Vanity (personalised) license plates

Mine came with my car....but I’ve transferred it to two other vehicles since as it is the only registration I’ve been able to remember! Previously I had to write the number on a scrap of paper I kept in my handbag....unlike my husband, who can reel off the registration of every car he’s ever owned.
Why make a negative judgement about such a thing?

My husband got them for my car. Does make me feel a little awkward but....we’ve both worked since our teens, in all weather at all hours. We weren’t blessed with children so have no one to leave things to.

We bought our son a personalized number plate for his 18th birthday. He has a short 3 letter name which is on the plate along with 18. He is 37 soon and still has it on his motorbike. I had a colleague who said they were vulgar then later got matching ones with her new husband on their BMWs! Made me chuckle.

I don't mind them. Some are very amusing. My neighbour and his son each have one with 666 as part of the number. Always amuses me because they're such nice people but then the devil looks like Ned Flanders in the Simpsons . I'd look for one that has 667 or 665 in it because then I'd be the neighbour of the devil

I agree with curvygran that years ago it seemed to be quite an exclusive thing to have, but now personalised number plates are pretty widespread. It doesn’t bother me if others have them, but cannot imagine I will ever get one really.

I’ve had a personalised number plate for 15 years not a very obvious one just one applicable to me. A present to myself.Saves me having to remember a new number each time I change my car

...that have them.

I really should preview.

I live in an area that had the highest proportion of vanity plates in the UK in one survey. You’re more unusual if you have a normal plate here. I can only think of one or two people of my acquaintance that age them, though. One is a young woman who was given a personalised plate for her 21st by her dad, who had cancer. It was his last gift to her.

There are so many around these days that they are not the ‘exclusive’ items they once were. I think they are fun and try and guess what they mean to the owner!
I sold my first ancient, dilapidated old banger ( 1955 Morris minor soft top ) to a man who asked me what I wanted for it, as he wanted the number plate . It was a complete heap of a car at that time, so I was glad to get rid of it !
I often wonder if the plate is still in existence .....

My husband recently got one. He treated himself to a brand new car and always had an idea of a quirky number plate. It would only be obvious to people with an aviation background, like him.

They are good fun, easy to remember and not as expensive as people think. Yes, there are some that cost thousands but mine cost £250 and I own it for life.

I personally wouldn’t spend my money on one, but each to their own. Live and let live I say!

IMO vanity licence plates are the height of vulgarity , A clear sign of social climbing look I have money to waste,! They make me shudder! Wow! really!Well Shudder away, All of us have personalised number plates! I fail to see what social climbing has got to do with number plates! But then again we live and let live,

I have one - it was only £150 - the numbers and letters, at first glance , looks like it spells my name. It's just a fun thing....and my car is a small Kia. Perhaps I have delusions of grandeur ?

My DH has had his number plate for many years. He has a terrible memory so at least that’s one thing can (usually) remember.
I don’t have a problem with vanity plates but one I see round here is PEN 15 which probably says a lot about the driver?

Yes i think its not 'social climbing' its just a number plate- maybe some are a tiny bit vanity,depends what the plate is i guess,but you never know how theyve got it do you,as i said,some inherit it,some buy it,some get it as a gift.

I suppose they can be fun. When I was young I thought it was just those with money showing off though.

When stuck in a traffic jam as a passenger many years ago I noticed a white car in the next lane had the number plate POW - on it. I could not quite see the driver but my husband said Princess Diana would not be driving on a busy road as she would have a chauffeur.

I don't agree they're vulgar - just fun. My son and DIL have their initials on theirs which they've had for years. I did get one for an Audi TT some years back which was part of my name followed by TTT but obviously once the car went there was no point in keeping it.

Many years ago my husband had the opportunity to buy one which would have been his name - he couldn't afford the £80 for it but has regretted it ever since as it's now the name of a famous sportsman and would be worth a fortune!

If people earn their money honestly, as far as I’m concerned they can spend it anyway they choose.

I saw one on a slinky, red sports car. It said R1CH B .
That made me laugh.

There are some good ones though.... but daft ones too! Either way, it makes me smile.

meno Sorry I don’t have a clue, I think one was blue,( sorry not a car person ) more recent though than 30 yrs ago.
Right on the embankment, we would sit for what seemed like ages in traffic and eagerly wait to see if they were in the correct positions!
It didn’t really work if one was parked on the wrong side of the small forecourt of the house.

How on earth can something be considered a waste of money if it brings enjoyment ? As for being vulgar, that really is below the belt - I know quite a few people (ourselves included) that have private plates and we're far from vulgar !

Oopsadaisy3, I have seen those plates many times parked outside a house when driving into London, helps break up the monotony.
I've had personal plates for many years, don't see a problem with them, each to their own.