Information obtained from the DVLA by the BBC has revealed that sales of personal registrations have skyrocketed over the last 10 years.
Regtransfers has repeatedly reported, over many years, that the private registrations market has remained surprisingly buoyant, regardless of financial turmoil caused by factors such as the Covid pandemic and the current cost of living crisis. The data released by the DVLA confirms that sales have more than doubled in the last decade.
The DVLA's figures show approximately 500,000 personal registration sales in 2014 and 1.2 million sales in 2024, an increase of 140%. DVLA's personal registration sales raise hundreds of millions of pounds for the treasury every year.
Furthermore, we believe that the DVLA's figures only include sales by the agency itself. Independent specialists like Regtransfers sell many thousands of registration numbers annually, so the market is, in fact, far larger even than the figures above would suggest.
Broad appeal
Many years ago, personal number plates were widely considered to be status symbols that one might see on the Rolls-Royces of the rich and famous. Today, private registrations are not only more popular than ever, they are also more accessible than ever. Specialist websites, such as Regtransfers.co.uk, make it easy to find and purchase great personal registration numbers online in just a few minutes.
In the past, prospective buyers would scour very limited listings in magazine and newspaper classified advertisements in the hope of spotting something appropriate. Such a quest, even if successful, could take months or even years, and the process of buying a number and assigning it to one's car was both complicated and fraught with potential problems.
21st century number plate enthusiasts enjoy a very different experience. Millions of numbers may be browsed without even getting up out of our chairs, and specialist websites offer secure purchasing environments that eliminate the danger of fraudulent transactions. Consequently, people from all areas of society now enjoy their own personal plates. That popularity is assured by the fact that private number plates can be found to fit almost any budget.
While many people buy registration numbers to personalise their cars, or to mask the age of older vehicles, an increasing number of buyers are collecting private registrations as investment assets.
A lucrative investment
Wise investors in any field seek to understand both the product and its market. While buying any commodity without due consideration may be a quick way to lose money, a modest amount of research can open up very profitable opportunities.
Potential investors should consider the different types of registration numbers sought by buyers, such as names, initials, car and sports-themed registrations and so on. Researching the potential market by finding out how many people share a certain name or set of initials, which cars sell the most in the UK, or which football teams have the most supporters, soon indicates which registrations may attract high levels of interest. As with any commodity, scarcity and demand dictate price.
High-fliers
A good personal registration bought at the right time, for the right price, can generate a spectacular return on one's investment. In the UK, it has been verified that a number of registrations have sold for more than half a million pounds. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some have changed hands for sums in excess of £1 million.
Just for fun
At the other end of the market, number plates spelling names or initials, or those that do not contain a year code, may carry price tags from just a few hundred pounds. Young buyers especially like to personalise their cars with names, nicknames or simple messages. Others choose less conspicuous character combinations that are still meaningful to them and their friends and families.
Since cars and fuel have become more expensive, it has become common for people to retain the same car longer than they might have done in financially easier times. Consequently, number plates that don't show the car's age are becoming very popular. By fitting an inexpensive dateless registration, a driver may avoid drawing attention to the fact that their shiny BMW is, in fact, three or four years old.
Buy with care and stay safe
The BBC's report mentioned people trading private number plates on social media. While this does indeed happen, Regtransfers strongly advises potential buyers to make their purchases from an established specialist website, or from the issuing agency, rather than from a random stranger on Facebook or eBay.
Purchasing from a bona fide specialist is not only much safer, it also offers a great deal more choice. The Regtransfers website, for example, provides buyers with access to the government's stock of some 60 million registration numbers, Regtransfers own exclusive stock of many thousands of top quality numbers not available from any other source, and registrations owned by the other independent specialists, most of whom advertise their stock through us.
Don't risk being defrauded on social media. Ensure your online security: buy wisely from an established specialist.
You can read the BBC article here.
Feature image: Neil Bircher's number plate GLO 5 at the RNC Rally in 2024.
