The O-series of number plates

To say that the demand for and popularity of the “O” number plates sold by DVLA Personalised Registrations has exceeded all expectations, is certainly an understatement. When the organisation first decided to mark its 20th anniversary with these private number plates nobody expected there to have been so many interesting results.

The series so far

The June auction at Whittlebury Hall, which included the jewel in the crown “7 O” plate, brought in around £3.5million for the government and one lucky collector got this acclaimed plate for £65,500.

The series so far has included auctions for the following number plates; 1 O, 2 O, 3 O, 4 O, 5 O, 6 O, 7 O, 9 O, 1 OOO, 2 OOO and 10 OOO.

Why did the DVLA skip the 8 O plate?

Well, it is not know exactly why the DVLA decided to miss out this particular plate, though we could hazard a guess by saying it may have had something to do with personal hygiene (or BO)!

Despite this, the “8 O” registration is expected to go under the hammer at the auction in August next month.

With the O-series amassing £979,700 so far this could be the one that ironically helps them to reach the 7 figure mark.

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Marketing Manager, said: “While we had high hopes for the O-series, we never in our wildest thoughts believed we could be on the verge of raising £1 million from their sale so soon.”

So, why are private number plates all the rage at the moment?

If you ask one of the many proud private number plate owners to be found throughout the UK what makes these car accessories so special, they may or may not have a particular reason in mind.

But when people think about why they are sometimes willing to pay over the odds for their favourite car registrations, it is possibly because these plates represent their individuality and makes their car even more personal to them.

Take the owner of the “4 O” and “5 O” plates for instance (although he also bought “6 O” as a gift). They were both purchased by 24-year-old Ghanim al-Hadaifi who spent over £150,000 on them.

A spokesman for al-Hadaifi said: "Money is not really an issue, he just wants the best registrations he can have for his cars. He already has his sights set on numerous others, which we hope will be auctioned next year."

Get your own private number plates

The “O” series may be a unique set of registrations, but you can still get affordable and aesthetically pleasing private plates for your own vehicle. Why not speak to National Numbers who are experts in the industry and a DVLA-recognised reseller of number plates. Not only do they offer over 30 million number plates in their vast database, they also provide a unique service to help you find your perfect registration plate for your precious vehicle. You can find the company website online, while there are also exciting apps for number plates on Facebook and Apple’s iPhone handset.

Number plates for business

As well as the private number plates which are great for personal customers, businesses can also benefit from these number plates. These registrations make for an excellent marketing tool to promote your business.

You can get plates which are just perfect for your industry and when proudly displayed on your company vehicles, they can help to attract new business. Take “T4PAS” as an example. This number plate has proved to be an astute business purchase for one tapas restaurant owner.

National Numbers has placed itself at the forefront of the industry for its clients and can even work with you in choosing (and finding) the most suitable number plate for your individual organisation.

About the Author:

Edward Williamson is the author of this article on Number Plates. Find more information about Number Plates here.