Investors turn to DVLA’s registrations

Investors appear to be switching their money into personalised plates, according to DVLA Personalised Registrations who have witnessed rising interest in their most exclusive numbers.

Since September 2008, more than £795,000 has been spent on five registrations alone auctioned by the agency.

During the climax to its latest event at Whittlebury Hall in Northampton, today, venture capitalist Spencer Day paid £94,000 for the registration 3 S. His winning bid came four hours after a mystery buyer bought 1 O for £210,242 and less than 24 hours after 1 HRH was bought by a Berkshire millionaire for £113,813.

In September 2008, an Asian businessman bought 6 B for £130,000 and, at DVLA’s final auction of 2008 held in Yorkshire, Surrey businessman Rob Harveson paid £247,000 for 1 RH.

Mr Day, a 38-year-old, said: “There’s no better time than at present to invest money in personalised registrations. While I have no immediate plans to sell it, I am confident 3 S will give me a healthy return on my investment.”

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Marketing Manager, said: “Forty per cent of our all time top 10 selling number plates, which spans over 100 auctions and almost 20 years, have been bought since September 2008 and more and more buyers are telling us they’re investing in our registrations.”

The Berkshire-based businessman who bought 1 HRH, added: “In my mind, there aren’t many registrations that can better 1 HRH. While bought as an investment, it will be placed on one of my cars.”

While large sums have been paid for the most distinctive registrations, a majority of the £3 million-plus raised during this week’s three-day auction will have been generated by the sale of more modest plates, some going for just a few hundred pounds.