“16” number plate sales go wild!
The first week in December saw the release of the “16” plate and boy did you want to get your hands on them.
Motorists splashed out £1million in the first 20 minutes of the number plate sale going live! A whopping £2million in the first 24 hours was spent on a total of 3,576 registrations!
Even people from around the world; including the USA, New Zealand and Russia, were making enquiries in the search for their perfect number plate.
However, this came after much hard work by the DVLA in withdrawing any 16 plates that may cause offence, embarrassment or that are of poor taste. This included plates that may relate to next year’s in-out EU referendum, like EU16 OUT, EU16 YES and EU16 NON.
The suppressed plates also included OR16 ASM, PR16 CK*, AM16 FKR, *B16 GAY, along with AM16 WAR and TA16 BAN.
Pet lovers were happy to get their hands on the perfect plates, with CB16 CAT selling at £799, and BB16 DOG selling at £599.
Football fans also managed to get their hands on some footy plates, with MA16 UTD and CH16 SEA selling for £399 each. While one for the car enthusiasts; JA16 UAR, sold for £1,299.
The current style “16” plates cannot be used until 1st March 2016, and can only be assigned to vehicles registered on or after this date. However, for those who may not get a brand new car next year, the registration can be held on a Certificate.
In the last financial year, the DVLA raised £87million from selling and auctioning off personalised number plates, and all the money is passed on to the Treasury.
Get your 2016 plate from £165.
Rachel Picken: Carreg.co.uk