Posts Tagged ‘cherished number plates’

History Of Number Plates

Friday, February 26th, 2010

It may not initially seem hugely interesting, but the history of number plates is quite relevant when you consider the increasing number of people buying personalised number plates.

Number plates were first introduced back in 1903. This was part of the Motor Car Act. This first style of number plates is what we now refer to as cherished number plates. The first cherished number plate ever to be produced was “A1″ and this was given to Earl Russell.

The next important date was 1963. This is when the suffix style of license plates was introduced. The letter at the end of the registration plate depicted the year that the car was from.

21 years later, prefix styles of number plates were released. These were in the form of “A111 AAA”. These were always in the form of one letter, three numbers and three letters. The first letter was important as this designated the year the car was made, for example, “A” was 1984, “B” was 1985 and “C” was 1986 etcetera.

A further 17 years later saw the release of the current style of number plates which we have today. These are in the form of two letters (which show where the car is from), two numbers which show when it was made and then another three letters.

If you’re in the market for any form of these number plates, then Platinum Plates is the place to go. We supply all different styles of number plate at a wide variety of prices so you’re sure to find the right plate at the right price.

Sentimental Number Plates

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Number plates mean a lot of things to a lot of people. The very idea of a number plate that has a story or sentimental value to no-one else but the owner makes it a highly cherished thing. They become valuable to the owner and become cherished number plates.

Cherished number plates are sourced from various places such as relatives or friends. Perhaps mother has given her son a plate for his twenty first birthday for example, and he retains it for years to come because it is very special to him. A friend may give their best friend a number plate with their initials in it.

The actor Same Kane, of Coronation Street and Brookside fame, bought his wife, former glamour model, Linda Lusardi a personalised number plate LU54 RDY (this was as close to LUSA RDI as was possible as there is no ‘RDI’ variation on this registration sequence). Of all the number plates that she could have been given LU54 RDY is probably the most relevant, individual and special.

People like to find registration marks that represent their name, or one that says something about them, perhaps their job, or hobby or other interest. Combinations of both letters and numbers that represent initials and dates of birth are becoming increasingly popular.

However, when it comes to the ultimate in registration status symbols, it is the number 1’s which must be considered the ultimate cherished number plates. At Platinum Plates, we can quickly transfer personalised number plates directly to any vehicle.

The Registration Game

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

If ever there’s been a time to choose personalised number plates, or private number plates, it’s now. There are more cars on the road now than ever before and everyone wants to stand out from the crowd. Rather than add fluffy dice or a large spoiler that may potentially “spoil” the look of the car, more and more people are choosing to display personalised number plates of their choice.

There are a few different types of registrations available.

- Current style registrations – consists of two letters, a two-figure age identifier, a space and then finally three letters – AB51 ABC

- Prefix registrations – those that contain the year identifier at the beginning of a registration. They consist of a letter, one to three numbers, a space and then finally three letters – A123 ABC

- Suffix registrations – those that contain the year identifier at the end of a registration. They consist of three letters, a space, one to three numbers, and then finally one letter – ABC 123A

- Dateless registrations – do not contain a year identifier and can consist of a number combination followed by a letter combination and vice versa. There is a space between the number and the group of letters – 1 ABC or ABC 1

The DVLA in Swansea hold auctions regularly throughout the year, where previously unreleased registrations are up for sale. We at Platinum Plates can act at all auctions of DVLA number plates on behalf of customers and can secure the dream number plates of their choice.

Make It A Special Christmas

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Christmas is fast approaching and, no doubt, there will be many people who are struggling to think of a present to buy for their loved ones. It can be infuriating, yes, but there is a simple solution that can stop you pulling your hair out this festive season.

Buying your loved one personalised number plates is a great gift idea. When you buy personalised number plates for that special person in your life, they are the present that will last for a lifetime. You can express an awful lot of feeling through personalised number plates. You can create a number plate that is styled in the fashion of your lover’s pet name to make it a truly personal gift, or maybe it is for a successful family member. You could highlight their achievement with personalised number plates to congratulate them and say well done.

Personalised number plates are easy to get hold of and are cost effective. All you need is an idea and a way to express it to the person you are buying it for. Personalised number plates don’t have to be confined to a world of celebrity and royalty. They are affordable for everyone and, what’s more, you can sport them on your own car sooner rather than later. The wait to receive your personalised number plates is short – even shorter if you allow us to attend a number plates auction for you!

At Platinum Plates, we can supply a range of personalised number plates to our customers and help you to create a personalised gift for somebody you love.

The Celebrity Of Registration

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Showbiz celebrities have always wanted to stand out from the crowd. They do it by various means – singing, dancing, playing sports, the list is endless. You name it, they’ve tried it. Sometime it just isn’t enough to stand on stage or appear on TV and do your thing. Sometimes, it’s necessary to let people know who’s driving around on the streets. That’s one of the reasons celebrities choose to display private number plates.

Personalised number plates bring a whole new dimension to the celebrity world. Imagine driving along when all of a sudden a great big Bentley Mulsanne passes you by with the registration MAG 1C. It’s Paul Daniels in his instantly recognisable car. There may be a few Bentley Mulsanne’s rolling around out there but there is only one with the unique registration that’s MAG 1C, and that’s probably how Paul would describe it; incorporating his timeless catchphrase.

Other examples of celebrity private number plates are sportsman/actor Vinny Jones with his registration “100 VJ”, the boxer Amir Khan “BOX 111G” and hairdresser Nicky Clarke “H4I RDO”.

There’s no doubt that the celebrity world of private number plates has had some influence on the average man. Everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame. Not everyone will get it, so maybe it’s just as good to accessorise and drive around in that little four-wheeled dream. That’s where we come in; Platinum Plates is a supplier of quality car registration numbers. We can help you realise a small part of celebrity through your very own personalised number plates.

The Latest Must-Have

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Personalised number plates are fast becoming a must have for the driver that wants his or her car to stand out from the crowd. If you were to ask yourself how many Ford Mondeos must there be in Britain, or how many Golf GTI’s, Mini Coopers or even Vauxhall Zafiras, you will soon realise that there must be thousands of each of these cars. However, the registration numbers fast become lost and insignificant as even more combinations are created as another couple of thousand cars and their respective registrations are rolled out over the following years.

Now ask yourself, how many cars have the same registration number? None. Private number plates have been around for many years now and the people that possess them cherish them. From the everyday person on the street to the sports personality to the rich and very famous, people like to take a registration number and make it even more special for their special car by having their own individual registration number.

It’s very rare to be able to buy a one-off car. It is possible, however, to buy one-off number plates that are individual to you. Number plates can say so much about you and your lifestyle. Whether it’s for you or as a gift for that someone special, the individuality will last forever. That’s where we come in, Platinum Plates is a supplier of quality number plates. It’s the only true way to make your car individual.

Looking for Individual Number Plates?

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

People who go for personal number plates choose all sorts of things to have on their plates. Initials are popular, but so are nicknames, football teams, company names, birthdays and hobbies.

You may have the perfect number plates in mind or want some suggestions. Either way, we at Platinum Plates can help.

If you’re stuck for ideas, we can assist you in choosing from the millions of individual number plates which are possible to buy online.

Equally, if you are clear about the number plates you want, get in touch. We can let you know as and when the right registration comes in, or if we get something similar on our database. Fill in our simple online form with details of the number plates you are after, and each time our database is updated we’ll automatically check it against what you’ve asked for. We can’t promise we’ll find you your dream number plates overnight, but we will keep on searching until you tell us to stop.

We’ve been supplying personal number plates for over a decade, and, of course, have full authorisation to issue number plates. All the number plates we issue comply fully with the various legal requirements surrounding car registrations.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quick, easy and affordable it is to buy through us, with our prices starting at just £49.

Get in touch today by visiting our site, or call us. We’re open 8am until 10pm, seven nights a week.

Buying Private Number Plates at Auction

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) holds regular auctions throughout the year, where you can bid for previously unreleased number plate registrations. About six auctions take place every year at locations across the UK. Essentially, these events are great chances to bid for some highly distinctive and collectable private number plates.

Some of these auctions sell specialised private number plates such as K1 NGS, which recently fetched a price tag of £235,000. Far more modestly, there are also private number plates up for sale which were not previously released as not enough cars were produced in a particular year to fill all the available registrations.

At a recent auction in Barnsley, for example, hundreds of private number plates ranging from 94A to 20YY were up for grabs.

Bidding in person is undoubtedly fun. But it may not always be convenient, and if you thought you had to attend to bid, think again! At Platinum Plates, for example, as a fully licensed seller of private number plates, we can secure the plates of your dreams by bidding on your behalf.

At Platinum Plates, we have full details of all the dates of DVLA auctions, and all the private number plates available at them. Have a browse and see which ones you want.

If you’d like us to put in your bid at a forthcoming auction, give us a call during office hours or fill in a form on our user-friendly web site. Get in touch today.

Different Number Plates To Purchase

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

There’s more than one type of number plate legally displayed on vehicles, and compatible with Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) rules.

The original DVLA number plates were dateless – beginning with the famous A1 mark in London in 1903. These registrations were initially issued by county councils.

In 2003, the DVLA brought in legislation which meant anyone supplying DVLA number plates had to be registered with them.

DVLA number plates must be spaced correctly and bear the name and postcode of their registered supplier. It is against the law to supply number plates which are mis-spaced, misrepresented, or have non-standard fonts or non-compliant flag badges.

Unfortunately, there’s also more than one reason why people buy DVLA number plates. Unfortunate because theft of number plates has soared. Rising fuel prices have also meant an increase in number plate theft for use in garage forecourt theft.

At Platinum Plates, we are always happy to supply DVLA number plates whether you are buying a personalised number plate because you want to make your vehicle truly original, or if you need a replacement set because yours has been damaged or stolen.

We’re members of the Institute of Registration Agents and Dealers and of course fully licensed to supply DVLA number plates. We believe in good customer service, too, and willing to spend time answering any questions you may have.

So call us, or log on to our site and read more, including what others have to say about our helpful, professional service.

What Are Cherished Number Plates?

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

As the name suggests, cherished number plates are a registration mark with a special significance, usually for historic or sentimental reasons. Sometimes, cherished number plates have been in the same family for decades.

The idea of cherished number plates was born after registration rules changed to allow marks to be transferred from vehicle to vehicle. The DVLC (as it was before it became the DVLA) allowed this in response to public demand.

These days it’s even easier to have cherished number plates since you can acquire retention and entitlement certificates. This means, for example, that you can buy cherished number plates for a child and pay a small annual fee to the DVLA to keep them up to date until the child is old enough to drive.

One of the first people to have an early version of cherished number plates was the Earl Russell, who queued all night in London in 1903 to acquire the plate, ‘A 1′ for his Napier. So really cherished marks were the first personalised number plates.

These days, you don’t have to be a millionaire to acquire your own cherished number plates. And whether you’re looking to buy or sell your cherished number plates, make us at Platinum Plates your first port of call.

We offer a wide range of dateless cherished marks, prefix and current style personalised number plates.

It’s so easy to look for your cherished number plates using our online search facility – see our website for more details.