Side Plate Old
Side Plate Old
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 OLD VINTAGE PENN 349 red side plates works great look $38.00 Time Remaining: 21d 14h 13m Buy It Now for only: $38.00 |
 OLD VINTAGE PENN GREEN 26 IN GOOD CONDITION ONE SMALL CHIP ON SIDE PLATE $85.00 Time Remaining: 27d 23h 29m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
 OLD VINTAGE PENN 49 REEL PARTS SIDE PLATES $23.00 Time Remaining: 7d 9h 53m Buy It Now for only: $23.00 |
The Popularity Of Old Number Plates
Number plates aren't just an official registration of your vehicle. They can be a representation of something much more important and personal to you, such as a name, a birthday or even your favourite football team. With 25 million car number plates available from the DVLA, there are plenty of options to choose from, but older number plates are also seeing a surge in popularity, and not just amongst the classic car and motorcycle owners.
Popular around the world
A recent auction in Australia of older number plates showed just how popular they can be. Shannon's' in Melbourne held an auction, which included selling vintage number plates in sequential order. Their previous auction of similar plates in 1998 saw three plates with the numbers 14, 15 and 16 sell for an average of AU$75,000 each. Today, those same plates could be expected to sell for between AU$400,000 and AU$500,000, so not only are they highly collectable, but they also offer buyers an investment opportunity as well. In fact, many financial portfolios now include vintage number plates as a viable and financially secure option for investment. So why are old number plates so popular?
Different from the norm
Historic car number plates stand out from the crowd, making them a real alternative to personalised number plates. They are highly distinctive and also, importantly, very difficult to clone or steal because they are so noticeable.
Old private number plates are also very similar to Irish number plates, and many older plates are bought by those who want to retain an Irish identity on the road, even if they have to register their vehicle as a mainland vehicle. These plates will also never be re-issued because of the sequence of numbers and letters. So the owners of older private number plates can be certain that they will never see their registration fall into the hands of another owner – particularly important if they attach some personal significance to the sequence of letters or numbers.
As shown by the Australian auction, old private number plates can go for astronomical amounts of money and are highly desirable. So they do offer buyers a chance to invest in a piece of history whose value is practically assured to increase over time. As stated, these plates will never be re-issued, so it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of history (particularly if you know the provenance of the plate) as well as a sound financial investment.
Finally, nothing spoils the look of a vintage car or motorcycle more than modern number plates! So if you've lovingly restored a classic car or bike but don't have an original number plate, buying an older private number plate from the same era and re-registering the car to that plate completes the look perfectly. There's no doubt that the sale of older private number plates is a growing market, so expect stiff competition if you are planning to buy at auction. Alternatively, get in touch with specialist dealers who may be able to notify you if a particular sequence or plate becomes available.
About the Author
Jayne Henry of Speedy Registrations Ltd - speedyreg.co.uk. Speedy Registrations have been supplying number plates, to the public since 1984. Based in Northern Ireland we also specialise in Irish number plates. They aim to provide a choice of personalised number plates to meet all requirements. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Jayne Henry Tel(DDI): 02866 387 124 E-mail: sales@speedyreg.co.uk