... to be entertained by personal registration plates?

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

First off, I have a personal registration plate and I am not knocking them in general. You wouldn't really know it though, because it has a letter, three random numbers and my initials. Well you would if you know, as it makes it look as if the car dates from 1991, but it isn't "stand out".

I'm on about the weird ones, try-hard ones, just odd ones and the ones that look just daft.

M444 RKD. (Mark Dobson (for example). The name is Mark, not Maaark).

CL14 REK - It's Claire, not Cliare.

And where I live, a lot of plates starting with HG11 and similar. Having your postcode as a registration number? It's bizarre. Ironic, too, when the plate indicates the car was registered in Hampshire or Dorset, not Yorkshire.

And don't get me started on K155, M155 (seen on several white Audis), BO55 (my most hated one. So embarrassing! If you are really a "boss" you wouldn't need to tell everyone).

Yep I might be sneering and I expect a lot of brickbats. But what do other Mumsnetters think? Am I being mean? Any other examples?

Strange thread OP

I'm on about the weird ones, try-hard ones, just odd ones and the ones that look just daft.

They're all try-hard and a bit daft but who cares?

Yes, she's even angry at an expensive spice 🤔😂

Mad about, not at! It's my cat.

I just always think they must be really easy to remember if involved in an accident.

I don't see any big deal with it. If people like it then why not. Years ago I know that some people used to buy a popular plate to "hide" cash so they could make benefit claims (as it was a plate that would hold it's value, but didn't have to be declared as an asset). So for that reason I've always thought they were a bit tacky.

I have seen some very odd personal numberplates, the most recent STAYHARD.
Seriously WTF.

And where I live, a lot of plates starting with HG11 and similar. Having your postcode as a registration number? It's bizarre. Ironic, too, when the plate indicates the car was registered in Hampshire or Dorset, not Yorkshire.

cars registered on Wales have C plus another letter. CF happens to be the Cardiff postcode. It could be a complete coincidence that your reg no matches your postcode.

I’m all for them as I generally find that vanity plates are a reliable indicator of the type of person I won’t get on with.

Ha ha ha I have a personal plate that starts with one of those you mentioned, followed by my initials. I got it because I find it amusing, it was v. Cheap (my initials are weird) it was the only time I have ever purchased a brand new car and I've had more people say 'good condition for a 55 plate' than I have snigger at my personalised plate.

I saw a good one for a drains repair/plumber; B1G WEE

I'm with you OP.

It's the spacing of them too - my best friend had one and it gave me the rage every time I saw it. It was meant to read DH4 8BFF with the DH being his initials and the rest loosely resembling her name. It just looked tragic.

I have a cherished plate that came with the car so means nothing to me at all but it's a proper plate that's spaced correctly!

I vote YANBU

I saw D14 HOW and then discovered it was Diane's car and she's married to Howard. It reminded me of things I wrote on my school files in 1994.

Handy that you would avoid me then, because we definitely wouldn't get on. I can't stand people who make snap judgements of others based on nothing.

I wrote my initials on my school stuff 🤣🤣🤣

I 0 TAX, owned by the managing partner of the accountancy firm who specialised in high net work individuals next to my former office, was possibly my favourite ever. But does, of course, rely on the reader not interpreting the second digit as a zero.

I can't get too worked up about them, but definitely a waste of money (I used to have one but quickly realised how cringey they are!). They come across as mainly a way to show off, but then again that's up to the owner. I just think "oh, that's dire" then get on with my day and forget about it.

I just couldn't get worked up enough to care or to search directory enquiries to check if anyone had the surname Boss.

What people spend their own money on is their business and none of my concern.

There is a Range Rover I see fairly often with the number plate:

A B06 ROL

I have no idea why! Maybe they own a loo roll company? 😂

Back in the 80s I'm sure I read Paul Daniels number plate was MAG 1C and some comedian had COM 1C.
I used to live near a rugby player whose plate was OFF 14H (guess who?)

My mum has personalised number plates on her car, which I sometimes borrow. Every so often it hits me as I’m driving that other drivers might think I’m the idiot who thought they were worth spending £400 on.

I only did that because someone suggested it upthread and I was unsure. I was surprised. It took 10 seconds and I don't think anyone was worked up.

They entertain me for sure. I just giggle to myself, there goes a showy knobhead with more money than sense & just think how much good they could have done with that money if they were less ego driven

I saw one for sale a while ago that read as " NEW BOAT" and I really wanted that. Would my car have been a boat? Would people think I owned a boat? Would I be mistaken for a boat sales person?

However, I did not purchase it. It was not really a sensible plan.

Makes you more noticeable to the police...