Private Number Plates
What is a Private Number Plate?
Officially, the term is “cherished registration” – this is a term given to private number plates by DVLA. Other terms in common parlance are personal plates, personalised plates, private registration.
Private number plates came about when a market place developed for the trade in number plates. Number plates (although not specifically “private number plates”) were introduced into the UK in 1903 as a means of regulating the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the road. In time, people found that they liked to personalise their cars with private number plates showing their initials, names etc
The private number plate A1 is arguably the most famous private number plate in the world. Issued to Earl Russell who so desperately wanted the number plate that he camped-out all night to be sure he was first in the queue. The A1 number plate changed hands a couple of times before it was acquired by The Dunlop Tyre Company. Dunlop used the ultimate in private number plates to promote its products all over the UK and it was often to be seen on various vehicles travelling around the vast Fort Dunlop site in Birmingham.
Who owns Private Number Plates?
Once the province of the seriously wealthy, private number plates have become accessible to all. All of us have, at some time in our childhoods, played “spot the registration” on a tedious car journey. The time was, when you could be 99% certain that the vehicle bearing a private number plate would be occupied by a TV personality or some other celebrity – owning a private number plate was seen as a very British eccentricity reserved for those with deep pockets. As time has gone by and standards of living have increased, so the desire for private number plates has risen and they have become much more affordable in real terms.
So who owns private number plates? Anybody and everybody can own a private number plate – possibly even you!
Other features are available on the following subjects:-
Number Plates, Car Number Plates, DVLA Number Plates, Bike Number Plates, Custom Number Plates, Car Registration Renewals
