With an epic summer of sport and music in full swing, the DVLA has today launched a timed licence plate auction that could appeal to fans of one or the other – or both.
Private number plates have become a hot commodity in recent years, with the sector valued at over £2bn (some number plates can sell for a small fortune).
And now, with DVLA plates starting from just £70, you can pick up European and Olympic-themed plates (like the 70 euro ones) for a bargain and potentially end up with a decent investment.
Although England suffered a disappointing defeat in the Euro final, optimistic and forward-thinking fans might want to snap up this private football-themed plate at auction.
With the Olympics kicking off this week, patriotic buyers could snap up this ‘Blighty’ licence plate, which will cover all manner of sporting and international events for generations to come.
From Wednesday 24 July to Tuesday 30 July, 2,000 registration lots will be up for sale during the DVLA’s timed online auction.
With a wide selection spanning football references, nods to the Olympics and music fan favorites, buyers have the ability to add the perfect personalized license plate to their vehicle.
Some of the entries that are expected to generate a lot of interest thanks to the Euro Cup and the Paris Olympic Games that will soon start are: EUR 70S, BL19 HTY, 6 RUN, VAU 7T, B33 AMS.
The EUR 70S, which will start at £300, is a bittersweet purchase for English, Welsh and Scottish fans, but could prove a winning number come the next European Championship.
The Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, begin this Friday with the opening ceremony taking place on the banks of the Seine and 10,500 athletes are expected to cross the French capital.
So for patriotic bidders, the BL19 HTY (lot 235, starting at £250) could be the ideal way to support Great Britain’s athletes.
Or if you are attracted to a particular sport license plate, then 6 RUN, VAU 7T, B33 AMS might be a good choice.
The 6 RUN has a starting bid of £1,200, but the VAU 7T could be yours for as little as £350.
For gymnastics fans, this ‘Vault’-inspired plate (lot 1844 starting at £350) is a fun nod to the Summer Olympic floor competition.
Alternatively, for investment-focused collectors, simple combinations of numbers and letters such as 46 CY, which starts at £2200, could prove to be a smart use of money and generate high returns.
Alternatively, if athletics isn’t your thing, the DVLA auction has records with musical references or humourous twists, from SHE 24N to DAD 8OD.
The PR53 LEY is sure to be a hit with Elvis fans, and the “King of Rock” license plate could prove to be a smart investment.
Elvis’ history and music are experiencing a revival, with Baz Lurhmann’s album set to be released in 2022. Elvis While Sofia Coppola Priscilla will hit theaters in 2023.
The most expensive private number plates of 2023: We’ve already revealed the personalised number plates sold by the DVLA that fetched the highest prices last year – and compared them to the most expensive of all time.
Petrol lovers will also be able to look forward to the 911 FUN, to add the finishing touch to any Porsche 911, and the VW65 BUG, which offers the perfect companion for a classic Volkswagen camper van.
Or the OFF 204D might be suitable for any green lane newbie.
Many of these will be purchased for novelty reasons as people want to express their tastes, individuality and personality.
Jody Davies, DVLA’s Head of Personalised Registrations, said: ‘We’ve really gone all out for this auction to ensure drivers have more opportunities than ever to purchase their perfect personalised registration with us.
‘DVLA has carefully selected all the registrations and there is something for everyone, with a wide selection of names and initials, plus undated, vehicle-related, general interest and fun registrations.’
However, there are also some high-impact regulations on the market that investors will want to protect simply because they are likely to increase in value.
Private tuition fees can generate huge profits in a very short space of time. One specialist told This is Money that a tuition fee can double in value in just 12 months.
In fact, private license plates offer such attractive returns that investors are abandoning more traditional investments such as wine, watches and jewelry in favor of high-yield plastic pieces.
Over the past five years, the DVLA has sold some very expensive plates, ranging from £308,253 for ‘DEV 1L’ to £84,000 for ‘3 XRP’.
All-time greats: The 10 most expensive personalised DVLA number plates sold at auction
Certain combinations of letters and numbers can reach values much higher than the opening price.
The 46 CY, which starts at £2,200, could fetch much more at the next auction, as could the undated 102A, which starts at £2,500.
The 1986 M, 1987 A or 2000 O models also start at £2,500 and will appeal to anyone born in those years or a collector with a keen eye.
There were some strong bids at the DVLA’s June auction, with plates selling for five-figure sums.
The 150 HO sold for £28,020, the AVI 5 closed at £25,010, while the 1 OOG was the most expensive and was purchased for £36,510.
However, these prices pale in comparison to the most expensive number plate ever sold at auction: an anonymous bidder in Dubai paid an astronomical £13m for a plate bearing a single ‘7’.
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