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AIBU

Vanity (personalised) license plates

(191 Posts)
GagaJo Wed 19-Feb-20 05:19:26

Following on from the prat tabs/designer labels thread.

IMO' vanity license plates are the height of vulgarity. A clear signal of social climbing, 'look, I have money to waste!'

They make me shudder.

Caro57 Wed 19-Feb-20 18:57:25

My husband and I have them - they have the advantage of making the car look older (by the reg number) than is actually is.

FlexibleFriend Wed 19-Feb-20 18:45:14

I don't understand why some people find them so offensive and nor do I care as I've had one for over 20 years and it changes care when I do. It cost me all of £250 and as the car I was buying already had a personal plate that the seller was keeping I had to have a new plate anyway. I just saw it as an opportunity to have one I could easily remember and if anything it makes my vehicle look older as the plate is older than the car. It makes people smile and they always ask if they understand it correctly.

Americanpie Wed 19-Feb-20 18:15:26

Our plates makes our car appear a lot older than it is, its new and every time we change the car the plates come with us. Its very personal to my husband and it wasn't expensive. "You pays your money, you takes your choice", as the saying goes. No one ever tells me how to spend my money.

M0nica Wed 19-Feb-20 18:06:11

eilyann we do not have and have never had a cocktail bar in the drawing room, but we do have a drinks cupboard in the living room grin

GrannyGravy13 Wed 19-Feb-20 17:53:17

I haven't got a private plate (yet) but I did buy myself a designer handbag to match my new sports car.

eilyann Wed 19-Feb-20 17:52:33

Many years ago, a judge, when told the defendant had a personalised number plate, said ''I presume he also has a cocktail bar in his drawing room?''

M0nica Wed 19-Feb-20 17:41:35

We have always driven very old cars and thought personalised number plates were a joke.

But our car of choice has always been Volvo/Saab estates, preferably SAAB, SAAB went out of business about 5 years ago, but there are still old SAABS around, but disappearing.

As a result DH has started to nurture our 15 year old SAAB, in case he cannot get another and this has included getting it a personalised number plate confused.

A clear signal of social climbing, 'look, I have money to waste!' On a 15 year old car?

I think our number cost about £100 or a bit over.

curvygran950 Wed 19-Feb-20 17:36:26

Marydoll
Couldn’t agree more !

Abuelana Wed 19-Feb-20 17:27:36

If it makes people happy why not have them? My cousin , wife and daughters all have personalised plates and they are definitely not rolling in money. They just like them - end of really !

Marydoll Wed 19-Feb-20 17:22:55

hedonistic
adjective
engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent.

Moi? If only I had the energy and health to be hedonistic.
Owning personalised number plates don't harm anyone, so why do people feel so strongly about them? It's no-one's business what I do with my hard earned money.

Lilyflower Wed 19-Feb-20 17:16:21

My DH keeps asking me if I want a personalised number plate. My name is quite an easy one to find a plate for. I always tell him that the only one I would be interested in would have to sport a single number. (Lilyflower 1 or the like). No way will he afford that.

mrsgreenfingers56 Wed 19-Feb-20 17:00:24

So hedonistic and a total waste of money, but of course only my opinion which we are all entitled to!

Van-Nan Wed 19-Feb-20 16:56:59

I have a cherished number that I bought many years ago. It’s current market value is greater than when I bought it. Meanwhile, the car that it’s on is depreciating. The cars that I had it on in the past are probably scrapped by now. What am I wasting money on do you think?

PhilJaz Wed 19-Feb-20 16:39:40

I have one and it easy to remember when having to put it in car park machine

Oopsminty Wed 19-Feb-20 15:49:18

My sister and brother-in-law have one each

I would never dream of getting one but to each their own

I'd not be calling people names just because they've got one!

There was a car near us with 19TH T

I assume a golf lover

Washerwoman Wed 19-Feb-20 15:42:52

Personally I don't want one and it's something DH wouldn't thank me for buying one for him.However I don't take offence at other people choosing to buy one.As for vulgar.Well a couple of friends have them.Plus our lovely neighbours.They have all worked hard,are lovely kind ,considerate.law abiding people.I judge them on that.Not their number plates.

Chardy Wed 19-Feb-20 15:06:51

I think they're horrible

Davida1968 Wed 19-Feb-20 14:44:28

I know of someone who grew up a low-income family, where money was always in short supply. She could never have anything "personalised" - not even a packet of pencils. Having grown up and achieved a management role in her chosen career, she had the chance to buy a number plate with her first name on. (As she has an unusual first name, this was quite a cheap "personal" number plate.) She jumped at the chance for this, and says it is making up for all the "named" things that she could never have as a child...

SirChenjin Wed 19-Feb-20 14:42:26

I think they’re a complete waste of money but each to their own.

Someone at a company I used to work for had one with ‘B1 MBO’ - I admit I judged her for that. Why advertise the fact that you’re thick?

Nanny41 Wed 19-Feb-20 14:35:43

I am proud of mine ss the
Money for personalised plates goes to road traffic accident victims it shows I care it is NOT vanity. Also people know I am around mine is an unusual one depicting my height I suppose anyone from Liverpool would know what it means but its a talking point here in Sweden they are now educated in English local sayings

OPgrndtr Wed 19-Feb-20 14:34:19

OH GRANS! My car plate is the name that my grandchildren call me.

BlueSapphire Wed 19-Feb-20 14:27:04

My youngest sister has one, the initial of her first name, then nunbers, and then her maiden name. Always makes me smile.

Nanny41 Wed 19-Feb-20 14:23:53

I have one it costs a lot more than in the UK it is valid for ten years then renuable at a reduced price the money goes to traffic accident victims definately not a waste of money or vanity we live in Sweden by the way.

Auntieflo Wed 19-Feb-20 14:23:02

I saw a lovely one a couple of days ago on a Fiat 500.
It was. M1 500F

TrendyNannie6 Wed 19-Feb-20 14:21:26

As the victorians said conspicuous consumption no different to wearing designer labels which is equally naff, whatever happened to quiet good taste, You do sound quite annoyed about things that people decide to spend their hard earned money on, yep I’ve got some designer labels too, as have some of my family, Shock Horror,