Reg Plates Increase in Popularity Over the Years from Regplates.com

Hessle, United Kingdom, May 18, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Personalised reg plates are seen as a luxury item, but their popularity has been increasing significantly in recent years. In fact, the popularity of personalised plates has been on the increase since they first became officially available in the 1980s.

This popularity can be seen in posh areas of the UK’s major cities, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, the increase in popularity is more about lower-value number plates bought by regular people.

One of the reasons for this increasing popularity is that many are now using personalised reg plates as an investment. This is a bit like buying a premium watch or bottle of fine wine – they’re alternative forms of investment and can rise in value.

Personalised reg plates are no different as they often increase in value too. These increases can be higher than the rates of return typically delivered by more traditional forms of investment. Plus, owning a personalised reg plate is more fun than saving money in an ISA.

Before answering those questions lets first briefly explain how the personalised reg market works. There are three main styles of reg plate that have been used in the UK:

The current style – AB51 CDE
Style from 1983 to 2001 – A123 BCD
Style from 1963 to 1983 – ABC 123D

Each of these styles indicate the date of first registration of the car. They can all be bought as a personalised reg plate.

There is also a fourth style available for sale as a personalised reg plate, the dateless style. This is up to four numbers followed by three letters or three letters followed by four numbers.

Putting the various combinations of all four styles of plate together, there are literally millions of personalised reg plates to choose from, with each one of them being unique to some degree.

That said, the dateless style is usually the most popular. One of the reasons for this is there are some restrictions on the three main styles. Each of them indicate the date of registration. For example, a registration in the current style with the number 62 shows the car was first registered in 2012.

The latest figures were released by the DVLA. They are for 2015 and show it was a record year for personalised number plate sales. Over the course of that year, about 335,000 personalised reg plates were sold by the DVLA, raising £102 million for the Treasury. This was £15 million up on the previous year representing an annual increase of over 17 percent. The most expensive reg plate bought in 2015 was KR15 HNA. It sold for £180,000.

While this is a large increase, the trend in sales of personalised reg plates has generally been upward. The only significant exception came between 2007 and 2009 because of the financial crisis and recession. Apart from that period, however, sales of personalised reg plates have been consistently increasing.

For example, in 1995, about 70,000 reg plates were sold by the DVLA – that figure is now almost five times higher. Over 4.5 million reg plates have been sold since 1989 netting about £2.3 billion for the Government.

This market for high-value personalised number plates certainly does exist – the number plate 25 O sold for £400,000 in 2014 simply because it had wow factor. This is officially the most expensive number plate ever sold in the UK, however it is widely believed that other plates have been sold for higher amounts privately.

Despite this high-end market for personalised reg plates, the increase in the popularity of reg plates through the years is actually down to purchases by regular people. In fact, as many as 90 percent of personalised reg plates sell for less that £1,000. Some cost as little as £250.

One of the attractions of getting a personalised reg plate is to keep the same registration number. Personalised reg plates express individuality.

Number plates are also an investment. This can be the main motivating factor for the purchase or a contributing factor. Regplates.com suggests when buying reg plates as an investment look for plates with common names or initials that will be in high demand. Reg plates with limited numbers of characters can also deliver a return on investment as people will usually pay more for them.

Another reason why personalised reg plates are so popular is because cars – and motoring in general – are popular in the UK. Regplates.com have a long history of manufacturing iconic cars and creating top quality motor racing drivers and in addition spend a lot of time in our cars both as a necessity and for pleasure.

There is nothing to indicate that the market for personalised number plates in going to decrease. In fact, most experts in the motoring industry, as well as those involved in the sale of personalised reg plates, believe the upward trend will continue.

While they are still regarded as an investment, while Brits continue to love motoring, and while people in general have a desire to express their individuality, this is a reasonable assumption to make.