Britain’s booming obsession with personalised number plates generated almost £290 million in a single year.

According to the analysis of new DVLA figures, the growing popularity and value of private registrations is multiplying.

On a plate

New Freedom of Information data obtained by premium automotive retailer Stratstone from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) shows private plates generated nearly £289m during 2024/25 through a combination of auctions, fixed-price online sales and transfer fees.

The figures highlight the remarkable growth of the UK’s personalised registration market, which has evolved from a niche luxury purchase into a mainstream automotive trend and, increasingly, an investment asset.

Since the DVLA began auctioning registrations in 1989, more than 9.4 million personalised plates have been sold across the UK.

The FOI data shows strong growth across every part of the market.

Auction sales volumes increased by 35% over the past decade, rising from 12,977 sales in 2015/16 to 17,527 during 2024/25.

Auction revenues have almost doubled during the same period, climbing from £24.7m to £44m.

Meanwhile, revenues from transfer fees, charged when plates are reassigned between owners, rose by 41%, from £94.8m to £133.6m.

Industry experts say the rise in transfer activity suggests the secondary resale market for cherished registrations is thriving, with buyers increasingly viewing plates as collectable assets that can appreciate in value.

The DVLA’s fixed-price online sales platform also recorded major growth, with revenues increasing from £77.5m to £111m over the past decade.

Pandemic boom

One of the most dramatic increases occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first lockdown period, fixed-price online plate sales jumped by 55% year-on-year, crising from 393,237 sales in 2019/20 to more than 608,000 in 2020/21.

Auction revenues also rose from £30m to £35m during the same period, while transfer fee income increased from £106m to £121m.

Analysts believe lockdown spending habits, increased online activity, and rising interest in luxury and personalised purchases all contributed to the surge.

At the top end of the market, rare short registrations continue to command enormous prices.

The most expensive private plate ever sold in the UK remains “25 O”, which achieved a hammer price of £400,000 at a DVLA auction in 2014.

The second most expensive registration, “1 D”, sold for £285,000 in 2009.

Many of the UK’s highest-value registrations are extremely short combinations featuring one or two characters, which are viewed as highly desirable due to their rarity and prestige.

However, one more conventional-style registration — “KR15 HNA” — also entered the top 20 list after selling for £180,000 in 2015 because it closely resembled the name “Krishna”.

Notably, almost half of the top 20 highest-value registrations have been sold during the 2020s, suggesting demand at the premium end of the market is continuing to strengthen.

Status and investment

Motoring experts say personalised plates have increasingly become both lifestyle purchases and financial assets.

A spokesperson for Stratstone said: “The data shows that the UK’s obsession with personalised plates is not just cultural, it’s a serious and growing market that’s quickly closing in on 10 million private plates.

“The pandemic figures showing that Brits bought more personalised plates than ever before are striking. Plus, the buoyant secondary resale market tells you that for many buyers, a personalised plate is an appreciating asset that’s as much an investment as it is a statement.”

But the popularity of private registrations has expanded well beyond luxury vehicle owners in recent years.

Many motorists now purchase personalised plates to disguise the age of vehicles, display initials or names, or simply add individuality to their cars.

The DVLA itself has actively marketed registrations as gift purchases and collectible items through regular auctions and online sales.

This growth also reflects the wider strength of Britain’s automotive enthusiast culture, where personalisation and identity increasingly play a central role.

At the beginning

Industry analysts believe the market could continue growing strongly as online resale platforms, social media and specialist registration dealers make personalised plates more accessible than ever before.

With nearly 10 million registrations now sold and annual revenues approaching £300m, private number plates appear firmly embedded as one of Britain’s most enduring motoring trends.