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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not see the point in personalised reg plates?

402 replies

Flexilexy · 07/02/2025 10:17

As I sat in traffic this morning trying to work out if someone's reg was their initials or if it was meant to spell a word out, I wondered why they even bothered.

If you have a personalised registration plate, why?

This is one of those things I've just never understood why anyone would spend money on it. I'd have to have a LOT of disposable income before this is something I'd part with cash for.

Google says "The cost of a personalized number plate can range from a few hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds."

I'll be honest, and show my judgemental side. Most (not all) of the people I know with personalised reg plates are skint, or just scraping by month to month. So it really baffles me that this is something they'd chose to do with their money.

But also, even if I could afford it, what's the appeal? I'm genuinely interested to know what makes you want one?

And yes, I'm fully aware it doesn't have any impact on my life at all, but one is allowed to ponder. This entire site is full of people complaining about things that aren't relevant to them, it's just a discussion.

YABU - Personalised reg plates are wonderful and not just an expensive bit of plastic that collects dead bugs
YANBU - They're totally fucking pointless

OP posts:
Snowmanscarf · 07/02/2025 10:20

One of the advantages is that it de-ages a car. If you see a car with a normal registration plate, instantly know it’s three years old, for example. With a personalised reg, you don’t know if it’s new or five years old

Pennnyforthright · 07/02/2025 10:20

FFS is that all you have to think about?

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 07/02/2025 10:20

I've got one, it's personal to me. Nothing to do with you. And I'm comfortably off not scraping by.

Iwanttobreakfree2 · 07/02/2025 10:21

I had my car rear-ended by a driver with a personalised number plate a few years ago now. The upside for me is that, although he now drives a different vehicle, he has still retained the same personalised number plate so I know to try and give him a wide berth whenever I see him.

thebrollachan · 07/02/2025 10:22

They're called vanity plates for a reason.

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 10:22

I don't get it either. Each to their own though I suppose.

caramac04 · 07/02/2025 10:23

Often more money than sense for a private individual. Some are quite good for a business.

Dotjones · 07/02/2025 10:24

It's a way of advertising that you have more money than sense. Some people like to show wealth off and a personalised number plate is a way to do that. Especially someone who actually isn't that wealthy so can't but a brand new car. Putting a personalised plate on a slightly older car hides the fact it's not brand new.

In some parts of America where you can properly personalise your plate it makes sense, but in Britain it's pointless.

I must confess as a child I was looking forward to "P"-reg numbers to come out in the hope that I could get hold of P155 OFF, but I'd have never have been able to afford it and subsequently found out the DVLA don't sell "offensive" plates anyway, which kind of defeats the point.

ManchesterLu · 07/02/2025 10:24

The point is that they're personal to the person who buys it. They don't have to mean anything to you, only them.

DUsername · 07/02/2025 10:25

I don't know...why does anyone like the stuff I don't personally like?!

The only benefit I can think of personally is that you don't have to memorise a new reg when you change your car.

I think people often get them as gifts too. If you have someone in your life who's into cars or loves their car I can see why you might buy them one.

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 10:25

Just had a quick browse... for Scarlett there is on which is SC62 LET.. for £26k

naemates · 07/02/2025 10:25

I love having my name on my stuff, my car included

Jeezitneverends · 07/02/2025 10:27

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 07/02/2025 10:20

I've got one, it's personal to me. Nothing to do with you. And I'm comfortably off not scraping by.

This…I don’t see the point of a lot of things but they don’t bother me in the way this seems to bother you. Just move on

De-aging not the issue here, my car is very obviously 10 years old 😂

edwinbear · 07/02/2025 10:27

Mine came with the car. It's worth a few hundred pounds, it's specific to BMW (and I drive a BMW). I'd be happy to sell it, but can't be bothered with the hassle of re-registering the car.

PearTreeBoat · 07/02/2025 10:29

I bought a car years ago that had a personalised plate on. Obviously the plate meant nothing to me but I liked the car and was the right budget so I happily drove round in it with the (non) personalised plate on.
Unfortunately it wasn't one that was worth re-registering the car for to sell the plate

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 10:29

Dotjones · 07/02/2025 10:24

It's a way of advertising that you have more money than sense. Some people like to show wealth off and a personalised number plate is a way to do that. Especially someone who actually isn't that wealthy so can't but a brand new car. Putting a personalised plate on a slightly older car hides the fact it's not brand new.

In some parts of America where you can properly personalise your plate it makes sense, but in Britain it's pointless.

I must confess as a child I was looking forward to "P"-reg numbers to come out in the hope that I could get hold of P155 OFF, but I'd have never have been able to afford it and subsequently found out the DVLA don't sell "offensive" plates anyway, which kind of defeats the point.

What I don't get with this though is why does anyone care what others think? Why do they want others to think they have a 'new' car? Especially when most people on the road don't even know who you are?

This reminds me of someone I know. He got finance on a brand new Polestar, he still lives with his parents. It's under lunacy to me.

Billydavey · 07/02/2025 10:31

All my cars have them but the simple 3 letters and 3 numbers ones. I’m not a fan of any that you have to misspace in order to make them look like something else.

not really vanity as such, they don’t show the year but tbh an old car is an old car regardless of the plate so it’s not hiding anything. Just a bit of fun

LegoLandslide · 07/02/2025 10:31

People at work get very defensive about the age of their car and use their personalised plate to hide this . . .

My mum can't remember post codes, phone nos etc so hers is "personalised" but it's actually just the plate from her first car as she can remember that one.

Bushmillsbabe · 07/02/2025 10:32

I don't get it either, I think they are quite naff, but I wouldn't judge anyone who got one.
I was suprised when my Dad got one though, he is the least showey person ever, but he has enough money and buys a new top range car every couple years because he enjoys them and has worked his way up from poverty to being very comfortable, and if he enjoys it, then why not, it's not hurting anyone.

SockQueen · 07/02/2025 10:36

People are free to waste spend their money on whatever they like. Sometimes I judge the "MR B1G" type ones, but many aren't even noticeable as personalised plates.

BasilParsley · 07/02/2025 10:37

I bought mine over 25 years ago (when they were really quite cheap) and have transferred it to every car I've bought since then. It's of the form LNN LLL and is v. easy for me to remember.

sunbum · 07/02/2025 10:37

I think the ones that obviously spell somethig make sense to me, though id never waste money on one. There's a woman round here that whizzes round on wchool run and activities in an old banger people carrier that has A1 MOM on it, which i think is quite fun.

ButI I think the cheqper ones with people's initials etc are silly as noone can tell what they are supposed to mean unless you know who the owner of the car is. My FIL had one that was something like LG01 SDS and was outraged that I didn't realise that it was a personal plate as his name is Steven David Smith.

I could afford a reasonable one, but would rarher use the money on a holiday, or deposit on a new car.

Berlinlover · 07/02/2025 10:39

I think they’re utter cringe, thankfully they’re illegal here in Ireland.

Waltdisnerd · 07/02/2025 10:40

I have it because I like it.
Not sure what other reason there could be

InspectorGidget · 07/02/2025 10:41

I bought a car that had a personal plate. It means nothing to me but is now worth more than the car it's on! I'll probably keep the plate though when the car goes.

It's when people try and make a personal plate out of a normal one with will spacing that I find a bit tragic.