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?

Personally I think they're a bit tacky and "look at me" but each to their own.

They're popular though and if relatively common will hold their value (I think).

I don’t get the appeal but can see they’d make a good 18th birthday gift for a car fanatic when you’ve run out of ideas. The thought of a 40yo planning what they’d want on their plate makes me laugh - not likely to be someone I’ll hang out with but harmless. I know one couple who have their initials but doesn’t hugely stand out and they are really normal and fun people but the people I know with flash attention-seeking ones are generally up themselves with a superiority complex.

Mine has my first horses name on, I love it. Was an 18th birthday present

Think they are very silly but if people want to spend their money on it then up to them. I’d be considering more why your DP wants to get you one and I assume is debating it with you since you said they don’t understand your reasons for not wanting one. Isn’t it usual to get a gift for someone that they actual want vs what you want to give them?

@justaboutdonenow

Oh well 😂 good thing I don't run my life by the thoughts of strangers! I quite enjoy guessing people's names from plates, but each to their own. I probably judge people for much less so can't begrudge anyone having a laugh at our cars!

Do you mean he doesn't instantly do the transfer?

Each to their own, if you've the money to buy one then why not.

I have a cherished number plate which was on my Dad's first car back in the early 50s, he paid to transfer it to each new car while he was alive, then my Mum's car and now, with them both gone it's on mine.

It's a number then 3 letters which forms a statement (ie 2 YOU) and is often not recognised by ANPR machines but I love it and I hope that my kids will eventually put it on theirs. It may be worth a lot of money but I would never sell it and certainly don't consider it tacky.

Did you get yours from the DVLA website or somewhere else? I want to get one but the DVLA website doesn't generate any that I like.

If you don’t want it, it’s not a good present, whatever anybody else thinks.

You shouldn’t have to justify it, just say what you would prefer.)

The company that rents out the sewage pumping trucks near us has obviously bought up all the POO numberplates. Always makes me laugh. Can’t imagine they had to compete for them either.

I have one - just a number and my initials so not of any great value.

It's on it's 4th car now. It does save me having to learn a new numberplate each time. Unlike @orangegato 's neighbour, I just transfer when I buy the car so no one would know if it was brand new or not unless they are up to date with model styling.

Two houses in our road have personalised plates on fancy cars. The other week the one neighbour was complaining about their fixed term mortgage coming to an end and how they were panicking about rates.

I'm glad our money went to pay our mortgage off.......

I have them and loads of other things that could be considered a waste of money, if you think number plates are bad you should see what I spend on horses!

I want to be friends with your friend.

I think they’re usually totally cringe, unless it’s a business who has been clever with their name on the number plate. I like those.

An ex of mine once threatened to get a personalised plate that was hisinitials 4 myinitials. I would have died. He is very much an ex.

Though I do like an amusing one, I've ever understood the appeal. Had a boss once who used to laugh about how his kids found it "so embarrassing" - the stupid thing was that his initials were such that hardly anyone noticed in reality. Each to their own as they say. They can be good birthday reminders though, if you take that route - LOL

Yeah, that’s about the only legit version, currently on a 2013 Fiesta so a great example of a play worth way more than the car it’s on.

I think that the nub of the issue is that DH is getting you something that HE wants, not something that YOU want.

Why don't you suggest that the PNP is bought for his birthday while you get something that you actually ask for?

Horses I can completely understand!

Definitely tacky. We aren’t allowed to say ‘chavvy’ on MN. But if we were, I’d say it.

It may be on an import or retention, which used to throw up odd car details when you search the reg or maybe it IS on a Fiesta.

I think the ones that are obviously personalised are tacky.

And the ones that aren't obviously personalised are pointless.

So not for me but hey, people spend money on all sorts of things I personally think are tacky and/or pointless and that's up to them.

Some people buy expensive handbags, some buy fancy tech kit above what they need, some people buy number plates - no difference really.

Having been a victim of number plate cloning that is the one thing which would make me consider a personal number plate, however it would need to be a very clearly personal number rather than the "three letters which happen to be initials" type if its going to deter a cloner.

They're a vanity project. There's a good reason why they're known as twat plates.

I've often wondered why people get so het up about personalised number plates. Do you also whinge and scream "tacky!" when you see someone with a Chanel handbag?

Also, I might add, a lot of them are illegal.