22/04/2010

Didcot Number Plate

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