Over 2,000 personalised number plates were purchased between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as prospective buyers snapped up last-minute presents or toasted their new car with a fresh design. A total of 1,581 number plates were sold to customers over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in figures almost three times higher than 2018.
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Last year’s stats revealed just over 600 purchased number plates were sold to motorists over the same time frame.
In total 91 personalised plates were snapped up before 9 am on Christmas Day as desperate gifts were purchased.
Over 650 were ordered on Boxing Day as road users grabbed fresh plates for new cars they may have received as presents.
The highest tally over the Christmas period came on Christmas Eve as just under 1,000 were sold across one 24 hour period.
The DVLA confirmed they sold more than 32,000 personalised registration number plates between December 1 and 25 last year in a bumper month of sales.
Research has shown three out of four motorists said they would prefer a registration plate which bears their name and could be behind the Christmas sales boost.
DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard said: “With millions of registrations available to suit all tastes, and with prices starting at £250, there’s still time to find that perfect present – even if it is on Christmas morning.”
Personalised number plates may start from as little as £250 but prices can dramatically rise for the most sought after designs.
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The most expensive registration number ever sold by the DVLA was the “25 O” plate in November 2014.
Named after the classic Ferrari 250 S, the plate hit the hammer for a staggering £400,000 at auction.
The design “1 D” sold for a massive £285,000 in March 2009 as “51 NGH” went for over £200,000 in 2006.
Personalised designs are a big hit with motorists and the DVLA has sold six million since they were first released in 1989.
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Over 400,000 plates are sold each year as total sales figures exceed over £100million.
In total £111million was spent on private number plates in 2017 alone and the printing of unique designs is big business for the agency.
A recent DVLA survey revealed 69 percent of motorists would but a registration because of a personal connection such as a particular name or initials.
A total of six percent said that would purchase a plate for their business as 17 percent said they were an investment.
Julie Lennard added: “DVLA’s sale of personalised registrations began in the days when the only way to place a bid at the live auction was to attend in person.
“We now live-stream every auction, giving bidders the opportunity to bid for their dream registration online from our live auctions, as well as the many millions we have for sale on our website.”
According to the DVLA, personalised plates can only be used on a vehicle registered taxed and used in the UK.
The plate must also never make a vehicle look newer than it actually is as this could deceive prospective buyers when you come to sell the car.
However, those who purchase a personalised plate are buying the right to assign a set of numbers to a vehicle registered in yours or someone else’s name.
Plates are valid for up to ten years and mean personalised number plates can even be purchased as gifts for teenagers or young adults who are yet to own a car.
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