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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Personalised number plates

238 replies

PrincessWellington · 30/09/2013 08:51

Why would someone pay money to have a misspelt version of their name on their car? Or words?

E.g. M41HEW, A11CET, OF55IDE T

I get the initials ones, not that i would want one, don't get this.

I have a theory though!

OP posts:
Owllady · 30/09/2013 18:31

I have been spotting them tonight

D2 VEL devil??

i HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THEM. i JUST FELT SORRY FOR THE WOMAN IN THE COW ONE oops caps/ Lots of things went through my head tbh
dairy farmer - could be, we are an agricultural county
misogynistic husband/partner - maybe :(
collects cow ornaments - possible
not very nice to work for, wants to make a statement - who knows?

Original poster
PrincessWellington · 30/09/2013 18:33

S00PDR agon - interesting

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincessWellington · 30/09/2013 18:34

It's not imaginative to read the ads and buy a plate is it?

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 30/09/2013 18:38

I was given a personlised plate as a birthday present. It is now work 20 times what it originally cost. I don't feel I can sell it though, as it was a gift and am pretty sure it will be worth even more in a few years.

I'm actually not keen on it. Everyone knows properly rich and famous people never have personalised plates. Grin

RedToothBrush · 30/09/2013 18:39

Got to be honest, that when I see a personalised number plate, the only word I really think about is the word "TWAT".

Nothing to do with them being 'expensive wastes of money'. Its just that they are well.... just dumb!

I suppose I see it almost as a form of personal advertising about yourself, to give a certain impression to the world. And if you feel the need to do that with your brand of car or what number plate your car has, I think it doesn't say a lot about you. Especially if it suggests you aren't very good at spelling your own name!

When it comes down to the money argument I think, if you want to drive a nice car which might happen to be worth a lot of money, because its a great car, fair play to you.

If you want to drive a certain car because it says something about your status, then you are a twat. Doesn't matter what it is; whether it be the pimped up car with blue underlighting or the chelsea tractor or the Audi Rep Mobile... Drive it cos you like it, not cos its going to impress your mates, the girls, the business associate, the playground mafia. (Delete as applicable).

And the number plate thing really does fit in with this image to the world business rather than just getting on with your life without making a fuss about it to everyone else. Its all about the shoving it down someone else's throat saying "HEY LOOK AT ME!" type attention seeking.

But then I think its cos I'm getting old, and I really don't get 90% of whats on social media (particularly twitter) and how everyone has to advertise the size of their latest turd, complete with photographs to compete with everyone else's log pictures.

No one seems comfortable in their own skin and confident enough in their life to just enjoy it without this need to compete with the world and his wife.

So yeah, thats why I hate personalised number plates. Its all the need to better others in someway.

YouHaveAGoodPoint · 30/09/2013 18:44

everlong My post was trying to say that people spend money on all sorts of 'frivolous' things. Why are PP any worse than other things.

BTW. It's fun trying to find a PP on the DVLA site I linked to earlier.

Mitmoo isn't coming up Sad

VerySmallSqueak · 30/09/2013 18:47

"But then I think its cos I'm getting old,and I don't really get 90% of what's on social media (particularly twitter) and how everyone has to advertise the size of their latest turd,complete with photographs to compete with everyone else's log pictures"

Red, you rock.

Grin Grin Grin

BorisJohnsonsHair · 30/09/2013 18:48

I know a couple, let's call them Claire and John. They have a personalised plate which is 971 CLJ, because it has a C and a J in it. FFS. Mind you, they also have "Little Man on board" and "powered by fairydust" signs. Give me strength.

JenaiMorris · 30/09/2013 18:49

They're as cheesy as fuck. Which is right up my street. I'd rather spend a few hundred £s on an apt personalised plate than a bloody handbag, anyway.

Horsemad · 30/09/2013 18:52

I'm not a lover of them, my DH has one and I hate using the car 'cause people always say 'saw your car in xxx place'
I like being anonymous!

That said, ours is now worth a huge amount of money, it's Letter Letter Letter Numeral (single digit) which are more valuable (so I'm told). Hmm

I've told him I'm flogging it if he dies first!

SirChenjin · 30/09/2013 18:56

Love it RedToothBrush - well said Grin

Chippednailvarnish · 30/09/2013 19:07

Money can't buy you taste.

SHarri13 · 30/09/2013 19:11

Yuck, I hate personalised number plates. Vulgar.

JenaiMorris · 30/09/2013 19:21

But why is a personalised plate any more yuck than anything else costing more than it need to? At least it won't go off, get broken, wear out or give you a hangover.

stiffstink · 30/09/2013 19:29

I live near you BeerTricksPotter!

I have photographed the P1NUP reg because it is as naff as fuck, especially if you look quite bog standard!

kitcac.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/hello-reg/

usuallyright · 30/09/2013 19:37

some people get personalised plates because they're fun and hide the age of their car.
Me? I've got one to tell the neighbours we're loaded and hopefully remind the poor bastards they come lower down the pecking order in terms of wealth and status; you've got to let the plebs know their place, what better way than with a private plate? :))

arethereanyleftatall · 30/09/2013 19:40

Agree with everything very small squeak has said.

VerySmallSqueak · 30/09/2013 19:50

Thank you arethere.

JenaiMorris · 30/09/2013 19:59

So, above lentils to eat and sack cloth from which to make clothing, what are we allowed to spend money on without fear of being labelled a twat?

VerySmallSqueak · 30/09/2013 20:02

Jenai who are you asking? Confused

ohnoimnot · 30/09/2013 20:03

Its all relative to income, if you can afford it and it is an investment, then why not. My plate is over 100 years old its been in my family for 3 generations. I love it

JenaiMorris · 30/09/2013 20:06

Anyone who seems to think personalised plates make you a profligate twat, Very.

I don't have one btw. The reg my car came with is quite cute, so I don't feel the urge.

RedToothBrush · 30/09/2013 20:16

JenaiMorris Mon 30-Sep-13 19:59:22
So, above lentils to eat and sack cloth from which to make clothing, what are we allowed to spend money on without fear of being labelled a twat?

Spending money isn't the issue. You can have very nice things and wear designer stuff all day and all night.

Its the advertising the fact you are wearing the very expensive shit, and shouting at the top of your voice about how cool that makes you, thats the beef I have...

Mainly cos it doesn't make you cool or give you status, but makes you look like a competitive egotistical twat, rather than someone who simply appreciates 'the finer things' in life.

I think there is a saying about not being able to buy class that fits in nicely here.

Bowlersarm · 30/09/2013 20:20

But if you have a Mulberry handbag everyone can see you have a Mulberry handbag.

How is that not advertising the fact you have very expensive shit, and shouting at the top of your voice, but with a number plate it is?

Sparklingbrook · 30/09/2013 20:22

I wouldn't know a Mulberry handbag if I saw one. I wouldn't know a designer anything. It's all wasted on me. Grin