100k for BIG 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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