Personalised number plates

[Cleanbedsheets]

Why do people spend so much money on these?

AIBU to think that the only possible reason for having a PNP is to be a bit braggy?

My DP wants to get me one for my upcoming birthday, I have said it is a waste of money and to not bother. DP doesn't understand.

Your thoughts?

Trust me, most people will think you're wanky.

This.

That can’t exist so it was obviously something else butchered to fuck.

I wouldn't want one for all the reasons you listed, it's for similar reasons I wouldn't buy a bag, t shirt etc with a brand obviously on it - I don't think showing off is nice but I would not criticise those who do (if they can comfortably afford it)

It's the same as customising anything though. Some people have embroidered hankies, some have monogrammed wallets or engraved watches etc.
It really doesn't matter.

My current number plate is hilarious (to me) by accident. I pointed it out to DH once I bought the car and now it's the cars name and it still makes me smile when I tell people my NP and see them realise what it looks like.

Even though it was a happy accident, it makes me more likely to want to pay for one in the future.

This.

My DS bought his dream car a few years ago (second-hand, not a fortune). It’s a classic, so I bought him the normal plates that coincidentally look like his name! (Think MRI0 WEN for Mr Ian Owen - not his name)

Proper ones like 2/3 letters and a number are fine. I have them on a few cars.

illigally spaced, numbers that look
like letters, jokey ones. Nope

They're fine if they're actually readable, and clearly makes sense, but the majority of them nowadays due there only being a very limited amount of reg's left just look like a load of mixed up letters and numbers IMO.

Please tell us what you think is an acceptable thing to spend money on?

I had a personal plate for my 40th, my initials and 40 a “few” years ago. It cost £100. I think that was pretty inexpensive for a birthday gift, and I use it every day and it makes me smile.

It’s now cost about £6 a year for the purchase, and £80 a couple of times when I’ve changed my car.

there’s no hiding that my car isn’t new so it’s not to hide the age of my car…I just like to kid myself that I’m forever 40😂

THE 805S

My cousin and her DH have them. They are very blingy people in general (big house, filled with 'crushed diamond' type decor) But they are generally living beyond their means, so both have old knackered cars that they've had for well over 10 years and weren't new when they got them (one old Jag and one old 'new style' mini, neither 'a classic car') They seem to think that the private plates hide this fact. They are very snobbish and make sarky comments about other people's houses/clothes/cars, so that's why I feel justified in noting the car reg situation. I wouldn't normally notice these things. Anyway they are usually who I think of when talking about private plates.

If you've got a particularly prized car that is your pride and joy, say, a Bentley, it's fine.

If you're going to shell out for a personalised number plate on a 1.2 litre Ford Fiesta.... not so fine.

🥱

Mine cost very little. Far less than a lot of MNers "waste" on braggy handbags or wine.

as someone else said: what do you deem to be acceptable things to spend money on?

My personal view is that they’re for people with too much money.

I usually assume they were birthday presents. The present giver having run out of gift ideas.

I don’t see the point in them, it’s a registration number for a car which you can get with the car at no extra expense. But if that’s what other people choose to do with their money that’s up to them. Creates jobs too. And gives you something to read and try to work out when stuck in traffic.

I bought my bloke one for our first wedding anniversary. We’ve never been able to forget the number for 23 years and it makes the car easy to find in a car park.

Two eldest DC have them. I bought them for their 18th Birthdays. Neither need manipulating and DC1's is now worth five times what I paid for it.
Both DS love cars and work in the industry. They'd say drinking alcohol, smoking and drug taking (which many of their friends do) are also a waste of money. They neither want nor care about your opinion and they can always sell them. What harm are they doing?
DS1 bought his first home at 23 (DS2 is only 19), has a partner of twelve years (no DC) that he will marry this year. He has a great career, no debt (apart from his mortgage), has travelled widely and has never brought a moment's trouble to our door, but you'd judge him on a number plate?

@Ormside , I'd judge the plate.
My car is tiny and I'm always losing it in car parks

I had one years ago to hide the age of my car. I worked in an industry where a certain image was vital. I wouldn’t have been hired with an old looking car as ridiculous as that sounds. Cost about £60 and was just a random NI plate with no real meaning. I no longer do this line of work and have ‘standard’ plates now. Not everyone with a personalised plate is a wannabe footballers wife.

Hate them with a passion. Not sure why but l just do!

@DuchessOfSausage I don't have a vanity plate but you should get an XC40. It comes with an app that tells you exactly where you left it. You can also set the horn and alarm going to help in your search. I'm very forgetful.

Tacky and egotistical. Everyone I know who has one is a massive twat.

Because people run out of Birthday and Christmas ideas!
And it's not cluttering up the house.