How naff are private plates?

[StillMedusa]

I know... I'm a bit sad, but I have seen a set of car plates that are perfect for my name..and I want them. But I don't drive a porche or anything posh..just my dear little Panda 4x4....

@Aaaaaah well no. Shoes you wear, books you read and bags you carry things in. Looking at a picture of a shoe won’t keep your foot warm. A personalised number plate has zero purpose.

I have a privately plate. Not my name or anything recognisable. Just a random combo of letters and numbers. Its main purpose is to conceal the age and value of my car, which looks decent until you find out how old it is.

I can’t think of a any reason why I would want to spend money on a number plate for my car. It already has one that does the job and it came with the car. It is a complete waste of money.

I know somebody who transferred the plate from his late grandfather's car to his. His car already had a perfectly good number plate and the transfer cost him money.

He doesn't regard it as a waste. Neither do I.

[quote SwedishK]@Aaaaaah well no. Shoes you wear, books you read and bags you carry things in. Looking at a picture of a shoe won’t keep your foot warm. A personalised number plate has zero purpose.[/quote]
The point being, things that bring you joy, not the practicalities of them 🙄

If you don’t like having money then give your money to someone who can do something useful with them, don’t spend hundreds on a piece of plastic tat

You could apply that to lots of things. Its no different to buying something like a designer bag

@WowStarsWow

The ones I find naff are the ones which relate to the (not very nice) car they're on, for instance I used to see a Ford Galaxy with G4LXY - cringe.

I have one which came with my previous car, that I kept on my current car to hide the age. It does reference the car (it includes the letters BMW ) but that's not cringe as it's a nice car

Putting one on a Fiat Panda (incidentally my first car) could either be very naff or quite funny. I'd probably think the car was driven by a little old lady, as round here, it's them who drive small cheap cars with very rare expensive plates on - presumably inherited.

Also getting in there before anyone else - the following plates referenced above can't exist in the UK!
R488 1T5
R 06 ERS
TO55ER
I AM 4T

Signed, a number plate wanker.

Typical BMW drivers

When it comes to naff personalised number plates don't make the top 10 IMO

I never use a tradesperson or company with personalised plates on their vans.

I just think if they can afford to put them on their fleet they must charge too much.

I'm amazed at the number of people who claim to roll their eyes & think people are thats. I barely even notice number plates let alone give them any thought when I do.

I bought a private plate in the summer. I was planning on changing my car, I've had it far longer than any other car but it runs well, I love it & I have a very low mileage. So I bought plates to basically hide its age.
The ones I got cost a lot less than I expected

Certainly reeks of insecurity

I’m intrigued by the idea of hiding the age of your car. Hiding it from who?

@SnarkyBag

I’m intrigued by the idea of hiding the age of your car. Hiding it from who?

Some employers will only allow you to use your private vehicle to visit clients if it is under a certain age.

I’m intrigued by the idea of hiding the age of your car. Hiding it from who

From me 😁 I kept thinking 'God this cars getting old, I really should think about replacing it' when there's really no need. Now I don't think about it. Hey it makes sense in my head 😂

Oh, very, but who cares? Do you want them? Will anyone be harmed by you having them? What does it matter that some people will sneer and judge? Why would you care what they think?

@AdobeWanKenobi

I personally believe what people spend their money on isn't my business. Also, the day I can bring myself to judge someone based on their car numberplate is probably the day I give up.

THIS ^ is the most sensible post on the tyread

@Redglitter

I’m intrigued by the idea of hiding the age of your car. Hiding it from who

From me 😁 I kept thinking 'God this cars getting old, I really should think about replacing it' when there's really no need. Now I don't think about it. Hey it makes sense in my head 😂

Interesting and actually I may revise my opinion slightly as that does seem like a financially sensible option if it’s helps you not fork out on a car you don’t need.

Interesting and actually I may revise my opinion slightly as that does seem like a financially sensible option if it’s helps you not fork out on a car you don’t need

It absolutely has. My plate cost the equivalent of probably 2 months car payments. Im now planning on keeping it for another couple of years.

@SwedishK

I can’t think of a any reason why I would want to spend money on a number plate for my car. It already has one that does the job and it came with the car. It is a complete waste of money. If you don’t like having money then give your money to someone who can do something useful with them, don’t spend hundreds on a piece of plastic tat.

Imagine you buy a dress that comes with belt loops and a (purely decorative) belt. Would you judge someone for spending money on a nicer belt to wear with the dress? After all, the one that came with the dress does the job (accessorises the dress) and it came with the dress. Because that's how some people see private plates - as an upgraded accessory to the car (like some people add stickers or change the wheels). Accessories are often not functional, like jewellery, but most of us wear them and don't get judged in the same way.

Am I strange in not caring how old my car is, or even knowing? I know the numberplate but don't think about how long ago the year is. And the longer I get out of my car the better, I'd be very pleased to be driving an old car as long as it wasn't costing me money!

We've got one, and have had it for years. We were buying our first ever new car and the dealer had a batch of registration numbers available, one of which had dh's initial plus two numbers which looked like mine. It cost us about £200 to select that one, and we transfer it whenever we get another car. Sometimes I do feel a bit prattish, but it was more or less luck that we ended up with it.

Am I strange in not caring how old my car is, or even knowing

Nope, not in the slightest but then it would be boring if we were all the same 😊

I have a private plate. It's not trying to spell out a name badly though. My nickname is 3 letters long so fits nicely. I find the people who call them naff aren't in a position to buy them usually. If you can afford it, go for it. I love mine

@throwaway201809

I have a private plate. It's not trying to spell out a name badly though. My nickname is 3 letters long so fits nicely. I find the people who call them naff aren't in a position to buy them usually. If you can afford it, go for it. I love mine

I can more than afford one or several just think they’re naff but if it helps you to tell yourself that 🤣

@Wrennie24

They are called vanity plates for a reason. Each to their own.

I was coming on to say exactly this!!