning behind the purchases, Rishi added: "I wanted plates to directly represent my surname, hence buying GG 60TAM and MR 60TAM. I have high hopes for a son or daughter of becoming a doctor and so I couldn't resist
DR 60TAM. MS 60TAM would sit well on my wife's car."

In order to secure his four number plates, Rishi went online and bought them in quick succession. The 60 figure will indicate all brand new vehicles registered for road use from September 1, 2010.

Reg

Should motorbikes have front number plates?

2010-06-11T11:41:00.004+01:00

There has been a call for Motorcycles to be fitted with front number plates so they can be detected by front facing police cameras, by the RAC Foundation.

The move would allow bike registrations to be read by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras used to pick up uninsured or untaxed vehicles.

A spokesman for the RAC Foundation, which was established in 1991 as the research arm of the RAC but is now independent of the breakdown firm, said: "We think that if it could be done safely then there's a very good reason why it should be done.

"Then ANPR cameras would be able to pick up motorcycles in exactly the same way they can four-wheeled vehicles."

Reg

DVLA forces Auto Trader to change its iPhone app

2010-06-09T07:55:00.003+01:00

Auto Trader has been forced to remove a key feature from its iPhone app, just two weeks after it was released.

The DVLA has a problem with the image recognition element of the app, which allows users to take a photo of car number plates and get results from dealers selling that make and model.

The DVLA says that this feature conflicts with its ethical code, as it allows users to capture images of vehicle registration plates, even though cameras and most mobile phones are capable of doing the same thing.

"The application draws only on publically available information and does not release owner details or information on where a vehicle is registered. However, we take consumer security extremely seriously and so have happily agreed to comply with the DVLA's request. As a result, from the 30th March, the 'snap' function will be removed from the app." Said the Auto Trader.

It's a puzzling move as the app provides no information other than the make and model of the car photographed, and since there are plenty of other mobile services which use number plate information, such as the vehicle text check services which are commonly advertised.

It robs the app and its users of a valuable function, one which worked well and that also provided an added 'wow factor' for the app, though perhaps, if the image is the problem, Auto Trader can replace this with the option to type in plate numbers to achieve the same result. On the face of it, this seems to be an odd decision on the part of the DVLA.

ReG

60 number plates on sale now

2010-06-09T06:50:00.004+01:00

The 60 series of registrations can now be bought from DVLA Registrations in readiness for when they can legally be used on our roads on September 1, 2010.

The new 60 series opens up a great deal of personalised number plates like BA60OON, AS60 ---, CY60RGS, etc.

Prospective buyers have been able to sift through the millions of combinations available through DVLA Personalised Registrations website for the past month.

More good news for those interested is DVLA Personalised Registrations' is that the 'open sale' period also ensures that every new style combination is available for the month of June, with the exception of those plates destined for auction.

Reg

Number plate SOLO ACT for just 2850 pounds!

2010-06-09T05:27:00.004+01:00

A retired car dealer has shown how he has gone it alone in the world of business by placing the winning bid on the DVLA Personalised Registration, SO10 ACT.

Kane Ronald bought the private plates to show people how he fought back the critics to become one of Hampshire's most prolific car salesman.

"I've gone it alone all my life and so I thought this registration was a great way of telling people my story." Said the 67 year old from Lyndhurst.

Kane's story is a real rags to riches tale, he started his working life as a humble car salesman but worked tirelessly to eventually own his successful business.

He added. "People always told me to settle down and stop dreaming about the big time. But I refused to listen and worked hard for the finer things in life. You should never give up on your dreams no matter how many people tell you otherwise."

Ronald walked away from the Whittlebury Hall auction with a smile after buying the personalised registration for just 2,850 pounds.

R3G

ESS3X number plate sells for 6,520 pounds at DVLA auction

2010-06-03T08:24:00.005+01:00

A mystery buyer from Chelmsford snapped up the personalised registration ESS 3X for a bargain price of 6,520 pounds.

Immediately after securing the number plates with a final bid of 5,100 pounds, the delighted Essex based man declared he would have spent another 15,000 pounds in order to get his ideal plate. The total amount paid includes VAT, Buyers Premium and Assignment Fee.

The sale came during the climax of DVLA Personalised Registrations' first day of its latest auction currently being held at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire. At the end of the day the agency had raised 1.2 million, with all money going to the Treasury.

"Both DVLA and the customer are both extremely happy with the result. Managing to raise a sum seven times its reserve is a tremendous achievement, and to hear our customer is delighted to have bought a bargain is music to my ears." said Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager.

The mystery purchaser of the ESS 3X plate, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I've bought numerous registrations from the DVLA over the years and I expected to pay a lot more than 6,520 pounds for this one, in fact I had another 15,000 pounds to spend!"

While the ESS 3X registrations will probably make the headlines, 1 EPS was the greatest success of the day, fetching just short of 20,000 pounds.

Reg

Three of the coolest number plates in history go under the hammer! (And you get 007's DB5 thrown in!)

2010-06-02T10:57:00.005+01:00

RM Auction is putting a great car up for auction, this time a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which is an actual James Bond car! This car with the registration plate FMP 7B has been a property of Mr.Jerry Lee for over 40 years. He had bought the car from the film company for $12,000, and now it's expected to fetch over $5 million!

This DB5 is a full blooded Bond car. It has Front and rear hydraulic over rider rams on bumpers; Front firing .30 caliber Browning machine guns powered by trunk mounted oxy/propane system; Wheel mounted tire slasher; Retractable rear bullet-proof screen; Radio telephone concealed in secret compartment; Radar scanner in racing type wing mirror with tracking screen in the cockpit; Passenger ejector seat with removable roof panel (seat since replaced with standard seat); Oil slick ejector from left side rear light cluster; Triple spiked nails from the right side rear light cluster; Smoke screen released through separate rear system, located next to rear exhaust and most importantly; Three revolving number plates featuring licenses YRE 186H, 007JB and JB007.

Not that all of these things actually work on this car, but there they are! And the coolest thing is they're all hidden away normally.

"The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years," said Jerry Lee. "Even as I sell it and use the proceeds to fund the Jerry Lee Foundation, the car will continue to give me great pleasure as it furthers the mission of the Foundation to do good around the world."

Reg

DVLA hoping for the million

2010-05-21T05:14:00.004+01:00

DVLA Personalised Registrations could find itself in "seventh heaven" during its forthcoming three day auction which gets underway on June 2 at Whittlebury Hall.

Buoyed by the 7 O and 10 OOO registrations set to head line at Whittlebury Hall, DVLA's team of experts believe the agency could surpass the magical seven figure mark from the sale of a single series of personalised plates.

Released by DVLA Personalised Registrations to mark its 20th anniversary last year, the O series encompassing the registrations 1 O, 2 O, 3 O, 4 O, 5 O, 6 O, 9 O, 1 OOO and 2 OOO has amassed a staggering 872,000 pounds.

And while the agency is 130,000 pounds short of its magical 1 million mark, the high expectations surrounding 7 O and 10 OOO being sold at the Northamptonshire venue, ironically, the scene where 1 O sold for a whopping 210,000 pounds in January 2009, indicate that that million pound figure could well be banked for The Treasury.

DVLA Personalised Registrations Marketing Manager, Damian Lawson said: "While we had high hopes for the O series, we never in our wildest thoughts believed we could be on the verge of raising 1 million from their sale so soon.

"Since 1 O was sold at Whittlebury Hall 18 months ago there has been a terrific amount of interest surrounding the whole O series and while we do not expect to surpass the 210,000 pound it made, it would be truly ironic if Whittlebury proved to be the setting for hitting the magical million mark."

In total, DVLA's forthcoming auction will comprise 1,500 number plates chosen to offer an eclectic mix to suit all tastes, styles and pockets, including;

ALS 911 (reserve 1,900)
BOO7 HAM (900)
EL10 OTT (1,000)
ESS 3X (900)
F458 RED (900)
F1 USA (1,900)
GOF 11E (350)
H15 DOG (900)
599 JS (2,600)
51 NKS (1,900)
N47 URE (350)
N188 LER (300)
7 O (10,000)
0007 BND (900)
10 OOO (8,000)
OWN 805S (350)
ROL 333X (400)
SO10 ACT (1,000)
SKY 7V (400)
SO10 MON (1,000)
VE55 SPA (900)
W11 DOW (900)

Reg

DVLA number plate fraud

2010-05-17T09:48:00.000+01:00

DVLA high level officers in the criminal investigation department continue to hold, in safe custody, the compelling criminal evidence dossiers concerning the forged and falsified 'Carroll Automobile Collection Cherished Number Plates Portfolio Log Books'.

Included in this portfolio are the rare 'A1, GJC1, and GJC11' personalised registration plates which were "stolen" in the longest running and largest white collar organised crime, tax evasion and money laundering case in modern economic history.

The Carroll Foundation Charitable Trust, one billion dollars, international case is bringing in the elite law enforcement officers from the FBI Washington DC field office and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in London.

Sources close to the DVLA at the Swansea headquarters have confirmed that "multiple forged log books" covering the Carroll Super Car Collection which contains ten Ferraris, seven Lamborghinis and a rare Automobilia Fine Art Collection was the fraudulent mechanism used by the FBI / SOCA task force, to target Goodman Derrick Crime Syndicate in this US HM Crown Carroll Trust National Security Public Interests Case.

A1, is thought to be the very first UK vehicle registration number. Originally issued in London in 1903 it is considered to be the UK's most famous registration plate, having had a continuous and well documented history since Earl Russell managed to secure it by getting his Butler to queue up all night outside the licencing authorities office in London.

Should 'A1' come onto the market today, the sales price will undoubtedly be in the millions.

Reg

The 6IXTH S3NS3

2010-05-13T08:23:00.006+01:00

(If you're gonna be 'number plate negative', this is how you do it;)

"I've had enough of personalised number plates. After spending the best part of five months ogling them and not the beautiful Auckland surroundings, I've finally given up the ghost.
So, here's a round up of the plates I've seen so far;

The Geeky Ones
H1TMAN- This guy genuinely had a barcode above the plate and an Agency sticker on the dash.
X MAN- Though to be fair, this might not be a comic fan. It could be a transsexual.

The Honest Ones
DUMBER- Found on a humvee, which says it all really.
VODKA- Certainly goes a long way to explaining how this jeep was being driven.
B1GDOG- Having sighted the driver, I have to agree, though the plate MUNTER would have been more accurate.
V1AGRA- On a 1930's ford being driven by a very old man. With a huge smile on his face.
CHOLLO- On a car driven by a very large Hispanic gentleman.
MY WILI- On a Toyota Will VI. Again being driven by a smiling old man.

The Misleading Ones
SALADS- The advertising for this owner-operator company car was somewhat offset by the fat guy driving it.
RADBOD- It wasn't. Really.

The Ambiguous Ones
GAS IT- I couldn't figure out if this person had flatulence, was pro-electric or just being anti-Semitic.
BENDS- Either someone suffering from nitrogen in the blood, or declaring his sexual proclivities.
RIDEZY- Come to think of it, the driver did look a bit morally loose.
K8S L8- I wasn't sure where this was coming from. Is Kate tardy? Is she dead? Has she skipped her period?
WAXN IT- Is this person a surfer or merely fond of Brazillians?

The Zuh? Ones
HO COIL- I don't know what this is. My gut reaction is it is something a pimp ensures his ladies have to stop them getting preggers.
WHY 2K- Why indeed.
ASK GOD- Just begging for the underplate writing "why I am driving like a retarded orang utan".

The Gobshite One
BLING- On an SUV in the city centre. This thing had blacked out windows too, which juts proves the adage that the darker the windows on the SUV the likelier the possibility that the loser inside cries themselves to sleep every night.

The Regrettable Ones
BJS- I don't think the driver even noticed.
BUL177- On a Porsche than was just asking to be keyed.
MET WAT- On a company car. Think about it.

But the winner by a country mile is NOBASS.

I don't know what the driver was aiming for, but in the absence of number plates saying SLAVE1, BALL5 or FUKNUT then he gets the prize.

In future I'll just report by exception, though if I see any car with the word PLAYER/PLAYA or any alphanumeric combination thereof then there may be a short delay in my bloggage while I stand trial for murder."

(Cheers to "Jimbo" of Auckland :)

R3G

Another City Council urged to sell off personalised number plates

2010-05-12T07:36:00.007+01:00

The Taxpayers Alliance is calling for the City Council of Aberdeen to auction the lord provosts registration plates, RG0, to help fund the national economic recovery.

The alliance is pushing for Scottish councils to sell off their private number plates, some of which are reputedly worth up to 500,000 pounds.

Aberdeens elected members have hit back, claiming this solution is shortsighted and would losing a piece of the city's heritage.

The convener of the council's finance and resources committee, Councillor Kevin Stewart said: "Once you have sold off an asset, that's it gone for ever. What we would actually be selling off is part of the history of the city, so I would have to be convinced we would get an amazing price for it, to even consider doing it."

Councillor Neil Cooney added: "It's a historical tradition in Aberdeen and we should hold on to as much of our heritage as we can. It is of great sentimental value to the citizens of Aberdeen. I would be opposed to selling it off."

As well as referring to the historical value of RG0, the council says the vehicle, which is used to transport the lord provost while he is performing civic duties, is worthy of the registration because of the prestigious role it plays.

The Taxpayers Alliance, however, remain unconvinced.

"There's no excuse for councils owning prestige number plates at a time when people are struggling to make ends meet. "This kind of indulgence reflects the attitude of politicians towards the hard-pressed taxpayer. "They should be auctioned off and the proceeds used to directly benefit the communities." Said Campaigns director Mark Wallace.

One of the largest number plate dealer in the country has predicted RG0 would fetch at least 50,000 pounds but, say the council, this would barely scratch the surface of the budget deficit.

Councillor Ian Yuill, a member of the finance and resources committee, concluded: "Frankly, anything we would see from a one off sale of RG0 would not even be a drop in the ocean."

Lord Provost Peter Stephen could not be contacted for comment.

Reg

Mayors 150k number plate

2010-05-10T08:41:00.006+01:00

Personalised number plates have long been considered the status symbols of millionaire celebrities, not of the mayor of a cash strapped councils.

Cllr Ann Norman is the latest mayor of Brighton and Hove City Council and is using the 150,000k number plate, "CD1", on her Toyota Prius .

The registration plates were given to the council 30 years ago and have been used on the mayoral car ever since. "CD" stands for "corps diplomatique", the symbol used for diplomatic cars around the world.

But now residence in Brighton, East Sussex have asked the Council, which seeks to save 45 million pounds over the next three years, to auction the registration.

A council spokesman said: "We think that number plate is of great historical interest and is a part of the city's heritage. We do not intend to sell parts of that heritage on a piecemeal basis."

A spokes person for one of the UKs larger number plate dealers said, "It's a desirable number plate. If it was sold at auction we would expect it to attract a great deal of interest and a selling price of 150,000 pounds or more would not surprise us at all."

Reg

Franz Ferdinands 'spooky' registration.

2010-05-10T07:37:00.004+01:00

It's hard to think of another event in the troubled twentieth century that had quite the implications of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. The Archduke was heir to the throne of the tottering Austro Hungarian empire; his killers, a motley band of amateurish students, were Serbian nationalists (or possibly Yugoslav nationalists; historians remain divided on the topic) who wanted to turn Austrian Bosnia into a part of a new Slav state.

Of all the tall tales that attached themselves to Franz Ferdinand after his death, the best known and most widely circulated concerns the car in which he was driven to his death. This vehicle, a Graf und Stift double phaeton, built by the Graf brothers of Vienna, had been made in 1910 and was owned not by the Austro Hungarian state but by Count Franz von Harrach, "an officer of the Austrian army transport corps" who apparently loaned it to the Archduke for his day in Sarajevo. According to this legend, Von Harrach's vehicle was so cursed by either [a] its involvement in the awful events of June 1914 or [b] its gaudy blood-red paint job that pretty much every subsequent owner met a hideous, sort of end.

One piece of history went completely unremarked on for almost a century, until a British visitor to the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, where the car now resides, noticed the number plates. Brian Presland seems to have been first to draw the staff's attention to the remarkable detail contained in the Graf und Stift's registration plate, which reads 'AIII 118'. That number, Presland pointed out, can be taken to read A (for Armistice) 11 / 11 / 18, which means that the death car has always carried with it a prediction, not of the dreadful day in Sarajevo that marked the beginning of the First World War, but of 11 November 1918: Armistice Day, the day that the war ended.

A couple of things suggest that this is not the case, though. Firstly, the meaning of the intitial 'A' applies only in English as the German for 'armistice' is 'Waffenstillstand,' and secondly, Austria Hungary did not surrender on the same day as its German allies anyway. It had been knocked out of the war a week earlier, on 4 November 1918. So the number plate is a little bit less spooky in its native country. It also contains not five number '1's but three capital 'I's and two numbers. Perhaps it's not quite so surprising that the museum director first approached by Brian Presland freely admitted that he had worked in the place for 20 years without spotting the plates significance.

Reg

A singular dispute (by Michael Levenson)

2010-05-08T07:30:00.005+01:00

The license plate known as Bus 1 is at the center of an emotional tug of war among the Legislature, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and Biff Michaud, whose large North Shore family founded Michaud Bus Lines in 1914.

Biff Michaud lifted the door to his garage, looked at the license plate on his black Cadillac Escalade, and began to weep.

This, Michaud insisted, is not just any old tag.

In a state where drivers covet low-number plates, clamoring by the thousands for the few made available every year, Michaud's is among the creme de la creme: He is the proud owner of the lowest possible bus license plate "1" which was passed down from his late father and which he believes is a rightful part of his family legacy.

"My dad used to say, 'This is the single most important thing to me other than my personal health and family,' " he said, choking up.

Now, the cherished plate, known as Bus 1, is at the center of an emotional tug of war among the Legislature, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and Michaud, the chief executive of the Salem Witch Museum, whose large North Shore family founded Michaud Bus Lines in 1914.

Registry officials suspended Bus 1 last year, after they learned it was not on a bus, as required by law, but on Michaud's Cadillac. Then House lawmakers, prodded by Michaud's state representative, fought back, quietly passing a bill last month that would forever designate the Bus 1 plate for Biff Michaud and permit it on any type of vehicle he chooses, bus or no bus.

State Representative John D. Keenan, a Salem Democrat who knew Michaud's father through the Rotary Club, sponsored the legislation, which is awaiting action in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It is one of many bills before the Legislature, derided as special favours by critics, that would change state law to benefit a single person or entity. Keenan said he sees nothing wrong with making a law for Michaud, whose father, J. Alex Michaud, was a decorated Navy commander, co-owner of the Trailways Bus Company, and longtime member of the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau.

"I don't care if it's Biff Michaud or John Q. Public, I would make the same determination," Keenan said. "It's because of the history, not because of who it is, but because of the facts behind the case."

Registry officials strongly oppose the legislation, saying it would set a dangerous precedent for the Legislature to grant a special license plate to one driver. They say it would also be unfair to the thousands of drivers who enter the annual lottery for low number plates. In fact, Registry officials note, the Legislature established the lottery years ago to ensure that the plates were not given to drivers because of their political connections.

"The RMV does not normally comment on pending legislation and, obviously, we have to follow the dictates of any law," Registry spokeswoman Ann Dufresne said in a statement. "However, this legislation would throw the whole registration system into question."

The tale of Bus 1 begins in 1966, when Governor John Volpe awarded it to Michaud's father to honor his service to the community. Michaud said the plate was more important to his father than even his World War II medals, which include a Bronze Star.

After he inherited the plate, Michaud said, he put it on a black Cadillac Fleetwood that he used to drive VIPs around Boston. Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, and Willie Mays were among his passengers, he said. The Canadian race car driver Gilles Villeneuve, he said, once looked at the Bus 1 number plates and exclaimed, as he climbed in for a ride, "I feel like a king."

State officials and business executives, he said, often requested Bus 1 for special occasions.

"We've used that for 50 years for the benefit of Massachusetts and for our community," Michaud said.

It is difficult to overstate how emotional Michaud is about the plate. At night, he said, he sometimes raises the garage door just to look at it.

"This has just absolutely torn my heart out," said Michaud, a burly 62-year-old with a monogrammed ring and monogrammed shirt cuffs. "I don't have my dad. This is his badge of honor. It keeps him alive in my memory, and not having this reminds me daily that he's dead."

No one ever made a fuss about the Bus 1 plate not being on a bus, he said, until two years ago when a "two-bit jealous individual", whom he declined to name, called the Registry to complain.

"He brings down and dishonors my father's memory in this way?" Michaud said. "It's just appalling."

He recalled how months later, in late 2008, his teenage son found a letter from the Registry, warning that the plate would be suspended.

"My son saw that and he said, 'Dad, read it,' " Michaud said. "I said, 'They want me to turn in Bus 1.' And he said, 'Why, Dad? It's grandpa's license plate.' And I said, 'It's just jealousy, son.' "

Registry officials said that after two hearings with Michaud, they had no choice but to suspend the plate. State law, they said, requires that bus plates be used only on vehicles that carry 10 passengers or more. Michaud said his Escalade fits nine. He said he would never display the Bus 1 plate as a mere showpiece, and doesn't want to put it on an actual bus. "It would look like you're bringing someone to the Ramada Inn," he said disdainfully. "It has never been on a vehicle other than a black Cadillac."

State Senators Bruce E. Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, and Frederick E. Berry, a Peabody Democrat, are helping Keenan push Michaud's bill. No one in the Legislature has expressed opposition, Keenan said. But Michaud is deeply worried. He said his drive to reinstate Bus 1 is finally "on the 2-yard line" so close but still not there.

"It is my dad," he said, pointing at the plate. "Everybody knows it's my dad. And I just hope the Legislature understands that."

Article by Michael Levenson: mlevenson@globe.com.

On the rude number plate ban?

2010-05-02T12:05:00.005+01:00

The DVLA say they ban rude number plates ?
(But sometimes they just mark them up; http://bit.ly/dakBpm )

R3G

Noah Today! (Nothing to do with 'plates. It just made me laugh)

2010-04-28T14:33:00.002+01:00

NOAH TODAY

In the year 2010, the Lord came unto Noah,who was now living in Scotland and said:
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying:
"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah
weeping in his yard - but no Ark.
"Noah!," He roared, "I'm about to start the rain!
Where is the Ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."

"I needed a Building Permit."

"I've been arguing with the Boat Inspector
about the need for a sprinkler system."

"My neighbours claim that I've violated the
Neighbourhood Bye-Laws by building the Ark in my
back garden and exceeding the height limitations. We had to
go to the Local Planning Committee for a decision."

"Then the Local Council and the Electricity Company demanded a shed load of money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it."

"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl."
"I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!"

"When I started gathering the animals the RSPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They
argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space."
"Then the Scottish Environmental Agency ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood."

"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building gang."
"Immigration are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work."

"The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience."

"To make matters worse, the Inland Revenue seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species."

"So, forgive me, Lord, but it will take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord.
The Labour Government beat me to it."

R3G

US State bans GAY plate

2010-04-28T12:03:00.003+01:00

Keith Kimmel passed away before he could challenge the Oklahoma Tax Commission in federal court over its 2009 rejection of his "IM GAY" license plate. They have now disclosed the reason why he couldn't have the personalized number plate about his sexuality: It was considered too offensive.

For the same reason "SEXYBRD," "V8BALL," and "NOFTCHX" were denied to drivers wishing to make their vehicles more distinctive, "IM GAY" was among the "curse words, sexual connotations, racial and ethnic slurs, and drug or alcohol references" Tax Commission staffers watch out for. What about BIGUYS or BEARLVR?

R3G

Hong Kong Plates For Big Money

2010-04-27T09:23:00.001+01:00

Driving a Rolls-Royce just isn't enough for the super rich of Hong Kong so having vanity license plates is a must. They are sold at the regular government auctions and can fetch some big prices. Last year, a registration plate bearing the lucky number of 2318 went for HK$1.7 million, a bargain compared to the high-flying days of 2007, when a mainland businessman purchased the number 18 for HK$16.5 million.

Only the biggest of big-shots have single digit number plates, including Run Run Shaw at number 6, Albert Yeung at number 8 and the Commissioner of Police at number 1.

Reg

La R'eunion or Martinique? (By Tom Cupples)

2010-04-25T09:30:00.000+01:00

Be prepared to be bored.. Sorry!

The French car number plate system was always quite straightforward. The notation was along the lines of XXX ABC XXX, where the first X's were numbers (obviously in the range of 001-999), the ABC was anything from A-Z, and the final X's were based on where the car was registered. In my case the final two X's were 06 representing the department of Alpes Maritimes.

Then one year ago they changed the system. They allowed people registering or re-registering their cars, or even just buying new number plates, to choose whichever region they wanted and the numbers representing that region would be put in the blue box you can see in the picture.

And what do you think happened? The Parisians, who even the French dislike intensely, have all changed their number plates so nobody on the roads can tell they are from the capital. Since the new plates began, two thirds of capital dwellers getting new number plates have given up their entitlement to the '75' at the end that denotes the city of Paris. Instead, they are choosing numbers from the departements of their holiday homes, family roots or even exotic destinations, such as Martinique.

The simple explanation for the disappearing '75' is that many Parisians have origins elsewhere. But it also stems from the desire to avoid the stigma of being seen as an arrogant Parisian when they drive out of town. In the provinces, a '75' plate advertises you as a city slicker and road hog and can 'encourage' car vandalism, car burglary or even arson. The new system is all very simple. If you're a Parisian and you spend your holidays in the Marseille area, you simply register your car with a '13' at the end to denote that you're from the Bouches-du-Rhone region where Marseille is the main city.

Similarly, the Times reports that also out of favour are the departements of the inner suburban sprawl around the capital, especially the '93' that denotes Seine-Saint-Denis, home to the immigrant-heavy towns that are occasionally prone to riots. Ninety-three, pronounced police style as "Le neuf-trois", has become code for urban jungle. Even Parisians give "93" cars a wide birth.

The favourite departement for changed regional numbers is Le Nord (59), the old industrial region around Lille. Next in favour are the Bouches-du-Rhone (Marseille) region and the Rhone (69), the department centred on Lyon. Then follow the Gironde (33)- the Bordeaux area and Seine-Maritime (76) around Rouen.

The number plate-makers are reporting a new, but lucrative wheeze. Parisians often buy two sets of plates, one with '75' (for Paris) and the other with the province of their choice for their trips out of town, which is legal.
I actually fancied getting my scooters 'registered' to La Reunion (number 974), those exotic French islands in the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Madagascar but I wasn't quick enough and ended up with the rather boring '06'. C'est la vie as they say in '75' (Paris).

By Tom Cupples of Riviera Blog

Liverpool fan buys Everton plate

2010-04-23T07:35:00.002+01:00

Liverpool fan Christopher Almond shows it's not all about supporting your team when it comes to choosing investment number plates.

The registration EVE 370N was snapped up by Mr Almond as an investment after it came under the hammer at Old Trafford for just 1,100 pounds.

"I initially came to the auction for another plate," said Mr Almond. "I missed out on that, but when I saw EVE 370N going for less than I expected, as a Liverpool fan I couldn't resist going for it. Either way, it's a great investment."

More than 1,500 number plates went under the hammer at the first DVLA Personalised Registrations auction to be held at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.

R3G

Didcot Number Plate

2010-04-22T11:44:00.000+01:00

The race is on to become Didcots proudest resident in an online auction for the number plate D10COT.

The official DVLA number plate was bought seven years ago as an investment by Marc Joines, 36, of Swinburne Road, Oxford, and has been held on retainer ever since.

He drives a Vauxhall Astra, with personalised number plate C1STRA to read like the model of his car.

When he bought his own number in 2003 from the DVLAs online catalogue, he took a chance on Didcots future growth to buy D10COT for 650 pounds.

"I've never lived in Didcot, and just know it's a town about 10 miles away." Said Mr Joines. "But when I bought the number plates, I knew Didcot was an up and coming town.
It was around the time that they were talking about building the Orchard Centre. Now it's a much bigger place than it was, I think the time is right to sell it."

The number plate is up for sale on his eBay website, with a starting price of 1K.

"I think a business may buy it or someone who drives a van or a bus and wants the number plate for promotional reasons. But it could be a very special investment for someone."

He has been tempted to buy other number plates over the years, including ones linked to Oxford United, but didn't want to part with the cash.

Mayor of Didcot Margaret Turner said: "I'm sure somebody out there will buy it. It will be interesting to look out to see who is our number one resident and fits it to their car."

Since first selling personalised number plates in 1989, the DVLA has raised over £1.5bn for the Treasury. Most plates can be bought online, but a set of highly prized combinations will usually be put in one of the DVLA auctions, held six times a year.

The most expensive plate sold by the DVLA was 1D, which was bought by Nabil Bishara for 352,411.25 pounds as a birthday present for his wife in March 2009.

R3G

Regfinder.net has been updated

2010-04-18T12:08:00.004+01:00

We are very pleased to announce the complete make over of Regfinder.net.
'Reg', has been live for almost a year now. In that time we've been listening to suggestions (and grumbles) from our users. Taking these into account, we have honed and fettled Regfinder.net and believe we have now made it a friendlier user experience.

First off, then. Some time ago, we made our service free to browse for people looking to buy personalized number plates, and the good news is, now we have also made it free for the vendor, via our "Regtrader" page. The plan, is that anyone - including number plate dealers - will be able to upload registrations onto the Regfinder.net data base and then, should a potential buyer be interested in any number plate/s, he or she will be linked directly to the vendor with no intervention from us.

Next up! We originally required you to register, using your email address before you could browse the Regfinder.net search facility. We only did this as a method of 'counting heads', but have realized that people are wary of giving out this information, for fear of receiving spam email. Nobody likes it. Consequently we have removed the requirement for you to register or log in. Users will now be searching Regfinder.net anonymously. However, though Regtrader is now a free service, you will have to open an account using a valid email address in order to use it. It's the only way you'll be able to add, track or remove your registrations. But rest assured, we don't send spam.

Before you add your number plates to the Regfinder/trader data base, why not try one of our new features? Our 'Number Plate Valuation' system is an algorithmic program designed to help you decide on a value for your number plates. This service is in beta form at present, so we need you to use it to help us improve our calculations. Always keep in mind, they are your registrations so you must decide what you think they're worth. Anyway, give it a go and see what you think.

Next. The new Regfinder app, or 'Reg Mobile' as we've named it, is something we're particularly pleased with. It's the same unique and powerful search algorithm used by our website, tailored to fit on any smart phone. Unfortunately, we will not be adding Reg Mobile to "App Store", for the time being. Apple charge fees to test on, add to, and download from the App Store. We want you to use Reg Mobile but we know you may be reluctant to do so if there's a charge. Because we make no money from any part of Regfnder.net, Apple will simply have to wait. You can access Reg Mobile from your smart phone simply by entering regfinder.net into your chosen search engine, as you would from your PC or Mac.

The most pressing issue for Regfinder.net has always been speed. There is nothing we would like more than for your search results to be instantaneous and, believe me, this has been one of the most trying areas of Regfinders' development. I could bang on about Regfinder having to scan up to 40 million registrations on each search but the fact remains, if Google can search as fast as it does, why can't we? The answer to this is simply, server space. Google, as we all know, have vast financial resources, whilst we.... do not. We are in the process of moving to a more powerful server and this will speed things up but, again, until we figure out a way to turn a buck from Regfinder, there's only so far we can go.

Percentage based progress bars have now been added to the new Regfinder so you can view the progress of each search as its happening. and we are sure you will find this a welcome device whilst using Regfinder.

All of the original regfinder.net features, functions and information pages are still available on our help index as listed below, as well as the Concise History of Number Plates pages. If there is anything you wish to know about UK or global registration plates, you will find it here.

About Regfinder
Frequently Asked Questions
Regfinder Subscription and Log In
Searching for number plates
Using Regfinder's Word Categories
Refining Number Plate Searches
Selecting Number Plate Results
Previewing selected Number Plates
Ordering a Number Plate from DVLA
Buying & Fitting Number Plate Plastic to your Vehicle
Number Plate Dictionary
Price Comparison
Link to Regfinder
Regtrader Help
Regfinder Terms & Conditions
Contact Regfinder

The History of Number Plates
Main Number Plate History Index
Global Number Plate Systems
Guernsey Number Plates
Jersey Number plates
Isle of Man Number Plates
Military Vehicle Number Plates
Trade Plates
Northern Ireland Number Plates
Dateless Number Plate ID Tags
Current Style ID Tags
Diplomatic Number Plates
Embassy Number Plate Codes
Suffix Number Plate Issue Dates
Prefix Number Plate Issue Dates
Current Style Number Plate Issue Dates
Withheld Prefix Number Plates
Number Plate Crime
Number Plate Colours & Styles
Total DVLA Number Plates

Reg

PS; If you haven't linked your site to Regfinder yet.... Why not..?! ; )

http://regfinder.net/regfinder_link_tools.php

Bannatynes Number Plates

2010-04-16T14:42:00.003+01:00

Some time ago I discovered that Duncan Bannatyne had his own number plate sales web site, believe it or not, via a conversation we had on twitter.

Initially, I contacted him to ask whether he knew if Theo Paphitis' twitter account was genuine, as I know Theo to be a fan of personalised number plates. I didn't really expect him to reply as, obviously, he's a busy bloke and, even back then, had tens of thousands of followers so would have been receiving a great deal of messages and requests.

Well, reply he did and the ensuing conversation lead me to 'Bannatynes Number Plates'.

From memory, I believe that all the vehicle registrations on his website belong to him so there won't be any 'dealer in the middle'.

If there's anything you like the look of in the selection above, go to; http://www.bannatyne.co.uk/numberplates/

R3G

I wonder if this is legal?

2010-04-16T09:29:00.002+01:00

REG

UTD BOSS..?

2010-04-16T08:37:00.005+01:00

A Birmingham car dealer traveled to Old Trafford hoping to do battle with his footballing idle, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Thar Khan, a 36 year old Manchester United fan, fortunately had an easy pass in his bid to buy UTD 805S, which he managed to do for 3,237 pounds during the closing stages of DVLA Personalised Registrations Spring Auction.

"I can't believe buying UTD 805S was so easy!" said the elated Mr Khan, "I came up here hoping and expecting to battle against Sir Alex himself. To me, UTD 805S has to be the ultimate number plate for any United supporter and I've bought it for a snip! It's a great investment."

In total, DVLA Personalised Registrations will generate more than £3.2 million from the three day sale with all the funds going to the Treasury.

R3G

Better than 'L' plates

2010-04-16T06:59:00.003+01:00

Assured driving instructor Alan Wales is so confident his students will pass their tests, he has come up with the perfect way to advertise it on his car.

The 51-year-old has been teaching people to drive for over 30 years and bought the registration plate PA55 ABL, as it clearly resembles the word 'Passable'.

Mr Wales, who is based in Leatherhead, said: "I want to get as many people as possible passing their tests this year - hopefully the number plates will help."

"My driving school, Mid-Surrey School of Motoring, has already got an excellent pass rate but I am confident my new registration will help raise this further," he added.

R3G

Poker plate for sale

2010-04-14T15:46:00.004+01:00

A unique car registration is up for sale and for 25,000 pounds any poker fan can pick up P007 KER.

Seller and Cardrunners pro Phil Shaw said, "Other number plates with the same formulation have sold for much more (for example. RU55ELL at 79k) and I am led to believe that the combination of the iconic James Bond '007' and 'Poker' motifs makes this one similarly unique."

"I want to sell this number plate as I rarely drive and live in central London so don't have much use for a car at present."

R3G

Hong Kong Plates For Big Money

2010-04-04T10:11:00.000+01:00

Personalised number plates are big down under

2010-03-15T12:36:00.001Z

There's a rare opportunity coming up for Victorian Heritage number plate collectors at Shannons Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction on Monday March 15.

The very desirable black and white numeric number plates 171, 172 and 173 are going under the hammer in consecutive lots, the first time three consecutive numeric plates have gone to auction in Victoria since 1998.

Back then, at the Shannons Melbourne Motor Show Auction, the numbers 14, 15 and 16 sold for an average of $75,000 each.

Today, they could reach prices as high as $400,000 or $500,000 if offered for sale.

Shannons are hoping that 171, 172 and 173 will sell for somewhere in the region of $95,000-$110,000 each.

Bearing in mind that the, numerically less-attractive, New South Wales Heritage plate 241 was sold for $101,000 at Shannons recent Sydney Summer Auction, that estimate could be very low.

Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said he would not be at all surprised if the same buyer bought all three plates.

"What a great opportunity to have the status of three consecutive numbers on cars in the one family or business," he said. "I know many people are thinking along these lines and it would be fantastic to keep this family together.

"This is a rare opportunity. These plates are never going to be re-issued. Of all the cars registered in Victoria, only three have the right to display these plates and as their intellectual property can't be stolen, they are a very secure investment."

Reg

Football number plates auction kicks off at Old Trafford

2010-03-11T11:58:00.005Z

Keen footie fans will be given the chance to bid for Premiership related registration plates such as UTD 805S and FER 661E at an event being held at Manchester United’s home of Old Trafford this month. On top of that, attendees will have the opportunity to see, and have their photos taken with, the coveted Premiership Trophy.

The DVLA’s Personalised Registrations’ Spring auction is a three-day event that will feature a host of football-related private number plates and will kick off on Wednesday, March 24.

Reserve prices for the plates start from £250, however expectations are high surrounding 9O, arguably the star number plate of the event boasting a £10,000 reserve – especially in the wake of last year's successes when the agency auctioned its first six O plates – 1 O – 6 O – for a collective 666K.

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations events manager, said: "Our spring auction will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. We have secured a limited number of tickets for registered bidders attending our auction to a free tour of Manchester United s museum, its fabulous trophy room and tour of the stadium."

In total, DVLA’s forthcoming auction will comprise 1,500 registrations chosen to offer an eclectic mix to suit all tastes, styles and pockets, including, BMW 805S (£400), DAM 114N (£400), FER 661E (£900), F4 LSE (£900), HOT 805S (£400), K11 LTS (£900), NET 800K (£300), NEW 805S (£400), 9 O (£10,000), OFF 1 (£3,200), OLD 805S (£350), 2 OOO (£4,000), TAX 80Y (£400), TOW 805S (£400), UTD 805S (£900), VDS 1 (£3,200).

Reg

Maltese registration plates

2010-03-07T11:06:00.002Z

Maltese registration plates, like those of most other countries, are used for the purpose of identifying vehicles and their owners. The countrys registration plates have followed the same alphanumerical format since 1995 which consists of a three-letter combination followed by a three number combination.

The plates are white with the characters printed in black FE-Schrift font. On the left hand side of the plates there is a blue box, which contains the European flag, with a white letter M underneath, to signify Malta.

There are many special series of number plates in Malta, depending on specific jobs or vehicle type. The three-letter combination on rental car registrations always ends with a K, whereas the third letter of taxis and buses is a Y. Any cars which qualify as tax free have a letter combination beginning with TF, while all vehicles owned by the Maltese government have registration numbers starting GV, this includes police vehicles, which display the three letter combination GVP. Military vehicles have the letters GVA and department of health vehicles have GVH. The letters CD indicate a vehicle owned or used by diplomats.

There are certain exceptions to the standard registration format, including chauffeur driven vehicles, which are used to transport members of parliament. These follow the format GM followed by two numbers. The countrys Bishop and President are both exempted from the registration requirements and only have to display their official logos on their vehicles.

For more information about Maltese registrations, CLICK HERE!

R3G

DVLA Online Auction a Success

2010-03-05T10:25:00.005Z

DVLA Personalised Registrations first Online Auction has been a resounding success, raising more than 587,000 pounds for the Treasury.

The total amount generated, including auctioneers' buyers premium, VAT and assignment fees, was more than 754,000 pounds. Of the 1,000 lots included in the sale, 803 were sold, the most expensive of which, RAT 1F, went for a total of 28,878 pounds.

Four private number plates broke the 10,000 pound barrier with SHU 41B, KBA 1G and RAF 11X fetching 13,956, 11,841 and 10,079 pounds respectively.

While those large sums have been celebrated, the online sale also ensured there were bargains to be had with hordes being sold for their reserve prices, some as little as 130 pounds.

DVLA Event Manager, Jody Davies, said: "We have been totally astounded at the level of interest in the sale, some of the sums recorded have been incredible."

The online sale, held between Wednesday, February 10 and Wednesday, March 3, is a development of the agency’s proven "Sealed Bid Sales", in which potential buyers simply registered their maximum bid in the hope of securing the number plate of their choice.

The Online Auction allowed bidders to submit maximum bids invisible to others as is the case with ebay. Bidding started at the reserve price and the current bid price for each registration was on display on its website. The DVLA's system increased bids on behalf of the registered bidder up to their maximum amount.

Those who were out bid received an email inviting them to increase their maximum amount until the close of the sale.

R3G

Mothers Day Number Plates

2010-03-04T17:16:00.004Z

MUM's the word when it comes to personalised car registrations.

The DVLA revealed it has sold around 1,500 prefix and current style registrations, including the word 'MUM', demonstrating just how popular this has become as a Mothers Day gift.

There are now a colossal 32,331,923 personalised registrations currently sitting in the dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk data base. The most popular on the topical list are the "MY MUMs", registrations comprising the letters MY followed by a suitable "year" and ending in the letters MUM.

R3G

"Things I Want To Punch In The Face"

2010-03-04T10:52:00.003Z

(Found his on the the internet. Just made me laugh).

Personalized license plates are NOTSOGR8 in my book. In fact, IH8EM. The vehicular equivalent of the tattoo, what sort of 6 or 8 letter phrase are you going to slap on your SUVs ass to define yourself? Seinfeld's ASSMAN is ASSIN9, in my humble opinion. A lot of the plates are pretentious and "blowhardian" (hahaha!) in nature (0 60IN4 or WISHURME), some, clearly owned by Stifler's peeps are downright grody (8 ER OUT? Really, Illinois? Really?). There's a ginormous motor home sporting "GLBL WMR" which should really say "I M PRBLM". Some unoriginal chuckleheads are using online acronyms, if you are ROTFL, who's driving the car? I'm not rolling on the floor, dude. I'm right behind you, willing myself not to rear-end you in hopes of denting your metal tramp stamp.

My friends in Delaware will pay upwards of five figures for one of the rare black low-numbered plates. They view them as investment number plates and a status symbol. This sort of boggles my mind, especially when they tell me how much the single digit number plates go for (the number "6" plate went for $675,000 in 2008). What kind of vehicle deserves to host that sort of marquee plate? Is there a place for it on Air Force 1's vertical stabilizer?

I suppose a vanity plate is a way to show off without shelling out buttloads of clams. There is one plate that I can get behind, both on and off the road. A hearse's plate that reads "U R NEXT." Yep, buddy, you are. Because I M GUNIN 4U.

If you were forced to get a vanity plate, what would it be?

(photo: coolpl8z.com)
Posted by Jennifer Worick

Thanks Jennifer

R3G

Special Number Plates in Singapore

2010-03-03T09:01:00.000Z

This photo was taken recently at the Singapore Airshow 2010.

You dont get to see number plates like this in Singapore very often. Its a prefix registration, created especially for the event.

If you would like to know more about how the Singapore Number plate system works or anything about its history, you can read about it HERE!.

Reg

Perfect Plate for Newlyweds?

2010-03-02T13:22:00.003Z

Newlyweds have the perfect opportunity to celebrate their special day with a memento they can keep forever.

The registration, H111 TCH, will go under the 'gavel' ; ) in the Spring in, what will be, the first DVLA auction to be held at Manchester Uniteds, Old Trafford football stadium.

The three-day auction, which starts on the 24 March, will comprise of over 1,500 personalised plates.

To view the full list of number plates being offered for sale, CLICK HERE to visit the DVLA website.

Reg

New 10 registration starts today

2010-03-01T14:55:00.003Z

Today is the first day of March and as such, will be a date motorists will instantly be aware of, thanks to the 10 indicator on new style registrations.

And with DVLA Personalised Registrations selling more than 9,000 since the 10-series were made available to buy on December 1, 10's should be seen on virtually every street corner!

Those sold by the DVLA will only be adding to those registrations automatically assigned to new cars and not purchased as private number plates.

DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager, Damian Lawson said: "The simplicity of adapting 10 into the new style registrations in order to make up a personalised registration like a family or company name has clearly proved to be successful."

Starting in September 2001, the current style of registrations comprises two letters, a two figure age identifier, a space and three letters. 10 simply identifies new cars registered and released in 2010. The second releases of the year, on the road from September 1, will be identified by 60.

Reg

Personalised plates are big Down Under

2010-03-01T11:55:00.008Z

There’s a rare opportunity coming up for Victorian Heritage number plate collectors at Shannons Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction on Monday March 15.

The very desirable black and white numeric number plates 171, 172 and 173 are going under the hammer in consecutive lots, the first time three consecutive numeric plates have gone to auction in Victoria since 1998.

Back then, at the Shannons Melbourne Motor Show Auction, the numbers 14, 15 and 16 sold for an average of $75,000 each.

Today, they could reach prices as high as $400,000 or $500,000 if offered for sale.

Shannons are hoping that 171, 172 and 173 will sell for somewhere in the region of $95,000-$110,000 each.

Bearing in mind that the, numerically less-attractive, New South Wales Heritage plate 241 was sold for $101,000 at Shannons recent Sydney Summer Auction, that estimate could be very low.

Shannons National Auction Manager Christophe Boribon said he would not be at all surprised if the same buyer bought all three plates.

"What a great opportunity to have the status of three consecutive numbers on cars in the one family or business," he said. "I know many people are thinking along these lines and it would be fantastic to keep this family together.

"This is a rare opportunity. These plates are never going to be re-issued. Of all the cars registered in Victoria, only three have the right to display these plates and as their intellectual property can’t be stolen, they are a very secure investment.”"

Reg

Had enough of the SNP

2010-03-01T11:47:00.001Z

A former Scottish National Party supporter has put his prized SNP car registration plates up for sale.

The anonymous seller said he will sell all three number plates; 1 SNP, 2 SNP and 3 SNP, for a total of 45,000 pounds after becoming dissolutioned with the Scottish government.

"What can I say? I used to support the SNP but I don't any more. I've had enough and that's why they'll be sold." He explained.

"Let's just say I think they have become dazzled by Edinburgh and it is costing Glasgow people and the rest of the country dear."

The seller bought the first number plate, 1 SNP, eight years ago but refused to say what he had paid for it.

All three vehicle registrations have been used for several years by Hampden Cars, a private hire firm on Glasgow's south side.

While these registrations may seem expensive, it's worth keeping in mind that the Government Car Service, with a fleet of 25 cars available for SNP cabinet members, costs 700,000 pounds a year to run. So a "paltry" 45,000 might seem like a bargain to the party.

The seller said: "I've been approached by SNP members before, inquiring about the plates but stopping short of asking whether they were for sale. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'll sell them individually or as a lot, it's all the same to me. I've already had a couple of inquiries from England."

Reg

LAMBOS for 400 pounds?

2010-02-27T12:34:00.006Z

Lamborghini owners will be struggling to resist visiting Old Trafford this Spring and it won't be to watch Manchester United play football!

The registration, LAM 8OS has to be the perfect number plate for anyone owning of one of these iconic supercars. It is going under the hammer during DVLA Personalised Registrations' three-day auction starting on Wednesday, March 24.

LAM80S has a reserve of 400 pounds, and will be among over 1,500 exclusive number plates on offer. For more information please CLICK HERE! to visit the DVLA website.

Reg

DVLA Online Auction of 1000 previously unissued registrations.

2010-02-25T15:15:00.003Z

The DVLA Online Auction of 1000 previously unissued registrations, commenced at 10.00am on Wednesday the 10th February, the sale will close at 2.00pm on Wednesday the 3rd March. Reserves start from £130.

Bidders submit Maximum Bids which are invisible to other bidders and bidding starts at the Reserve Price for each registration. The current bid price for each registration is on view at all times. If there is competitive bidding activity on particular number plates, the auction system will increase bids on behalf of a registered bidder up to their Maximum Bid.

Bids cannot be removed once they are placed. For lots on which there is a great deal of bidding activity, the End Time will slide to allow competitive bidding to reach its natural conclusion.

To bid you must first register for the sale. Once you have registered you can submit your bids online securely 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the close of the sale. At the end of the sale, you will be contacted if you are successful.

If you wish to discuss the online auction procedure in further detail please contact SMA, DVLA Auction Team on 0300 123 3500 or email online@dvlaauction.co.uk.

Next Auction Announced

Old Trafford Football Ground is the venue for the next three-day auction commencing on the 24th March. Go to dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/auctions and view the entire 1500 collection.

DVLA Personalised Registrations has secured a limited number of tickets enabling registered bidders a tour of the Manchester United museum, trophy room and stadium.

Numbers in the sale include the latest in the single ‘O’ series 9 O (£10,000) DAV 333S (£400), G44 RRY (£1000), WO07 TON (£1000) and G111 GGS (£900).

Reg

ABU DHABI '7' Plate Sells For $4.6m

2010-02-25T11:57:00.005Z

The third most expensive registration plate in the world sold in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, confirming the UAE as a vanity-plate record holder.

A plate bearing the single digit '7' was sold for 17 million dirhams, or $4.6 million, in a government auction on Saturday.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most expensive number plate ever sold, barring the single digit, 1 , was bought by Emirati businessman Said Khouri in 2008 for an eye watering 52.2 million dirhams, the equivalent of $14.2 million.

The second most expensive number plate, 5, was also sold in Abu Dhabi for 25.2 million dirhams, or $6.86 million, during a number plate auction organized by the Emirates Auction Company in 2007. A total of 72 vanity plates were sold on Saturday for a total of 50 million dirhams.

"I think its a matter of recognition." said Muhammad Kashif, owner of the UAE Number Plates Company. "Just having a Ferrari isnt much these days. People want a nice number plate to go with the car. It makes them just that much more popular than the other Ferrari drivers."

Kashif said that the trend for private number plates is now so popular in the Emirates that people far less wealthy are starting to get in on the act.

As number plates in the UAE come by default with five digits, the fewer digits on the plate, the higher the value. A number plate with four digits can cost around 5,000 dirhams, ($1,300) but prices are pushed up for numbers that are memorable, in sequence like 1234 or all identical such ads 7777.

Reg

Car Number Plates Are Educational

2010-02-25T09:09:00.004Z

Car Number Plates Are Educational – its official!

Hard to believe I know but number plates have actually saved scholarships.
Earnings from University of Montana specialty car number plates helped save hundreds of scholarships threatened by the economic downturn this academic year.

"We had a significant deficit last year", said Keith Kuhn, vice president of finance and operations for the UM Foundation.

An emergency fundraising campaign by the Foundation raised almost $275,000, Kuhn said. It raised additional funds by asking donors to directly fund their scholarships for a year since the endowments they had created had been crippled.

But that was not enough to save the scholarships available to students, so President George Dennison helped find extra funds.

Car number plates to the rescue again!

Posted using ShareThis

Will Abu Dhabi '7' Break World Record

2010-02-25T08:29:00.007Z

If you're an Abu Dhabi resident, how do you fancy hitting the road with number 7 on your car number plate? Or maybe you'd prefer two or three digit numbers like a triple three or a triple seven?

Whatever your preference, some of these fancy number plates go under the hammer at an auction to be held at 4pm at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

In 2008, Number 1 got picked up for a whopping $14 million, making it the worlds most expensive registration. Number 5 went to an Abu Dhabi businessman for $9 million which is the second-largest sum ever paid for a number plate.

Will 7 beat the world record? That all depends on how badly the bidder wants it.

The auction is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Police in collaboration with the Emirates Auctions Company. The proceeds of the auction, sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, will go to charity and humanitarian projects.

Participants wil be able to bid for their favourite number plates and contribute to social institutions, said Brigadier Salem Ali Al Shamsi, Director of Privatization and Resources Development Department at the Abu Dhabi Police.

A variety of customised registrations, including the 37 distinguished numbers of the sixth category, prominent being number 7, will be issued for bidding, he said.

Three digit numbers include 333, 700 and 105, while the four digits include 7,777 and 10,000, Shamsi said.

Reg

US ban on "offensive" number plates.

2010-02-20T16:24:00.008Z

A student in Oklahoma, USA is suing state officials for barring him from having a personalised number plate that reads "IM GAY".

Keith Kimmel, of the Oklahoma City Community College, says his First Amendment rights have been violated and that he will appeal if a judge rules against him.

He was barred from having the registration plate because of an internal rule at the Oklahoma Tax Commission which bars numbers or words which "may be offensive to the general population".

Mr Kimmel said "I want to tell people who I am and what I am. Im proud of it. Im openly gay. Im not hiding. What better way to tell everybody than to put it on the back of a car?"

He also argued that the Tax Commission had allowed number plates reading "STR8FAN" and "STR8SXI".

"They defended using straight sexy. They didnt think that one was inappropriate but yet Im gay is. I think its kind of a double standard." Said Kimmel

Brittany Novotny, his attorney, has called it "viewpoint discrimination".

Last October, the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) had to withdraw two personalised number plates from an auction after gay rights charity Stonewall said they were offensive.

The numberplates, which read 'F4 GOT' and 'D1 KES', were among 1,600 numberplates which were to be auctioned.

Both registration plates had a reserve of 900 pounds each, but Stonewall argued that they looked like the homophobic terms 'faggot' and 'dyke' and said the DVLA should not be able to profit from them.

Reg

100k for BIG 1

2010-02-03T09:51:00.004Z

Graeme Smith, of Mallusk-based Wilsons Auctions says that Derry registration plates are growing in value as motorists across the world look to personalise their vehicles.

"There are various reasons why Derry number plates, and plates from right across Northern Ireland, are as popular as they are. NI plates are non-age related and where once it was seen as quite exclusive it is now more accessible and more affordable to buy a unique plate. The whole process is pretty simple and straightforward.

"And, of course, when you start combining in letters and numbers it starts to take on a special significance for people."

His comments come as a number plate dealer in Britain has listed the plate GUI 1 on eBay with an asking price of £19,995.

Mr Smith says these prices are becoming more common.

"For example, what self-respecting Manchester United fan would not want the registration of MUI 1, which becomes MU 11 - Ryan Giggs' shirt number."

He says Wilsons sold that plate for just over £20,000.

But Mr Smith says Fermanagh plates are the Northern Irelands most sought after number plates.

"The IG prefix - as in BIG, DIG and HIG - is much sought after. BIG 1 went for just over £100,000, including fees. It's that kind of plate that attracts huge interest. At the time we thought Billy Connolly, the Big Yin, might have been interested."

Wilsons sells the sought after car registrations on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Agency and will be holding their next licence plate auctions on February 4 and March 10.

Reg

Whats in a number

2010-02-02T12:03:00.001Z

The English language uses a play of words, the Chinese use a play of sounds. We take the sound of words very seriously as it could mean life or death, prosperity or bad luck.

We go to the extend of choosing our house, hand phone and car numbers based on sounds. Chinese love the number 8 the most, as "patt" (8 ) sounds like "fatt" which means prosperous. Three and nine are also favourites as "san" (3) sounds like "sang" which means birth; "gao" (9) sounds like "kho" which means high.

Car number plates with 3, 8, 9 or any of these combinations (88, 899, 388) are highly sort after and Chinese businessmen are willing to part with thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to book these unique number plates. Even big money will sometimes not buy these number plates as there is only one such combination. Take 168 which translates to "all the way (road) to prosperity," as "lok" (6) and "lo" (road) sound similar.

A much sort after number plate is 138 which means "born to prosperity"

Sad to say with limited money, my car number plate is "none of the above" but it DOES NOT have the number 4 which is a taboo. "Sei" (4) has exactly the same sound as "death." Cars with 4 in their number plates have lower resale value when sold as second hand cars. Chinese would not buy cars with this number.

Original article by http://jomcolourme.blogspot.com/

1000 surprises DVLA

2010-02-01T11:07:00.004Z

DVLA Personalised Registrations sold the plate 1 OOO for more than £80,000 at 10.30am last Friday morning (29/1/10).

The winning bid came from a mystery buyer and was more than 10 times the registrations' £8,000 reserve. 1000 is the first of the triple OOO series to be released by the agency.

Prior to 1 OOO going under the hammer at the Haycock Hotel in Wansford, Cambridgeshire, the most expensive registration sold during the three-day event was 1 LFD, fetching £20,000.

DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager, Damian Lawson, said: "The year could not have got off to a finer start, we were hoping for big things from 1 OOO and the registration delivered. Roll on the rest of the year which will see other triple O plates coming into the fray."

The second three-day auction of the year will be staged at Manchester Uniteds Old Trafford football ground from Wednesday, March 24. Among the 1,500 registrations being sold will include 2 OOO, together with 9 O and a host of Manchester United-related number plates.

Reg

H15 BOX

2010-01-29T06:37:00.007Z

Ex businessman David Donoghue from Essex is now enjoying his retirement - which is why he bought himself to a Porsche Boxster for Christmas.

Much as he is enjoying his new toy he decided it needed that little something extra and so traveled to DVLA Personalised Registrations' first auction of the year currently being held at The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Cambridgeshire, where he bought the perfect personalised plates for the car, H15 BOX.

"I love my cars and I love having fun with them which is why I opted to buy a Porsche Boxster for Christmas. It'll be a cracking summer toy and I can't wait to have a play with it." Explained the 70 year old Mr Donoghue.

"To me, coming to the auction and buying H15 BOX was a no brainer. For little over £1,500 I've personalised my six-year-old car and made it look dateless."

"Over the years I've made some great investments, this is one of them. While I doubt whether I'd sell it, I am sure some other Boxster owner would be willing to take it off my hands."

Reg

Free Stolen And Lost Car Checks

2010-01-28T07:55:00.004Z

Motorists no longer have to pay to find out if the used car or motorbike they are about to purchase is one of more than 300,000 cars and motorbikes stolen each year in the UK.

Checkmyfile.com has launched the UK’s first free, online Police Stolen Vehicle Check, sanctioned by The Police Information Technology Organisation – a government agency that provides information technology, communications systems and services to the Police.

Barry Stamp, Joint Managing Director of checkmyfile.com, the UK’s leading online credit reporting agency, says, “When a consumer buys a used car, there is always the big fear it may have been stolen. Because of the way our laws work, many have lost both their new car and their money because they didn’t check if the car they were about to buy was stolen.

“Now a quick, free check of the police lost or stolen database, on checkmyfile.com, will help to cut the number of people who fall victim to buying stolen cars. If a member of the public has bought a car recently they can also gain peace of mind by checking it isn’t stolen.”

The latest car theft index, produced by the Home Office, states that 282,816 cars and 50,591 motorbikes were stolen, in England, Scotland and Wales in the latest recorded year.

Government statistics show small saloon cars were the most likely type of car to be targeted by thieves, with around 12 in every thousand registered being stolen. People carriers and 4×4s had half that risk with 6 in every thousand being stolen.

Cars registered more than 13 years ago were the most likely to be stolen, according to Home Office figures, with a theft rate of 31 per 1000 registered. Vehicle registrations between 1997 and 2002 were at the least risk of being stolen, with just 5 in every 1000 being stolen.

Scooters and mopeds were the most targeted motorbikes, with low powered motorbikes under-5-years-old having a theft rate of 85 per 1000, making up 60 per cent of motorbike thefts in the UK. Motorbikes were much more likely to be stolen than cars, with 37 per 1000 being stolen, in comparison to 10 per 1000 for cars.

http://www.checkmyfile.com offers a free online service that can also be used to check the number plates of cars that have been parked unattended in residential streets for unduly long periods or any suspicious vehicle. If required, prospective purchasers can also go on to purchase further vehicle checks to ensure that the car is as recorded at the DVLA, is not an insurance write-off and has no HP or finance outstanding against it.

About The Author

Richard Goedegebuur is press relations officer for checkmyfile.com the UK’s leading supplier of credit files to consumers. http://www.checkmyfile.com also offers consumer credit advice and post code relevent information to consumers.

Richard Goedegebuur can be contacted at 0870 240 2613 or richardg@checkmyfile.com

A1 KOP sells for £2,606

2010-01-28T07:09:00.005Z

A delivery driver from Bootle was the lucky bidder who bought "the KOP" - for a bargain totalling £2,606!

Tony Deegan, an avid Liverpool FC fan, "chanced his arm" when he phoned in to bid for the registration A1 KOP being sold by DVLA Personalised Registrations at its auction being held at The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Cambridgeshire, this week.

The 42-year-old admitted that he didn't think his £2,000 limit would bag him what he describes as the perfect personalised registration plate for any Liverpool fan.

"I am absolutely ecstatic. No one will ever be able to take away from me the fact that I bought the KOP, albeit the number plates!" Said a delighted Mr Deegan.

"The truth is, I never thought for a second that I'd get it. I had a £2,000 limit - which I stuck to - and chanced my arm by phoning in my bids. To say it is the bargain of the century, in my mind, is an understatement." He added.

When asked if he'd consider selling A1 KOP, he replied: "I doubt it. You never say never, but at the moment I just can't wait to be able to get it on my car and show it off!"

DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager, Damian Lawson said: "While business has been brisk on our first morning of the three day auction, there are still bargains to be had. And given the huge support for Liverpool FC, he's almost certainly onto a winner with this plate."

The opening two hours proved very profitable for DVLA Personalised Registrations with plates selling as listed below;

AMJ 111D - £17,000
98 AB - £12,700
94 B - £10,400
A44 DAM - £10,000
A458 FER - £9,900
AMG 80Y - £5,600
AWS 50M - £3,200

All fees include VAT, buyers' premiums and assignment fees.

The DVLA's forthcoming auction will comprise 1500 registrations offering a wide range of number plate styles to suit all tastes and price ranges including;

ABS 41L (reserve) - £350
AMG 80Y - £400
AWS 50M - £400
A1 DAF - £900
A51 EEP - £300
816 BOS - £1,700
8 BSA - £1,900
BU55 BYS - £900
ELT 70N - £900
EMA 11L - £400
458 FNE - £1,500
GHO 555T - £900
HAT 80X - £450
1 HNE - £3,200
1 OOO - £8,000
TOW 600D - £450

Reg

Cambridgeshire plate theft

2010-01-26T07:48:00.005Z

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has recently seen a rise in reports of stolen number plates. Most of them will be used on illegal vehicles to avoid congestion charges, speeding fines or to commit criminal activity including fuel theft and other crimes.

Vehicle owners can reduce the risk of their registration plates being stolen by replacing normal screws with anti theft number plate screws. These are available from most auto spare shops or via the Internet.

For further crime prevention/security advice, please contact the Crime Reduction Unit at Huntingdon Police Station via tel: 01480 415512 / 01480 415514 or visit the following websites:

www.cambs.police.uk
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.crimereduction.gov.uk
www.securedbydesign.com

Reg

S1 record sale

2010-01-25T10:35:00.007Z

On the 20 September 2008 the UK car registration number S 1 was sold by Bonhams the auctioneers at the Goodwood Revival Festival. The full price paid was £404,062.50, an amount far in excess of the £250,000 bandied about by press speculation before the sale.

S 1 was one of the first number plates issued in Edinburgh. It was initially released in 1903, the same year that the first ever registration, A 1, was issued in London. The first owner of S1 was Sir John MacDonald, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, who owned one of the country's first motor vehicles.

At the time of the auction, the price paid for the S1 number plate was the second most expensive registration ever sold in Britain. The holder of the UK record is currently F 1, which was purchased in January 2009 by businessman Afzal Kahn of automotive styling studio Project Kahn.

Reg

Sign of the times

2010-01-25T10:15:00.008Z

In January, 1904, the registration plates FA 1, and FA 2, were issued to the town's first autos by the County Borough of Burton-upon-Trent.

The exclusive rights for the FA plates finished in January, 1964, with the UFA series, ending 60 years of FA designation.

How ironic, that the (Football Association) FA headquarters should be on Burton's doorstep.

When I revisit Burton, my home town, later this year I want to see signs at each main entrance into Burton declaring 'Burton-on-Trent – home of the FA'.

From: John Roberts
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
First Published: 22/01/2010

DVLA sell owner details

2010-01-22T04:11:00.005Z

The personal details of millions of motorists have been sold to parking firms and clampers by a Government agency in a trade generating £43.9million so far.

More than 18million names and addresses have been passed to private sector companies in the past five years by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency so that they can be issued with fines

Access to the database was halted last year after complaints about improper use of the data when it was to be used in an advertising campaign for Castrol after the DVLA's assertion that it had not authorised its use.

The government trade in drivers' details helps to support a parking enforcement industry on private land worth an estimated £1billion

Private parking companies can get a driver's name and address by submitting their vehicle registration numbers and filling in a form confirming that they are pursuing an alleged parking offence.

The DVLA charges £2.50 a time for information from this database of 38million drivers.

Revenue from the trade has risen every year from £4.7million in 2004-5 to £9.2million for 2009-10.

Motoring organizations are concerned at evidence of this data falling into the wrong hands as a result of parking, clamping and other unvetted firms buying the details.

"This shows there is a huge Big Brother system run by the state which is in cahoots with parasite-parking companies and clamper." Said the Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell, who gained the information from a parliamentary question.

"I find it wrong that the state is allowing itself to be used by parking companies to rip off drivers. They are using information given in good faith by drivers. It is totally wrong and no driver is safe."

Ministers agreed, last November, to implement every aspect of our Curb the Cowboy Clampers manifesto, including giving drivers an independent right of appeal.

A DVLA spokesman said: "The DVLA knows it is vitally important to safeguard the information it releases from misuse and has a range of robust measures in place to protect data.

"Any evidence of abuse will be referred to the Information Commissioner for investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution."

Reg

Number plate tax for the UK?

2010-01-21T11:39:00.007Z

I've just been reading Senate Bill 451-FN thats been passed in the State of New Hampshire and will take effect from July 1 2010.

A little unnerving as it's all about placing an annual tax on vanity number plates.

You've got to wonder how long it'll be before the British Governent get wise to this little earner?

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/SB0451.html

Reg

S.A. 2010 Plates For Sale

2010-01-20T10:59:00.013Z

Soccer enthusiast and owner of the most sought-after personalised "SA2010" number plates is looking for buyers.

Amod Khan, 63, of QwaQwa in the Free State owns the number plates for eight different of the provinces.

"I am now keen to sell all the plates, besides the Free State one, which I will keep on my personal vehicle. I am on the lookout for buyers and will take the best offers," said Khan.

"With all the hype after the announcement in 2004 that we would be hosting the soccer World Cup, I went out and applied for all the plates," he said.

Khan, who runs a furniture business, said that he was very excited at the time to have acquired eight of the plates, but he now planned to capitalise on his investment.

"People who buy them from me will be proud to drive around in a car with the SA2010 registration plates.

"Whenever I drive around in my car, the number plate attracts attention."

He said he spent over R20000 to obtain the number plates and believes that they are now worth a lot more now.

Reg

A1 KOP for Auction

2010-01-20T10:36:00.004Z

Liverpool FC fans have the chance to show their devotion to the club thanks to DVLA Personalised Registrations.

A1 KOP, one of the better private plates reflecting the Liverpool football ground in will going under the auctioneers' hammer during the first DVLA public auction of 2010 set for the Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Cambridgeshire.

The event, which takes place over three days, gets underway on Wednesday, January 27, and will also feature the first of DVLA's triple O registrations with 1OOO being auctioned on Friday, January 29.

DVLA Personalised Registrations Marketing Manager, Damian Lawson, said: "Any self respecting Liverpool fan, or Kopite, will undoubtedly want to put A1 KOP on their vehicle, I don't believe we have another personalised plate in our vault which so befits a club or ground in which A1 KOP does. It doesn't matter what football team you support, the mere mention of the word KOP brings instant recognition to Liverpool FC."

In total, the forthcoming auction will comprise 1500 registrations including, ABS 41L (reserve - £350), AMG 80Y (£400), AWS 50M (£400), A1 DAF (£900), A51 EEP (£300), 816 BOS (£1,700), 8 BSA (£1,900), BU55 BYS (£900), ELT 70N (£900), EMA 11L (£400), 458 FNE (£1,500), GHO 555T (£900), HAT 80X (£450), 1 HNE (£3,200), 1 OOO (£8,000), TOW 600D (£450).

Reg

Bending the ANPR rules

2010-01-18T12:04:00.013Z

Police are using car-surveillance technology aimed at catching criminals and terrorists to target the public so that they can meet government performance targets and raise revenue.

Police insiders also claim that intelligence stored on the national Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) database is "at least 30 per cent inaccurate", which has led to the wrongful arrest of innocent motorists and the seizure of their cars.

The revelations highlight growing concerns about target based operations among enforcement agencies and local authorities seeking to bolster conviction rates and income with "soft" arrests and fines on otherwise law-abiding members of the public.

Click Here! for the full report.

Reg

CH4V PL4TES

2010-01-18T11:17:00.008Z

I've just found this website; http://www.chavplate.org.uk/
I know that personalised number plates are not everyones cup of tea but I think that this fellows passion may be bordering on O.C.D.

Still, if you look on the right hand column of the home page you'll notice a "plate" of the month category (the actual title is rather more colourful than that) so in the interest of humor I've sent him a picture of my UP51ART number plate and if I don't win, I'm gonna wonna know why!!

Reg

DVLA Auction Goes Ahead

2010-01-15T08:49:00.007Z

DVLA Personalised Registrations has said that the wintery weather will not prevent its first auction of 2010 from going ahead.

The event, which starts on Wednesday, January 27,and continues for three days, will go ahead as planned at The Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Cambridgeshire, regardless of the weather.

Events Manager, Jody Davies said: "There's no question mark hanging over whether the first auction of the year will go ahead, it will be business as usual come 8.50am on January 27."

"Thanks to the web, prospective buyers can view the auction live, while, as always, we will have a large team of telephonists manning the phones enabling bidders an un-interruptive service throughout the three days."

Anyone interested in any of the 1,500 registrations being auctioned by the DVLA are urged to register as soon as possible in order to secure the remote bidding services.

Once registered, bidders can also send in a written bid allowing the auctioneer to bid on their behalf.

For those wishing to be kept up to date of events as they happen, DVLA Personalised Registrations offers an auction listening service. Dial 0900 312 1103 to be put through to a live sound feed, direct from the auction room.

Reg

LFC number plate scam

2009-12-11T08:19:00.024Z

Police have launched an investigation after Liverpool fans lost thousands on a website promoting LFC registration plates.

Sal Adams of Lancashire told number plate owners he could make them up to £100,000 by selling their Reds number plates using his friends at Anfield and contacts in the Middle East.

But fans who put their number plates on the website said that the result was non-existent buyers and demands for up to £2,000 for legal fees and charitable donations.

Adams claimed he set up his website to sell the Fernando Torres plate "F9 LFC" for Unicef.

Following their own inquiries the UN children’s charity have said they do not want their trademark appearing on his site nor will they except donations from him.

Javed Hoque of Birmingham was told his F6 LFC plate was being purchased by Saudi Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah as it included the name of his F6 promotions company.

"He was very persuasive. He told me that talks with the Prince’s company were going very well, that this was an incredible opportunity and I had to act quickly. There was a lot of pressure and a lot of chat about how your family can benefit. He said I needed to pay £1,000 only for the solicitors fee. I paid it, but nothing happened." Said the Liverpool fan.

Mr Hoque went on: "He kept going on about what a big Liverpool fan he was but said he really liked Florent Sinama Pongolle."

Michael Guinan, a 31 year old accountant, of Chelmsford, owns the registration FT 09 LFC and was among the fans to contact Mr Adams.

"He promised up to £100,000 but it would cost me £2,000 to host it on the site. I told him straight away that I wouldn’t give him that but eventually I risked £500 up front and the rest at the end of the auction. He told me a guy from Norway had bought it and money was wanted for legal fees."

In e-mails sent to unsuspecting number plate owners Mr Adams writes: "The small fee is nothing to what you will received (sic) for your plates. We have a number of Middle Eastern customers who would place bids for your plate."

Lancashire Police confirmed they had arrested Adams, of Preston New Road, Blackpool, on suspicion of fraud relating to vehicle registrations and that the investigation was continuing.

Reg

Killer Number Plates

2009-12-09T15:28:00.006Z

On Tuesday 1/12/09 we were notified that the number plate ranges below were being withdrawn from sale because they were deemed offensive:

BO10CS_ (A to Y)
BO10KS_ (A to Y)
and
(A to Y) _B10W ME

Todays email says that all the K11L registrations, withheld in 1992 for being offensive, are now returned to availability.

Not important really. Just makes me wonder how these decisions are made.

Anyway heres a list of all the K11L 'plates and their prices:

(PS; Don't bother looking for K11LER. If it had been in there, I would of had it ; )

K11LAB 390
K11LAC 390
K11LAD 390
K11LAE 245
K11LAF 245
K11LAG 245
K11LAJ 390
K11LAK 390
K11LAL 390
K11LAN 490
K11LAO 245
K11LAP 245
K11LAT 245
K11LAU 490
K11LAW 980
K11LAX 245
K11LAY 390
K11LBA 245
K11LBB 245
K11LBC 245
K11LBD 245
K11LBE 245
K11LBF 245
K11LBG 245
K11LBH 245
K11LBJ 245
K11LBK 245
K11LBL 245
K11LBM 245
K11LBN 245
K11LBO 245
K11LBP 245
K11LBR 245
K11LBS 245
K11LBT 245
K11LBU 245
K11LBV 245
K11LBW 245
K11LBX 245
K11LCA 245
K11LCB 245
K11LCC 245
K11LCD 245
K11LCE 245
K11LCF 245
K11LCG 245
K11LCH 245
K11LCJ 245
K11LCK 245
K11LCL 245
K11LCM 245
K11LCN 245
K11LCO 245
K11LCP 245
K11LCR 245
K11LCS 245
K11LCT 245
K11LCU 245
K11LCV 245
K11LCW 245
K11LCX 245
K11LCY 245
K11LDA 245
K11LDB 245
K11LDC 245
K11LDE 245
K11LDF 245
K11LDG 245
K11LDH 245
K11LDJ 245
K11LDK 245
K11LDL 245
K11LDM 245
K11LDN 245
K11LDO 245
K11LDP 590
K11LDR 245
K11LDS 245
K11LDT 245
K11LDU 245
K11LDV 245
K11LDW 245
K11LDX 245
K11LDY 245
K11LEA 590
K11LEB 245
K11LEC 245
K11LEE 1565
K11LEF 245
K11LEG 245
K11LEH 245
K11LEJ 245
K11LEK 245
K11LEL 245
K11LEN 1275
K11LEO 490
K11LEP 245
K11LET 390
K11LEU 245
K11LEV 245
K11LEW 390
K11LEX 390
K11LFA 245
K11LFB 245
K11LFC 490
K11LFD 245
K11LFE 245
K11LFF 245
K11LFG 245
K11LFH 245
K11LFJ 245
K11LFK 245
K11LFL 245
K11LFM 245
K11LFN 245
K11LFO 245
K11LFP 245
K11LFR 245
K11LFS 390
K11LFT 245
K11LFU 245
K11LFV 245
K11LFW 245
K11LFX 245
K11LFY 245
K11LGA 245
K11LGB 245
K11LGC 245
K11LGD 245
K11LGE 245
K11LGF 245
K11LGG 245
K11LGH 245
K11LGJ 245
K11LGK 245
K11LGL 245
K11LGM 245
K11LGN 245
K11LGO 245
K11LGP 245
K11LGR 245
K11LGS 245
K11LGT 245
K11LGU 245
K11LGV 245
K11LGW 245
K11LGX 245
K11LGY 245
K11LHB 245
K11LHC 245
K11LHD 245
K11LHE 245
K11LHF 245
K11LHG 245
K11LHH 245
K11LHJ 245
K11LHK 245
K11LHL 245
K11LHM 245
K11LHN 245
K11LHO 245
K11LHP 245
K11LHR 245
K11LHS 245
K11LHT 245
K11LHU 245
K11LHV 245
K11LHW 245
K11LHX 245
K11LHY 245
K11LJA 245
K11LJB 245
K11LJC 390
K11LJD 245
K11LJE 245
K11LJF 245
K11LJG 245
K11LJH 390
K11LJJ 245
K11LJK 245
K11LJL 245
K11LJM 390
K11LJN 245
K11LJO 245
K11LJP 390
K11LJR 245
K11LJS 245
K11LJT 245
K11LJU 245
K11LJV 245
K11LJW 390
K11LJX 245
K11LJY 245
K11LKA 245
K11LKB 245
K11LKC 245
K11LKD 245
K11LKE 245
K11LKF 245
K11LKG 245
K11LKH 245
K11LKJ 245
K11LKK 245
K11LKL 245
K11LKM 245
K11LKN 245
K11LKO 245
K11LKP 245
K11LKR 245
K11LKS 245
K11LKT 245
K11LKU 245
K11LKV 245
K11LKW 245
K11LKX 245
K11LKY 245
K11LLB 245
K11LLC 245
K11LLF 245
K11LLG 245
K11LLH 245
K11LLJ 245
K11LLK 245
K11LLM 245
K11LLN 245
K11LLO 245
K11LLP 245
K11LLT 245
K11LLV 245
K11LLW 245
K11LLX 245
K11LLY 785
K11LMA 245
K11LMB 390
K11LMC 390
K11LMD 245
K11LMF 245
K11LMG 245
K11LMH 245
K11LMJ 245
K11LMK 245
K11LML 245
K11LMM 245
K11LMO 245
K11LMP 245
K11LMR 245
K11LMS 390
K11LMT 245
K11LMU 245
K11LMV 245
K11LMW 245
K11LMX 245
K11LMY 245
K11LNA 245
K11LNB 245
K11LNC 245
K11LND 245
K11LNE 245
K11LNF 245
K11LNG 245
K11LNH 245
K11LNJ 245
K11LNK 245
K11LNL 245
K11LNM 245
K11LNN 245
K11LNO 245
K11LNP 245
K11LNR 245
K11LNS 590
K11LNT 245
K11LNU 245
K11LNV 245
K11LNW 245
K11LNX 245
K11LNY 245
K11LOA 245
K11LOB 245
K11LOC 245
K11LOD 245
K11LOE 245
K11LOF 245
K11LOG 245
K11LOH 490
K11LOJ 245
K11LOK 245
K11LOL 490
K11LOM 245
K11LON 245
K11LOO 390
K11LOP 245
K11LOS 785
K11LOT 390
K11LOU 980
K11LOV 390
K11LOW 390
K11LOX 245
K11LOY 245
K11LPA 390
K11LPB 245
K11LPC 245
K11LPD 245
K11LPE 245
K11LPF 245
K11LPG 245
K11LPH 245
K11LPJ 245
K11LPK 245
K11LPL 245
K11LPM 245
K11LPN 245
K11LPO 245
K11LPP 245
K11LPR 245
K11LPS 245
K11LPT 245
K11LPU 245
K11LPV 245
K11LPW 245
K11LPX 245
K11LPY 245
K11LRA 245
K11LRB 245
K11LRC 245
K11LRD 245
K11LRE 245
K11LRF 245
K11LRG 245
K11LRH 245
K11LRJ 245
K11LRK 245
K11LRL 245
K11LRM 245
K11LRN 245
K11LRO 245
K11LRP 245
K11LRT 245
K11LRU 245
K11LRV 245
K11LRW 245
K11LRX 245
K11LRY 245
K11LSA 390
K11LSB 245
K11LSC 245
K11LSD 245
K11LSE 245
K11LSF 245
K11LSG 245
K11LSH 245
K11LSJ 245
K11LSK 245
K11LSL 245
K11LSM 245
K11LSN 245
K11LSO 245
K11LSP 245
K11LSR 245
K11LST 245
K11LSU 245
K11LSV 245
K11LSW 245
K11LSX 245
K11LSY 245
K11LTA 245
K11LTB 245
K11LTC 245
K11LTD 390
K11LTE 245
K11LTF 245
K11LTG 245
K11LTH 245
K11LTJ 245
K11LTK 245
K11LTL 245
K11LTM 245
K11LTN 245
K11LTO 245
K11LTP 245
K11LTR 245
K11LTT 245
K11LTU 245
K11LTV 245
K11LTW 245
K11LTX 245
K11LUA 245
K11LUB 245
K11LUC 390
K11LUD 245
K11LUE 245
K11LUF 245
K11LUG 390
K11LUH 245
K11LUJ 245
K11LUK 390
K11LUL 245
K11LUN 245
K11LUO 245
K11LUP 245
K11LUT 245
K11LUV 390
K11LUW 245
K11LUX 245
K11LUY 245
K11LVA 245
K11LVB 245
K11LVC 245
K11LVD 245
K11LVE 245
K11LVF 245
K11LVG 245
K11LVH 245
K11LVJ 245
K11LVK 245
K11LVL 245
K11LVM 245
K11LVN 245
K11LVO 245
K11LVP 245
K11LVR 245
K11LVS 245
K11LVT 245
K11LVU 245
K11LVV 245
K11LVW 245
K11LVX 245
K11LVY 245
K11LWA 245
K11LWB 245
K11LWC 245
K11LWD 245
K11LWE 245
K11LWF 245
K11LWG 245
K11LWH 245
K11LWJ 245
K11LWK 245
K11LWL 245
K11LWM 245
K11LWN 245
K11LWO 245
K11LWP 245
K11LWR 245
K11LWS 245
K11LWT 245
K11LWU 245
K11LWV 245
K11LWW 245
K11LWX 245
K11LWY 245
K11LXA 245
K11LXB 245
K11LXC 245
K11LXD 245
K11LXE 245
K11LXF 245
K11LXG 245
K11LXH 245
K11LXJ 245
K11LXK 245
K11LXL 245
K11LXM 245
K11LXN 245
K11LXO 245
K11LXR 245
K11LXT 245
K11LXU 245
K11LXV 245
K11LXW 245
K11LXX 245
K11LXY 245
K11LYB 245
K11LYC 245
K11LYD 245
K11LYE 245
K11LYF 245
K11LYG 245
K11LYH 245
K11LYJ 245
K11LYK 245
K11LYL 245
K11LYM 245
K11LYN 1565
K11LYO 245
K11LYP 245
K11LYR 245
K11LYS 245
K11LYT 245
K11LYU 245
K11LYV 245
K11LYW 245
K11LYX 245
K11LYY 245

Reg

It's Free !!

2009-12-08T06:22:00.020Z

Reg/UP51ART/Robert Steel

(Right. I'd best go find a job.. : )

6O sells for £100k

2009-12-07T11:37:00.009Z

24-year-old Ghanim al-Hadaifi bought the registration 6 O during the final day of DVLA Personalised Registrations' Christmas auction at Tankersley Manor Hotel, near Barnsley.

This purchase takes his total spend for the year to more than £246,000 on just three number plates and yet he claims his number plate collection is still not complete.

Mr al-Hadaifi is a member of the Qatar diplomatic family living in London and he bought 4 O at the DVLA summer auction for £63,000 and 5 O at the agency's autumn event for £83,000, the latter of which was a gift for the Qatari ruling family.

Mr al-Hadaifis spokesman said: "Money is not really an issue, he just wants the best registrations he can have for his cars. Even though he has bought 4 O and 6 O for himself, he already has his sights set on numerous others which we hope will be auctioned next year."

DVLA Personalised Registrations released the O-series to commemorate it's 20th anniversary. Each of its six auctions throughout the year has featured one of the plates in its catalog staring with 1 O in January. In total, 1 O, 2 O, 3 O, 4 O, 5 O and now 6 O have raised £666,560 with all the money raised going to the Treasury.

"The O-series has been a phenomenally success for us. Clearly Mr al-Hadaifi has the bug to buy the best plates he can. What is extremely pleasing is that he always makes the effort to come along to the auction in person and raises the atmosphere to a whole new level" said Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager.

Reg

DVLA '10' first day sales

2009-12-07T11:00:00.006Z

DVLA Personalised Registrations' made £2 million from its first day sale of its 10-series registrations.

Senior staff at the Agency were stunned by the response on December 1. Incredibly, 2,329 registrations totalling £1.2 million were sold within the first hour of the sale going live at 8.30am.

The rush occurred as fans of private registrations clambered to buy the new series which can only be assigned to vehicles from March 1st, 2010.

"While we knew there was interest surrounding the new 10 series, we never expected the level of response we received on day one. We have all been left quite stunned." Said Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager.

DVLA Personalised Registrations has sold more than 2.5 million number plates in it's 20 years of life and has more than 800,000 visits every month.

Reg