Crazy number plate prices

[Pedro]

Can someone explain why Victorian number plate "101" would realise $510,000 at auction?
https://www.shannons.com.au/auctions...DA5B38MDNRC7G/

[adz193]

It's a heritage plate, looks like the original enamel one as well and not a remake. These plates are quite historic and the lower the number the higher the value

https://www.vplates.com.au/heritage

[Rallye Sport]

I can't explain the price but theres no doubt they hold some significance being from the one hundred and first car to be registered in that state. The history should be traceable aswell maybe that affected it?
If its anything like WA you can add another thousand dollars or so in transfer fees for numeric plates. Obviously chump change to the new owner though.

[Pedro]

I didn't really think out the historical value and appreciate you guys pointing it out ... still seems like a lot of money though.

My great great ( I don't know how many greats) grand father was a commander on "Victoria" ... Australia's first real naval ship and first ship in the Victorian Navy which was the first State to have a Navy. (pre-Federation). He painted a watercolour of the ship which I have in my possession but art experts don't value it within a bee's dick of $510.000 ... Different appreciation of historical values.

[Danny]

They are an actual thing. Fanatics love speculating and talking about them and the rich use them as a status symbol in a world where even the average person can buy a Merc.

They auction the latest plates off at Shannons once a month, and they rise in value like real estate. I wish I'd purchased a 3 number enamel a few years ago when they could still be had for under 30k - Nowdays you won't get a 3 number for under $100k, and 4 numbers are up into the 30-80k bracket.

Anything single digit I would imagine that you'd be looking at over a mil these days.

[Gomez]

Few years back I was chatting with a guy who had the Victorian numberplate “7” on his Mercedes.

Plate was worth $700,000. The Mercedes was worth a mere $150,000.

[CoupeKing]

101 will only work on a black and white car.

[Gomez]

Found the pic:

[GO FURTHER]

Not so much selling at crazy prices.... But what is also getting very hard to get, is personalised plates with just the two initials of your first and last name followed by a nice 3 number combination.

All the goods ones are taken, especially in Victoria.

The personalised plates I have on my car, are ones I got 22 years ago, which I've transferred and put on the many cars I've owned and sold in that time.

However, if I was in the market today, that nice combo would not be available.

My suggestion to anyone thinking about getting personalised plates is to buy them now if available from VicRoads or the road authority in your state that issues them. ... If you see a nice combo, it may be gone in a few more months.

Another example is if you want a nice plate for say a Mustang.
All the nice combos containing "STANG" or "PONY" are already taken, especially in states like Vic where you are limited to a combination of just 6 alphanumeric digits, unlike WA where dream number plates are much easier to get with a zillion digits allowed.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Another example is if you want a nice plate for say a Mustang.
All the nice combos containing "STANG" or "PONY" are already taken, especially in states like Vic where you are limited to a combination of just 6 alphanumeric digits, unlike WA where dream number plates are much easier to get with a zillion digits allowed.

Up to nine digits on a custom plate over here, still getting hard to find good combos though... until recently. The DOT has released the euro series, they've got a 'W' and a swan logo in the corner then up to six digits. So for example if I wanted STANG it would be registered as WSTANG the word is separate from the letter W so it just reads as the word.

We also have town/municipality plates eg York has a prefix of Y then a number. These can date from 1916 onwards and pre date shire councils to the time of road boards.
They're usually family heirlooms as they can only be transferred to a member of a family, unless you buy the car with them attached. Thats how I've collected alot of mine, one I was lucky enough to find I can trace to a road board, first issued in 1916. I was also lucky enough to get a three digit numeric by again, purchasing it on a car.

[kus]

dont mind paying the $180 original fee for personal plate, say forded, but the yearly fee is a joke the one i looked at six letters was $400 in nsw

[xisled]

I have seen vic plate 1, it was on a grey merc. The below article says estimated value 2 mil.


http://www.numberplates.com.au/plates/vic/v1/

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Up to nine digits on a custom plate over here, still getting hard to find good combos though... until recently. The DOT has released the euro series, they've got a 'W' and a swan logo in the corner then up to six digits. So for example if I wanted STANG it would be registered as WSTANG the word is separate from the letter W so it just reads as the word.

We also have town/municipality plates eg York has a prefix of Y then a number. These can date from 1916 onwards and pre date shire councils to the time of road boards.
They're usually family heirlooms as they can only be transferred to a member of a family, unless you buy the car with them attached. Thats how I've collected alot of mine, one I was lucky enough to find I can trace to a road board, first issued in 1916. I was also lucky enough to get a three digit numeric by again, purchasing it on a car.

I might ask 500k for my 115 that's been in the family forever.

Reality is country numbers get recycled every 12 months iirc.
Although unlikely you could in theory pick up a single digit if you went in on the right day.

[GO FURTHER]

One of the young blokes at work (in his early twenties), rocks up a few weeks ago in a brand new car he just bought... A C200 Mercedes with all the options, costing around $75K. Fair enough I thought, he's doing okay for his age.

Two weeks later, I'm walking through the staff carpark and notice his car, and his new number plate catches my attention... Vic plates with one letter and just one numeral. The letter was the initial of his first name, but not sure of the significance of the single numeral... Far out I thought... That plate is worth $2,000 to order from VicRoads!

The kid's doing alright... But he is of the religion and ethnic group that always have money if you know what I mean.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

I might ask 500k for my 115 that's been in the family forever.

Reality is country numbers get recycled every 12 months iirc.
Although unlikely you could in theory pick up a single digit if you went in on the right day.

It would be your lucky day... we picked up a double digit 'WN' plate after a walk in at the DOT a number of years back for my sisters car, only drama is they're printed on the blue and white brand WA plates and theres a stipulation that they can't be converted to black on white or yellow like the originals. Interesting enough I saw a white on black Esperance plate on an old merc this week. I'd have bought the car just for the plate.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Two weeks later, I'm walking through the staff carpark and notice his car, and his new number plate catches my attention... Vic plates with one letter and just one numeral. The letter was the initial of his first name, but not sure of the significance of the single numeral... Far out I thought... That plate is worth $2,000 to order from VicRoads!

I've bought one 5 years ago, they're called a signature plate, and they come with a steel breifcase and signed certificate. My particular plate has a one letter one number combo that pertains to a current Audi model and so I've been offered quite a sum for it from a prominent dealer here in Vic.

I won't sell though, unless the offer is well into the tens of thousands, then I'll buy use the money to buy my heritage enamels

I dare say there wouldn't be many one letter one number combo's left anymore.

[MITCHAY]

I've never really understood some people's obsession with number plates but each to their own.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

I've never really understood some people's obsession with number plates but each to their own.

In terms of rare collectable number plates... What other expensive collectables are there, that one can display out in public every day?

Rare coins, artworks, stamps, memorabilia, etc all stay indoors.

[Sioso]

I love the people who come up with plates like "DBADAZZ" and then advertise them for $25K....