To not see the point in personalised reg plates?

[Flexilexy]

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

Everyone I know with a personalised reg plate received it as a gift, in most cases, upon turning 18, or passing their test. So… I suppose it might be a frivolous waste of money but, then, gifts often are - something thoughtful/ personalised that the recipient wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.

I don’t judge anyone for having them, although I agree with you that I probably wouldn’t bother with one myself.

You can't tell how old your car is and it can be a bit of fun for a few hundred quid

My husband's plate is on his car which is 25 years old. I don't suppose anyone with the vaguest interest in cars imagines he's driving a new car. It doesn't have an advantage, he just fancied it one day and he could afford it so he bought it.

All the rubbish judgements on here, he's a police trained driver so passed a much harder test than most people on here will have done, he isn't flash - hence the 25 year old car, he isn't trying to fool anyone about the age of his car. Sometimes people just fancy buying something, I don't know why anyone wants a designer handbag or an iphone when my £50 phone does everything you need a phone to do but if people want them and have the money good for them.

That's actually an interesting reason.

He wouldn't be required to give any fucks, flying or not.

You have worded your comment far more diplomatically than my comment 😂

If someone has a personalised number plate, I know they're someone I want to avoid.

See, I can kind if see why, if you can get your initials or your actual name it's a bit of fun. My dad had his initals and 50 on his car which was his birthday present turning 50 for example. It didn't cost a fortune either.

But I really don't see the point of ones like this 'Scarlet' above where it's kind of like your name but not quite. Apart from 1 for I and 0 for O numbers don't actually look like letters. So it just looks a bit daft. Definitely not worth thousands!!

It can be a method of advertising a business.

I've seen;

Vets with SOW and VET

Podiatrists with TOE

Joiner with MDF 1

Sailor with B3RTH

Dentist with GUM B5

Pest controller with RAT 1

Tbf this is another good reason to get one!

Personally I don't see the point but it's no more or less daft than eg 'designer' handbags.

I quite liked one in our area, P00 2 TAX, which of course belonged to an accountant.

I'm working through replies - I never realised MN was such a huge pain in the arse when you quote reply to one thing, it then takes you right to the most recent reply so I'm having to work back through to where I was.

People really do get their knickers in a twist about asking a simple question, it amuses me. They must be the ones with shit personalised plates.

Ah well now you know and you can have hours of fun reading them like my DS!

First post OP in this username. You knew this topic would cause a stir. Well done but it's been done to death.

I think people with personalised number plates are huge w*nkers.

i wonder if the Princess Royal still has hers? When she was 20 and Colonel in Chief of the 14th/20th Hussars, they gave her a plate that was 1420 H that was sourced from a milk float for her birthday.

There was a chap (assuming) living down the road who had a plate which read SNOG GUY (can't remember the exact configuration). I am still wondering if it was a call to action or a way to alert others that he is prone to unexpectedly trying to snog you.

I have one. Not skint at all. Nice car (owned outright too shocker)
Mine is my first 3 letters of first name and first 3 of second name.

I.E
PAMM CAR

For Pam Carter (example)
So it's quite obvious what it is.

Brought mine when I was 18, had nothing else to spend my money on at the time. Cost me £150, and I still love it now. It says my name.

Personalised Plate Wank@r and proud.

It was a gift. I am not scrapping to live month by month.

I never need to memorise a new number plate when I change the car.

Unnecessary.

They're all the same, aren't they?

W4N K3R

You're trying to tell me you've never once given any thought to something someone has done, or bought, or a place they've been, or whatever, that doesn't impact you? You've never been curious what makes something appealing to someone else? Bull shit. Of course you have. I've just decided to ask about something I'm curious about, on a chat forum. Which is the purpose of a chat forum.

Besides, I answered that in my OP.

Bookmark the post you're quoting then post and you can get back to it.

I've got the song Canter in my head now.

You know it could be a canter
If you were just a wee bit less of a wanker

It's fun being a wanker sometimes with my campervan and number plate.

Another interesting reason. I too have little tributes to my Dad connected to our shared interests. That's a nice thing to do.