The Amazing World of Number Plates

CarLashes and Carstache - Car Personalisation Crazy!

2010-09-11T12:07:00.004+01:00

The latest car personalisation craze to sweep America will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief!

Will Ladies Love CarLashes?
Yes, you can believe your eyes! CarLashes "eyelashes" for cars – and accompanying product, crystal eyeliner, represent perhaps the quirkiest automotive personalisation to date!

Touted by their US manufacturer as the new automotive brand "created to allow cars to be personalised with a feminine touch", the personalisation costs about $25/£16. The creators claim it is simply fitted to the car using double-sided automotive trim tape, the same tape that is used to attach body trim.

The optional car "eyeliner" appears to be diamante-style beading that attaches across the rim of the headlight, as eyeliner would line the eye.

I don't know what to make of this funny personalisation! But it's obvious that this product certainly makes any car stand out! The thick curled black lashes are slightly over the top, but in a fun way. The cars do look kind of cute once they've been CarLashed.

I can't be the only person who thinks so, because about 1,500 people on Facebook 'Like' the product. So it seems there is plenty of interest in these girly accessories.

Check them out for yourself on the CarLashes web site, which takes International orders.

Carstashe for the Gents
Not to be outdone by the ladies, men can add oomph to their wheels with the Carstache; as the name suggests, a moustache for your car. Your car can look like the next Burt Reynolds with this masculine personalisation!

The web site says "it just feels good, it feels powerful, your car has been naked until now!"

The Carstache costs about $40/£26 and there are five different colours to choose from, Classic Black, Firestache Orange, Legendary Blond, So Hot Pink, and Wisdom Grey, so you can get just the manly look you want! The Carstache comes with three rubber coated attaching wires that allow strapping to the car grille.

Orders are taken directly from the Carstache web site, which also ships International orders.

There seems to be something of a craze on the web surrounding these products right now. Those who can't decide which they prefer can vote for their favourite on Lashes vs. Staches, a web site set up to allow a battle of the automotive sexes! In case you were wondering, Carstache is leading by more than a whisker!

I thought I had seen it all when it came to personalising cars, but this really is the pinnacle!

I still think number plates are the best personalisation a car can have. Personalised number plates have the benefit of being totally unique and can last longer than your vehicle! Check out our web site to find a personalised registration based on your name, a number, or any other word.

Or see our new Number Plates Facebook App for more personalised suggestions.

Car Prizes for DVLA and Public Sector Staff

2010-03-31T12:10:00.004+01:00

The Times reported on Sunday that public sector employees are being motivated to turn up for work each day with lures of cars and cash incentives.

The incentives are part of a Government scheme which aims to reduce absenteeism thus saving £11 billion across the public sector. If employees turn up to work, they have more chance of winning prizes as part of the long-term scheme.

Those benefiting from the scheme include public sector workers, such as employees of the DVLA, fire-fighters, and postal workers; all of whom have already received some of the impressive prizes on offer.

Some of the more conventional prizes include cars like the brand-new Honda Jazz, and cash amounts of thousands of pounds. Nationwide, 37 postal workers have each won a Ford Focus.

The DVLA, however, seem to have taken a somewhat different approach. Their "In to Win" prize draw gives staff a day's extra holiday allowance. DVLA employees already receive annual leave and can take up to three "duvet days" a year. On these days, an employee is free to choose a particular day not to work, and is presumably allowed to spend the day as they choose (although I’ll go for the duvet option any day!)

The tactics appear to be working: according to the article, the Royal Mail has reported a fall in absence rates from 6.1% to 4.8% over three years. In areas of the UK, both the Royal Mail and fire-fighters have achieved 100% attendance levels since the introduction of the scheme.

I have to wonder if a free personalised registration would motivate public sector staff to show up to work? We have millions to choose from on our web site, and registrations to suit all sorts of professions and jobs. So if you’re looking for a personalised number plate why not try a search on our web site?

Alex Ferguson not ‘United’ with Number Plate Namesake

2010-03-28T14:49:00.008+01:00

The Sun newspaper on Friday reported the plans of Manchester United fans to club together to buy Sir Alex Ferguson a personalised number plate.

The number plate - UTD 805S, which reads UTD BOSS, was shunned by Ferguson, who told the fans that he "wasn't interested".

The loyal fans had raised £10,000 to fund the present, which was up for grabs at the DVLA Spring Auction in Old Trafford.

Damian Lawson of the DVLA reportedly hoped to make £3 million from the sale, saying that "the players are keen to buy it."

But, despite the media attention and high-profile of the number plate, it sold for just £2,500 on the hammer; bought by a seemingly unrelated couple at the auction.

So, Fergie gave the plate the thumbs down, but I am sure UTD 805S will be spotted somewhere, proudly displayed on a loyal fan's vehicle, and flying the flag for the Red Devils. Hundreds of fans who support Manchester United display Manchester United number plates to show their allegiance and support of the side.

Why not try a search on our web site for Manchester United football number plates today, or try a search for anything else – we’re sure to 'unite' you with something special!

Try Our New DVLA Online Auction Bidding Service

2010-02-11T12:22:00.005Z

We are pleased to announce that we are offering a free online DVLA auction bidding service to those wishing to purchase personalised number plates online through the DVLA's online auction service. The new online service complements our well-established offline auction service; both aim to make using the DVLA's auction services easier.

Buying number plates at auction can often be a daunting task and requires time and dedication to observe and react as bidding unfolds. National Numbers like to take the hassle out of buying number plates. At our offline auction service, we bid on registrations for customers. Our online service works in exactly the same way – we will purchase the registration on your behalf, while you relax and put your feet up!

This new service is the first of its kind to be offered to number plate buyers. National Numbers Chairman, Eric Craggs, says:

"This excellent online auction service gives our number plate customers the same fantastic opportunities as offline auction buyers. Tell us what plate you are interested in and let us do the legwork for you – don’t miss out on this opportunity to buy your perfect registration at auction."

DVLA's online auction service allows buyers to bid on number plates in a similar way to the popular auction web site eBay. For more information about how the service works view our DVLA online auction bidding service article.

Call us today on 01642 36 37 38 to see how we can help, or for more information read our auction testimonials from previous satisfied customers, or learn more about DVLA auctions.

National Numbers Launches iPhone Number Plate Search App

2010-01-27T12:02:00.004Z

Last week we launched our fantastic number plate search app for iPhone! The app sits alongside our web site, giving you even more ways to search and enquire on personalised number plates not just whenever, but wherever you choose.

The number plate search app is perfect for busy people. It takes less than five seconds to search over 30 million registrations (all from the palm of your hand!). Or browse popular number plate categories to get inspiring ideas and helpful suggestions.

The app updates in real-time, which means that our best plates are available to view right away. If we are unable to find a suitable registration, let us help by choosing to phone our experienced sales team, who can search for you.

We are proud to announce that the app is the first of its kind to be offered to number plate buyers.

We are offering the app completely free of charge to iPhone users’.

Eric Craggs, Chairman of National Numbers said, “National Numbers like to push the boundaries in the number plate industry. We wanted to make our vast database available to everyone, wherever they are. Launching the world’s one-and-only number plate search using an iPhone application seemed the logical way to do it”.

To download yours now, simply follow the link to the National Numbers Number Plate Search App in the iTunes Web Store.

DVLA Competition to Win Supercar Track Day

2010-01-13T12:09:00.005Z

The DVLA has teamed up with Everyman (I hope that includes women, too!) to offer 25 people the chance to win a supercar racing day experience.

The track day winners will enjoy getting behind the wheel of a car from Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Aston Martin, at a leading race track in the UK.

The competition is part of DVLA's Plate Match game and can be entered online. Entering is as simple as visiting the DVLA's web site, playing the game, entering your contact details, and crossing your fingers until the 29th January!

If you're going to the Autosport Show on 14th – 17th January at the NEC, Birmingham, you can play the game via DVLA's stand in Hall 20.

The game involves matching cars to their most suitable number plate. Luckily I got all matches correct (I'd be worried if I didn't!).

Have a go, and good luck! But please don't rub my nose in it if you're lucky enough to win!

Government Guidance on DVLA Wording Slammed by Industry

2010-01-04T09:27:00.007Z

New guidelines issued by a Government agency outlining the language to be used by employees of the Highways Agency and DVLA has advised against the use of the word 'motorist', and several other phrases.

The guidance has met with a negative reaction from the motoring industry.

The guidelines advise employees to replace certain phrases with phrases that may be perceived as more inclusive to general road users. The use of some negative and informal phrases has also been advised against.

The guidelines, released by the Department for Transport following a Freedom of Information request, advise employees not to slip into using 'jargon' and to think of customers "out there on the network". The guidance also includes the sections "How do we sound human?", "How do we sound helpful?" and "How do we sound active?"

Employees of DVLA have been asked not to use "unfortunately" along with the phrases "I'm afraid ...", "not possible" and "I can't".

Peter Roberts of the Drivers' Alliance said: "This is an absurd and typically overly-bureaucratic piece of guidance that just goes to reinforce the belief that this Government has an ideological hatred of motorists and anything to do with the motor vehicle".

James May, the television presenter, slammed the guidelines as a "complete waste of time and money".

When asked about the ban on the word "motorists", a spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said: "The dictionary definition of a motorist is a car driver. As an agency we target all road users, including those in vans, buses and on motorcycles, not just those that travel in cars. The word 'driver' is a more inclusive term".

What do you think? Is this guidance a step in the right direction to remove negative and non-inclusive language from communications with such agencies, or bureaucratic red tape? Have your say in our comments!

Search our web site for personalised number plates, or why not check out our new 10 registration number plates?

Personalised Number Plates Really Stand Out - Proof!

2009-12-17T17:09:00.008Z

You may have heard the story in the news about the bank robbers who were identified by their personalised number plate.

The thieves raided a Halifax branch and made off with over £100,000 after using heavy metal drain covers to smash their way into the branch in Roath, Cardiff.

The Police later caught up with the criminals after witnesses spotted the getaway car's personalised registration - 'J4 MES'. The registration helped the Police to identify the vehicle, and the registered keeper of the BMW car, James Snell.

Daniel Williams, prosecuting, said:

"A witness saw a passenger lean out, lift a drain cover from the road and the car drove off. Lee Norville, who works for the council's highways department, later identified one of the two covers used to smash the windows at a branch of Halifax as coming from that drain. It was the distinctiveness of the car which contributed to the robbers' undoing."

As a result, Snell and his accomplices were jailed for a total of 38 years.

You would have thought that the gang would have changed the number plates on the car to something less memorable!

The case goes to show that personalised number plates really do stand out and stick in the minds of those who see them!

If you are looking for a memorable personalised registration for your own car, why not try a number plate search on our web site? You are sure to find something to set you apart from other vehicles on the road – just don't use them to do anything illegal, OK?!

Find Your "Perfect 10" Number Plate!

2009-12-14T11:37:00.005Z

Our number plate customers' are in for a treat - this week we purchased some of the 3,700 new 10-series number plates sold by the DVLA, so be sure to check out the new 10 series number plates on our web site.

There really is something for everybody in this release! We bought some fantastic combinations – in fact, this was our most successful new release ever. Meanwhile, over at DVLA, sales of the new 10-series number plates reached £2million on the first day of sale!

For the Ladies
Girls' have plenty of options, with registrations such as ME10 DEY (Melody) and JU10 DTH (Judith); DO10 THY (Dorothy), FF10 NNA (Fiona), YV10 NNE (Yvonne); and Sue number plates, such as PO10 SUE and SO10 SUE.

Reg for Boys
Some for the boys are Max numbers such as ND10 MAX and PJ10 MAX; AA10 BAL (Iqbal), BR10 ANJ and BR10 ANR (Brian), AB10 MAR (Omar), GE10 RGE (George), OW10 WEN (Owen), and LL10 NEL (Lionel).

Number Plates for Males and Females
There are personalised registrations suitable for both boys and girls, such as BL10 NDE (Blonde), HE10 SAM, ME10 SAM, and OO10 SAM (Sam).

Surname Number Plates
And of course various number plates for surnames, such as DN10 BLE, EN10 BLE, and JN10 BLE (Noble).

Number Plates for Vehicle Brands
BMW car owners will be pleased with the numerous options for their coveted car, with new BMW-style number plates such as AV10 BMW, GS10 BMW and PW10 BMW becoming available for the first time.

Clio owners will like these tidy Renault Clio number plates: CL10 CAR, CL10 HOT and CL10 FAN.

The VW Polo gets a look in too, with registrations perfect for this hot hatchback: PO10 ACE, PO10 BOY, and PO10 CAR.

Fleet Combinations
There are also some interesting number plates for fleet vehicles, or vehicles used for business, such as GR10 CER (Grocer), UN10 CKD and UN10 CKS (perhaps for a Locksmith?), and BR10 KER (Broker).

PA10 OUT and SO10 OUT also have interesting connotations.

Just for Fun!
A fantastic pair of number plates for speed demons are VE10 CTY (looks like Velocity), and SM10 KED (Smoked).

And, my personal favourite (Transformers fans will love this one!) - AU10 BOT!

This small selection by no means does justice to the almost infinite possibilities for the new 10-series personalised registrations.

Why not try a 10-series number plate search on our web site to find your perfect registration? Or call us today on 01642 36 37 38 and let us help you find your perfect 10!

Number Plates for the Lotus Evora

2009-12-07T11:21:00.006Z

The Lotus Evora was launched on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show. The supercar marks a turning point for Lotus, because the Evora is based on a new vehicle platform – both the Exige and the Europa S were based on the previous Elite platform. Another two vehicles based on the Evora platform will become available by 2011.

The Evora is available as a 2+2 as well as a two-seater. The car uses a 3.5-litre Toyota V6 engine, which, when coupled with Lotus's engine management system, produces 280bhp. Its six-speed gearbox and kerb weight of less than 1400kg mean that it can reach a top speed over 170mph and 0-60 mph in approximately five seconds.

So popular is the new car that Lotus and Sony have created a virtual version of the car for the computer game Gran Turismo 5! The car features an interior more spacious than its predecessors' to allow taller drivers to fit inside, perhaps at the behest of Lotus's CEO, Mike Kimberley, who at 6ft 5" tall could use the extra space! You might disagree on the car's level of comfort, however, once you see the video of the Lotus Evora being test-driven in this clip from Fifth Gear:

What special car like the Lotus Evora would be complete without equally special personalised registration? If you're looking for some number plates for a Lotus Evora, you couldn't go far wrong with EVO 2A, the number two in this registration looks just like an 'R'.

Or search our web site for number plates 24 hours a day for more ideas.

DVLA Ban X-Rated Number Plates

2009-11-09T12:28:00.004Z

The DVLA has censored some X-rated combinations of the 59 and the new 10 sequence registrations.

The number plates, including the letters SP and LO, have really good potential for creating meaningful words to display on vehicle's. However some have a little too much meaning for sensitive officials at the DVLA, who have banned them from sale.

The registrations include potentially unpleasant combinations such as **59 ANK (spank), **59 ERM (sperm) and **59 EED (speed).

The subject of terrorism has also been censored from the registrations, with the reg's *B10 GAS (bio gas) and *B10 WAR (bio war) being culled from the list of number plates for sale.

The DVLA regularly meets to discuss which registrations, if any, may be deemed offensive or inflammatory. In the past, the Government agency has pulled registrations such as BA57 ARD (bastard) and TE57 CLE (testicle); and also drug-related registrations such as EC57 ASY (ecstasy) and MY57 ASH (my stash).

Despite many number plates getting the chop, National Numbers has a collection of rude number plates and funny number plates that have escaped the eagle-eye of the censors at the DVLA. Give them a whirl!

The Significance of 10

2009-11-04T09:46:00.002Z

We all know that 10 is an important number. Gordon Brown lives at 10 Downing Street, 10 was the number of violin sonatas composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, and when playing many games, 10 is the most desirable number to have attained – think about ten-pin bowling; and Blackjack, where the Ten is worth 10 points.

And the number 10 is important for number plate registrations, with a new sequence of 10 and 60 number plates being released for 2010.

There has been some confusion over what will happen to number plate formats in 2010, but the new sequence is easily explained. From 2010, numbering includes the year identifier 10 (for vehicles registered in March), or 60 (September), with the second digit increasing by 1 for each year.

The pattern for the next five years is as follows:

2010: 10 and 60 (NE10 NUM and NE60 NUM)
2011: 11 and 61 (NE11 NUM and NE61 NUM)
2012: 12 and 62 (NE12 NUM and NE62 NUM)
2013: 13 and 63 (NE13 NUM and NE63 NUM)
2014: 14 and 64 (NE14 NUM and NE64 NUM)

Your vehicle must have been registered on or after 2010 to use the 10 and 60 plates. However you can buy a registration now to conveniently transfer to a vehicle at a later date.

There are so many possibilities for new combinations with the 10 series – especially for number plate names. Take a look at these terrific 10 number plate combinations:

Surnames:	First names:
MR10 DGE – Mr Lodge	MS10 REN – Lauren
MS10 GAN – Ms Logan	MS10 RNA – Lorna
MR10 MAS – Mr Lomas	MR10 RNE – Lorne
MS10 MAX – Ms Lomax	MS10 TTA – Lotta
MR10 PEZ – Mr Lopez	MS10 VLY – Lovely

This is a small representative sample of what is available. So if we can help in any way please call us on 01642 36 37 38 or search our web site for number plates 24 hours a day.

New Office for National Numbers

2009-10-27T11:47:00.009Z

The news from National Numbers Headquarters is that we've now finished moving into our fantastic new office! As far as our postal address is concerned, we haven't moved, as our address is the same (see below for details) – however we have relocated to lovely new office space within the same building.

In case you were wondering, the office still has the same beautiful panoramic view of the largest petrochemical complex in Europe. With the long and dark nights drawing in, this becomes all the more breathtaking with its distinct orange glow and twinkling lights from the gantries and staircases of the petrochemical works. Don’t believe me? Check out the photos from Flickr in this photostream.

From the inside, the new office is a spacious and comfortable place for National Numbers dedicated team to buy and sell number plates. The office has lots of room for our admin staff, who diligently take the load off our customers' by dealing with the DVLA paperwork we receive from them on a daily basis.

Here are some photographs of the team at work:

Our address:

National Numbers House,
The Grange,
Belasis Avenue,
Billingham,
Cleveland,
TS23 1LG

Feel free to call us on 01642 36 37 38 and we'll be happy to discuss your requirements for your ideal personalised number plate.

Unfortunate Number Plate Causes Parking Fines

2009-10-21T22:18:00.003+01:00

An unfortunate US driver has received thousands of pounds worth of parking fines – solely on account of his personalised registration.

The tickets were wrongly issued to Scottie Roberson, 38, who chose the number plate to reflect his nickname: "Racer X", and his favourite number, seven. However because of administrative errors Roberson's registration, 'XXXXXXX', was confused with every unrecognised vehicle on police records!

The errors were caused by traffic wardens in Birmingham, Alabama. It seems that the wardens had been entering seven letter Xs into the forms they wrote when issuing parking tickets to cars without number plates.

Luckily for Roberson, the fines are in the process of being dropped. And to ensure no such mishap occurs again, officials are looking into a new ticketing system for cars without number plates.

This seems to be a one-off case; also, it's unlikely to happen in the UK, where the DVLA's number plate registration system ensures that number plates follow a specific pattern. You can find more information on this system from National Numbers' web site in our article Number Plate Formats Explained.

And if you're convinced this expensive error wouldn't happen in the UK, why not take a look at some of our 'XXX' number plates?

DVLA Withdraw Offensive Number Plates

2009-10-05T09:57:00.004+01:00

DVLA have removed two offensive personalised registrations from their upcoming auction.

The registrations, F4 GOT and D1 KES, could have fetched over £900 each.

A spokesperson for DVLA said, "DVLA has responsibility to ensure that the combinations used on registration marks do not cause general upset or offence."

"Having reviewed the appropriateness of the registration marks F4 GOT and D1 KES, we have withdrawn these marks from sale on the grounds of the clear potential offence they may cause."

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, welcomed the withdrawal of the registrations: "We welcome the action by the DVLA in ensuring that these potentially offensive items were withdrawn from sale. This kind of proactive action by the public authorities helps make Britain a more equal place."

National Numbers offers funny number plates and rude number plates that are fun but won't cause offense. Search for a personalised registration on our web site to see for yourself.

DVLA Database Used for Personalised Oil Suggestions

2009-09-22T08:57:00.004+01:00

A new method to push sales of oil, using roadside cameras, and the DVLA's vehicle and registration database, has been instigated by Castrol.

The controversial technology scans driver's number plates and displays the right oil for their particular make and model of vehicle at five pilot sites in London.

Castrol say "this particular initiative will be the first time in the UK that personalised messages have been communicated on advertising billboards". They state that driver privacy is protected because the registration number is not stored.

Despite the novel approach and potentially helpful suggestions, the technique has caused backlash over concerns for drivers' concentration when reading the signs and the use of data that one would assume should be private, from the DVLA's database.

The five trial sites are Stamford Street in Blackfriars, Vauxhall Cross in Lambeth, Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith, the Chiswick roundabout in Hounslow and Warwick Road in Kensington and Chelsea. The pilot will last two weeks from 21 September.

If you fancy giving the service a try, it might be time to spruce up your number plate before it gets displayed in lights! Search our number plate database for great alternatives to your standard registration number.

Big Cow and Bag Number Plates

2009-09-18T09:15:00.002+01:00

It seems the DVLA has relaxed their stance on COW and BAG number plates somewhat. They've released some extra personalised registrations that were being withheld due to their offensive nature. Well, what could be offensive about COW or BAG?

The BIG news is that not only were sequences released with "X", "F" and "D" prefixes, but a "B" prefix as well, which has excellent potential to form some very interesting registrations!

For instance B16 and B19 can be used to spell BIG. So that would give us a registration of BIG COW or BIG BAG!

If you fancy getting your hands on a big COW or a big BAG then move quickly because they're selling fast. Prices start from £490.

Search for your number plate now!

Get a Sniff of this Tasty Parmo Number Plate

2009-08-27T19:23:00.006+01:00

A man local to National Numbers in Teesside is selling a tasty personalised registration, a nod to Teesside's signature dish – the Parmo.

To the uninitiated, the Parmo is an "Escalope Parmesan", made from either pork meat or chicken, and is a classic North East delicacy.

Making this treat involves deep-frying a flattened chicken or pork fillet in an egg and breadcrumb batter, then smothering it in thick Bechamel sauce, before topping off with cheddar cheese (the original Parmo's were topped with Parmesan cheese, hence the name) and then grilling or baking in the pizza oven.

The number plate, P9 RMO is being sold on eBay by Simon Walker, from Redcar, who said "I seemed to see a lot about Parmo's in the media one week, and I was just messing around on the internet when I noticed the plate was available."

"I wondered if it was still on the DVLA website, and when I looked it was there for £250, so on the spur of the moment I bought it."

However his wife was not as impressed:

"My wife Rachel said 'I can't believe you've bought that' and she said 'you're not putting it on the car' so I thought fair enough, I'll sell it."

"But people I've shown it to think it's brilliant. They say how much did you pay for that? And when I tell them they can't believe it. It looks brilliant."

Good for you Simon, we totally agree this is a brilliant number plate! If you'd like to get your teeth into this registration, make a bid for it on eBay – before someone else gobbles it up!

Senior BNP Member Displays "Nazi" Number Plate

2009-08-10T10:08:00.008+01:00

An exclusive Mirror article today revealed Julian Leppert, senior BNP member and councillor for Hainault, East London, has a personalised number plate that reads "Nazi" - NA51 ZCY.

Apparently, opposing political figures are demanding that the number plate should be removed from the councillor’s vehicle, a black Ford Focus.

Opposition councillor Veronica Cole said: "When I first saw the number plate on his car I couldn't believe my eyes. It is sickening and appalling".

According to the report, Leppert denied choosing the personalised registration deliberately.

Michael Jackson Number Plate Tribute

2009-07-21T17:18:00.005+01:00

Doting Michael Jackson fan Thomas Slater has pledged an eternal tribute to his favourite pop star – by purchasing a very special number plate in his name.

The personalised registration – MJ09 KOP – pays homage to the undisputed King of Pop, and was snapped up by the lifelong devotee immediately following Michael Jackson's death, using his savings from a part-time job at his local Sainsbury's.

Thomas said:

"I was absolutely distraught when I heard the news about Michael dying. I've been an avid fan since I was six, and like all true fans I just wanted to pay tribute to the King of Pop."

What better way to show your support for someone? National Numbers initial number plates and name number plates are a great way to show you care. Or try our Number Plates Search for more registration ideas.

Number Plates for Dog Lovers

2009-07-18T14:55:00.003+01:00

Dog lovers and canine enthusiasts are in for a treat this week because the DVLA has just announced the release of some fantastic doggy number plates!

The registrations, 1 MUT and L1 CKS, will be available at the RBS Williams F1 Conference Centre in Wantage, Oxfordshire on August 5th.

Also available are several new F prefix registration number plates – F1 GUY, F1 MAX and F1 GER – great for Formula 1 enthusiasts!

DVLA Marketing Manager Damien Lawson said "We have a mix of F1 plates at the home of Williams' Formula 1. 1 MUT and L1 CKS are two great-related plates we're including in our next auction".

Get your paws on one of these great personalised registrations by calling National Numbers on 01642 36 37 38 and speaking to one of our faithful sales advisors who will be very pleased to help. We also have hundreds of dog breed number plates on our web site. Get yours now – before they're all "doggone"!

Fines for Illegal Number Plates Increase

2009-07-01T09:58:00.003+01:00

The government yesterday doubled the fixed penalty notice for using illegal number plates on a vehicle to £60, from £30, stating that the use of illegal number plates can have a significant impact on criminal investigations and crime detection. It is hoped that enforcing an increase in the fine will stop drivers evading speed-camera fines.

Vehicle number plates must conform to specific rules for font, size and colour displayed on the number plate. If the plate deviates from the standard design for a number plate, it can be more difficult to detect the registration number using camera recognition.

The move comes along with a crackdown on those not wearing seatbelts in a vehicle, who also face on the spot fines of £60.

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said: "Every day someone dies because they do not think they always need to use a seat belt. This tragic waste could be avoided if everyone took the simple step of belting up every time they got in a car".

F1 CAL Shines on New Ferrari California Sports Car

2009-06-25T09:49:00.005+01:00

Last year the DVLA made available thousands of previously unreleased F registrations. Now, Ferrari North Europe has selected F1 CAL to grace their new Ferrari California, which will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 3rd July 2009.

Known as Ferrari's "completion model", the 4.8 litre V8 engine is adapted from the Ferrari F430. Dubbed "the ultimate two-plus GT car" by car experts and journalists, the car is the first to feature a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, multi-link rear suspension and direct petrol injection.

Ferrari North Europe was understandably eager to find the perfect F registration to befit the car's desirability, and you can't beat F1 CAL as the perfect plate for the Ferrari California!

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager, said: "We are delighted that a DVLA Personalised Registration will feature on the first Ferrari California to arrive on our shores. With Ferrari synonymous with Formula One, F1 CAL, for obvious reasons, shone out as the perfect plate for the California."

National Numbers lists quarter of a million F registrations all searchable from our web site, so you can choose your own F registration number plate from the thousands available, or check out National Numbers own F registration stock number plates. We also feature an F registration celebrity gallery showing Famous F's, such as Ferrari, for some inspiration.

Ferrari California picture appears courtesy of Kaotic.nite.

Read My Lips! More Sexy Number Plates

2009-06-09T10:22:00.005+01:00

Last month we reported on DVLA's sale of SEXY number plates. The DVLA, for the first time, released "S3 X??" and "S6 X??" number plates ranges – and National Numbers bought a fantastic range of sexy number plates we hope you'll have fun with. These number plates are National Numbers stock:

Sexy at £3999

Sex Me at £1499

Sexy You at £999

and Sex You at £1499

There are loads of these striking sexy number plates available from just £390 at the National Numbers number plate web site – get them while they're hot!

Upcoming DVLA Auction of Personalised Number Plates

2009-06-01T20:54:00.007+01:00

The DVLA's next number plate auction, held in Cheshire, sees some fantastic personalised number plates become available for the first time.

There's a registration to suit all kinds of people, places, spies, and lovers of summer races!

Good for the girls are an Allegra registration - A113 GRA and an Abbey registration - A88 BBY.

Two for the boys include an Aaron registration - A444 RON and a Bobby registration - BOB 333Y.

One of my favourite number plates up for auction is the registration AO07 SPY. This one certainly isn't for your eyes only – what a fantastic number plate! Maybe we'll see James Bond himself sporting this personalised number plate in his next film as the dashing spy, on a swanky car like the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish he drove in Die Another Day?

But the Gold Cup has to go to A55 COT, which looks just like Ascot!

With the Royal Ascot Races running till the 20th of June this year, how would you fancy a day at the races with this number plate? It would be a clear winner!

Now, where did I put the Pimm's?

Aston Martin Vanquish photo appears courtesy of Brett Weinstein using Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5.

Dad Number Plates for Father's Day

2009-05-27T12:23:00.010+01:00

Father's Day is fast approaching on 21st June. Have you bought a present for your Dad yet?

DVLA Personalised Registrations June 3 auction sees one of the best Dad plates ever go under the hammer – DAD 4S – with a reserve of £400 it could be a bargain personalised registration for Dads or excited Dads-to-be!

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations Events Manager, said: "DAD 4S is the perfect Father's Day present for someone looking for that extra-special gift. It's just fortunate that, if full payment is swiftly received, there's no reason why the winner cannot place it on a car in time for the big day."

If your Dad is a bit snobby, how about this lighthearted and funny new-style number plate – SN08 DAD – at £1299?

Or a classic dateless plate – 45 DAD – priced at £3995?

There are hundreds more Dad number plates on our web site. Why not take a look and treat your Dad to something really special this year?

Sizzling, Sexy Number Plates!

2009-05-21T09:40:00.007+01:00

Get your hands on this sensational sexy prefix number plate – exclusive to National Numbers:

You can't get sexier than that. And priced at only £3999 it's an absolute steal (although we will consider offers!). This is an amazing plate at an amazing price!

An excellent value alternative prefix registration (which is a bit easier on the pocket) and almost as sexy is:

Priced at £999.

Or how about splashing out on something really sexy (and dateless!):

For a cool £95,000?

Treat yourself or someone special: these registrations would make a perfect gift for a sexy someone! View the full range of Sexy Number Plates.

Tart and Other Rude Plates

2009-05-19T10:54:00.003+01:00

The DVLA has released some more new rude prefix registration Number Plates this week. As you can see from the sample below, they represent an interesting selection! Whilst you may not want to take them home to meet your mother, they would certainly brighten up any vehicle with a bit of humour!

The range starts from as little as £399.99. Get your Rude registration now!

S111 TTE Happens!

2009-05-08T17:04:00.003+01:00

The DVLA today has made available an interesting new range of previously unreleased registrations – number plates that are guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows when they start appearing on vehicles – for the prefix registrations all look like the word (dare I say it) – "shit".

Here's an extract from (ahem) the captain's log:

These personalised registrations are a million miles away from their rude meaning! The range starts from as little as £399.99.

Search for SH111 T** registrations now!

DVLA Toughen Rules on Sale of Driver Details

2009-04-25T08:21:00.005+01:00

Two weeks after the Home Office announced that it will consult on how best to regulate the wheel clamping industry; the DVLA has introduced plans for tough new restrictions on the release of vehicle keeper information. The proposal talks of compulsory licensing to tackle dodgy wheel clampers.

Under the proposal, any company seeking vehicle owner details will be required to be a member of a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) and to adhere to its Code of Practice.

Noel Shanahan, DVLA Chief Executive said:

"We have a range of measures in place to protect people’s information, including regular checks on those who request information and specific evidence requirements where information is requested to enforce parking restrictions.

"This new requirement will add to these robust procedures by ensuring that all parking companies requesting vehicle information are members of an Accredited Trade Association, complying with its code of conduct."

This news is welcome following criticism from MPs and motorist organisations earlier this year.

DVLA Criticised for Selling Motorist Details

2009-03-17T10:08:00.004Z

Two MPs have voiced their concerns over the DVLA selling motorist details to "shady operators and crooks".

Their concerns have been backed up by the Association of British Drivers (ABD) who said that car owners should not have to worry about their personal information being passed on to "extortionists", especially as all motorists must register their details with the DVLA. Effectively there is no way to "opt out" of a scheme that could involve the re-sale of personal details: including name, address, and registration number.

A spokesman from ABD, Nigel Humphries said: "They (motorists) expect such information to be retained by the government for official purposes only." Mr Humphries has suggested that government leaders work towards closing this loophole in the law.

Number Plate Rules Threaten Validity of MOT's

2009-03-10T09:29:00.004Z

Thousands of motorists this week look set to fail their MOT due to new DVLA rules designed to catch drivers who deliberately "doctor" their number plates.

The new rules will see the vehicle fail the test if its number plate uses reflective paint, or uses an altered background, with the aim of obscuring the registration number. This is typically done to make the registration impossible for a speed camera to read.

According to The Department for Transport, there are about 40,000 motorists with such a registration plate.

A DfT spokesman said: "The MOT test already includes a basic check of registration-plates – primarily to ensure that characters are properly formed and recognisable, and also to ensure that the plates are complete and not in danger of falling off the vehicle."

"The main purpose of this modification to the MOT test is to detect registration-plates which have an illegal background that can prevent identification of the plate by traffic enforcement cameras."

Happy Birthday To You Eric!

2009-02-20T10:33:00.003Z

It's Eric's birthday today. I'm still not so sure how many birthday bumps I should be giving you Eric, but everyone at National Numbers hopes you have a great day, and gets lots of nice presents!

Happy birthday!

1 O Becomes Third Highest Selling Registration!

2009-02-01T12:56:00.004Z

Friday's auction for registration 1 O resulted in the third highest DVLA auction sale of a number plate - the registration sold for an astonishing £210,424!

Thursday's auction held at Whittlebury Hall hotel in Northamptonshire saw the sale of 1 HRH, which went for princely £113,815.

Despite speculation that an Arabian royal would buy the registration, it was bought by a Berkshire-based businessman who was said to have been "determined to keep it in British hands".

A Right Royal Registration!

2009-01-25T17:14:00.006Z

The private registration 1 HRH is expected to fetch a record amount when it goes under the hammer at the first DVLA auction of the year, next week.

A similar registration, 4 HRH, sold for a staggering £400,000 last year.

The personalised registration isn't the only registration to stir excitement amongst dealers and private purchasers - some previously unreleased "O" series registrations are being released at auctions across the UK this year. The auctions will see 1 O, 2 O, 3 O, 4 O, 5 O and 6 O sell for record figures.

Damien Lawson, Head of Marketing at DVLA Personalised Registrations said: "Two number plates have attracted the biggest amount of attention, they are 1 HRH and 1 O; and we are confident they will both attract six-figure sums, especially 1 O, because it's the first of its kind to be released for sale".

The two number plates will be auctioned on January 28th – 30th at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire.

Work experince at national numbers

2008-12-12T15:33:00.006Z

My name is Paul Mckeown, I am 16 years old and currantly attend Northfield school. I have recentltaken part in my work experiance at Natational Numbers Ltd.

The company works in an office on Belasis Avenue in Billingham, buying and selling vehicle regestration plates. I really enjoyed my week and found it a great benefit to me, giving me a better idea of working in a 9-5 job outside of school.

Throughout the week I learnt new skills and feel that the job helped with my computer and communication skills. I found all of the staff at National Numbers very helpful and friendly. I was given plenty of help and advise in the various tasks that were planned throughout the week. In the main office I inputted data into the main database, filing and printing off certificates, phoning and emailing sellers to check availability on plates, collecting and sorting out mail from the post room, and helping print off and make regestration plates. By helping with these tasks i found it gave me a better idea of how the bussiness works, and what jobs need to be done to keep the bussiness up to date.

I feel that in the week i spent at National Numbers I have learnt to work as part of team, and improved my knoledge of everyday working life.

I have enjoyed my week work experiance working for the company and feel that I benefitted from the experiance.

I would like to thank all of the National Numbers office staff for their help and their pateince.

New Number Plate Deregulation Bill Increases Possibilities for Personalised Registrations

2008-11-13T11:01:00.012Z

James Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East Conservative MP, has proposed a bill to remove the restrictions on the format of vehicle registration marks.

The bill, if it became law, would allow the sale and transfer of registration marks that would read exactly as they read in the English language. It would give number plate buyers the ability to choose from wider variety of letter and number combinations, as well as raising millions of extra pounds of revenue for the DVLA.

What would this mean and what are some examples? As an individual, at present you can buy the initial number plate SJP 1, but not SJP. You can buy SUE 1 but not SUE. You could buy SCOTT instead of SCO 77.

As a company or organisation, Duddridge pointed out the commercial benefits of passing the bill i.e., that companies would be able to buy registrations with far greater relevancy to their business, for example Tesco could buy TESCO 1, TESCO 2, etc.

Despite the recession, and taking into account the ever-growing private and commercial market for number plates, Duddridge is proposing that an extra £1 billion of revenue could be raised over 10 years.

The deregulation of the market place has been discussed with enthusiasm by Duddridge and bodies such as the DVLA and the AA. Some of these bodies, however, show less enthusiasm and raise real concerns over the passing of the bill.

Amongst these, the Police, security services and the Home Office raise the most serious objections to the proposed changes. Their concerns relate to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and its use in the matter of road safety and anti-terrorism.

Duddridge highlighted that these objections must be overcome if the bill is to progress. The removal of the space in number plates was the greatest concern, with fears that this would hinder the efforts of ANPR cameras to effectively capture a registration number. However Duddridge believes that with the extra income raised, ANPR technology could be improved, perhaps to make the equipment more accurate, and overcome this difficulty.

Another objection was in the form of the sale of rude or offensive number plates, however this issue has always been relevant, and has already been dealt with the DVLA, who vet registrations before they are put up for sale.

The bill proposes exciting changes in the market and promises to greatly increase options for personalised registrations. Be sure to keep up to date with our blog to ensure you catch the latest developments on this new bill as we report them.

Would you like to watch the video from the House of Commons debate?

DVLA F-Prefix Number Plate Release

2008-09-02T13:49:00.005+01:00

The DVLA are finally releasing the F-prefix registration numbers.

The marks will comprise the 'F' prefix, a number between 1 and 20, followed by a three-letter combination (excluding I, Q, and Z).

The registrations offer excellent choices for people with names such as Fern, Fiona, Florence, Frances, Frank, and Fred.

Also there are less practical options for those looking for Fame, or missing an old Flame, a Fiend that lives in Fife or a Fig eating Faery! But seriously ...

The release will be happening for one-day only, some time in October, so since the news of the release, we've been very busy taking pre-orders for these highly desirable F marks, and working hard to ensure we can honour our customers' orders.

Naturally, we are doing everything we can to ensure we win our customers' F plates.

Our track record of buying registrations from the DVLA is second-to-none. We are so confident that we will win your plate, that we'll show you just how successful we were at the last major prefix number plate release – the 'E' registration release. Just take a look at the list of 'E' registrations we bought in one day. We even bought number plates for other dealers!

And of course, if we don't win your plate, you get a full refund. What have you got to lose? Pre-order your fantastic F-reg now!

The New Age of Female Chauvinism?

2008-08-08T11:12:00.014+01:00

In the days of gender equality, "new age" men, the demise of the male chauvinist pig, and where it's typical to see men showing their soft and understanding side, it's the women who've turned the tables by judging prospective partners by the type of car they drive.

A new study by Kwik-Fit has found that three quarters of a million women have admitted to dating a man just because his car impressed them. Only 40% of men in the study said they judge women by the type of car they drive.

The key figure here is that 44% of women think they can tell a lot about a man by the car he drives. This doesn’t suggest he has to drive an Aston Martin or Ferrari in order to cut it with the ladies. It simply means he should clean up after letting his shaggy dog ride on the back seats, and occasionally take his car for a blast through the jet wash – because it says he cares! David White of Kwik-Fit agrees: "Whilst many people strive for a honed appearance to attract the opposite sex, it seems this can often count for little if their car is unreliable and has filthy paintwork, an oil leak and bald tyres".

If you think this is a show of female chauvinism, you may be mistaken. Women know that men, read: people, who don't look after their cars are less likely to look after other areas of their life for instance their relationships, health, and career. I mean, if your prospective beau drives a beaten-up car, with hairs on the seats, and sticky marks all over the windows, he's a bit of a slob right? And if the brakes on his car don't work, how's he safely going to drive you to the shops? (I'm kidding!).

What is surprising is that a further 230,000 women said they declined a date with a guy they fancied because his motor failed to impress.

I wonder if personalised number plates make a difference. I mean, you're not likely to shell out on a number plate only to let it get filthy while it sits a-proud a rusting bucket?

So boys, clean up your car, show it the turtle wax, and get yourself a fancy new reg. She’ll love you for it!

Many thanks to Duchesssa for the fantastic image.

Sue Number Plates

2008-08-03T09:03:00.004+01:00

How quickly another year comes around!

Once again, it's our Director Sue Craggs' birthday, so I'm writing both to commemorate Sue's birthday and talk about SUE number plates.

National Numbers have so many excellent quality SUE number plates - they've always been popular; I suppose this is a reflection of the popularity of the name.

And there's so much history behind SUE number plates. The first SUE number plates were released onto vehicles from the County Council office of Solihull in August 1955, and the very first SUE registration, SUE 1, to an Aston-Martin DB 2/4 mark 1.

National Numbers has sole written permission to sell this unique registration: see our customer story on SUE 1, which explains the fascinating history behind this charming number.

The first SUE number plates were, of course, dateless and first issued way back in 1955! Of the suffix range, SUE G was released in 1969, SUE M in 1974, SUE R in 1977 and finally SUE W in 1981. This was followed by 2,000 prefix SUE number plates 1986. There are also lots of new style SUE number plates starting at £999.00.

Happy birthday Sue!

Alistair's Birthday

2008-07-21T12:25:00.007+01:00

It was Alistair's birthday yesterday. Alistair - more commonly known as Ali - is a top-class National Numbers private number plate salesperson, and although he's not in the office today, everybody at National Numbers would like to wish him a very happy birthday for yesterday.

Ali likes his cars fast.

He also likes donuts in his cars, but not the sugar coated variety!

He used to have a Vauxhall Corsa but more recently has been burning around in a 16v Ford Fiesta Zetec, complete with phat ICE and in-car lighting!

So happy birthday Ali! Here's to many more years of car donuts!

Boris Shuns Vehicle Congestion Charge Increase

2008-07-08T12:52:00.005+01:00

London mayor Boris Johnson has stayed true to his pre-mayoral word by not increasing the London congestion charge for polluting large and 4x4 vehicles.

Previous mayor Ken Livingstone proposed the charge be raised from the acceptable figure of £8 for vehicles emitting more than 225g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, and for vehicles registered before March 2001 with engines larger than 3,000cc, to a mind-blowing £25, from October.

However Boris ditched the plans, saying: "I am delighted that we have been able to scrap the £25 charge, which would have hit families and small businesses hardest". He added: "I believe the proposal would actually have made congestion worse by allowing thousands of small cars in for free."

Boris was prompted to avoid the increase on the power of a legal challenge from car manufacturer Porsche, who sought a judicial review of the proposal after unearthing research from King's College in London.

The academic research proposed that the new charge could actually increase CO2 emissions because people would theoretically drive a greater distance to avoid the congestion charge zone.

Porsche Managing director Andy Goff said: "Porsche is proud to have played a decisive role in striking down such a blatantly political tax increase targeting motorists."

What's Going On With Personalised Registration LEW 1S?

2008-06-27T10:15:00.009+01:00

I've been reading with interest the reports of Lewis Hamilton and the LEW 1S number plate he's supposed to have bought.

Now, allegedly, Hamilton denies buying the plate, thoughtfully adding a bit of a snub towards number plates - something along the lines of: "why would anyone want to actually buy a number plate?".

However there must have been some truth in the story because both The Telegraph and ITV posted news articles stating that Hamilton had bought the personalised number plate, for the grand sum of £200,000.

Fellow number plate dealers have released a good number of press articles relating to the number plate story. One in particular proposes that the purchase was in fact a ruse masterminded by the private owner of the registration, property tycoon Bob Lewis, designed to generate hype and interest in the number plate by riding on the back of Lewis's fame.

Whatever the truth is - it's actually a fantastic number plate for Lewis! But, as with most things in life, there's always room for improvement.

National Numbers are now taking pre-orders for previously unreleased F registrations. This is the last big prefix release so Lewis had better move fast (although I'm sure that won't be a problem!).

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, 23, born January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, whose latest win was the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, could pre-order the fast and furious F registration F1 LEW, or F1 LDH, both a nice way to combine the significance of Lewis's career and his name / intitals in one registration!

Or how about a search which will hunt through ALL the 30 million registrations we have on our database? LEW 7S is a quality number plate in these results, or he could just browse all Lewis number plates.

There are so many ways to find what you're looking for. Don't be afraid to search for absolutely anything! The search really is that powerful and easy-to-use! Try our Number Plates Search yourself now!

Number Plate Aficionados Prone to Road Rage

2008-06-18T16:40:00.006+01:00

Research by social psychologist William Szlemko at Colorado University has proven that drivers who sport car accessories such as personalised number plates, furry dice, and bumper stickers are more likely to suffer symptoms of road rage.

Amusingly, the greater the number of "territorial markers" a driver possesses in connection with their vehicle, the more likely it is that they will respond in an inappropriate manner to others' on the road.

Szlemko says: "Just the presence of territory markers predicts the tendency to be an aggressive driver."

Szlemko's co-author, Paul Bell, agrees: "Territoriality is hard-wired into our ancestors from tens of thousands of years ago. Animals are territorial because it had survival value. If you could keep others away from your hunting groups, you had more game to spear ... it becomes part of the biology."

If you're a territorial kind of person, number plates are certainly one of the best ways to personalise your car. Road rage? Your choice!

Screwing the Number Plate Criminals

2008-06-17T10:25:00.002+01:00

Dewsbury people have been nominated for a crime prevention award following a local Police-led initiative to cut number plate theft.

Dewsbury residents, who belong to the most active Neighbourhood Watch Association (covering 150,000 households in the West Yorkshire area), have been nominated for their work towards community safety, including campaigns such as 'Screw It Or Lose It', which advocates protecting vehicle identity using secure number plate screws.

Screws are not the only solution to number plate crime - there have been other attempts to prevent car registration fraud.

The DVLA, the Police, and number plate manufacturers, have worked together to develop a plate material that will safeguard acrylic number plates when on the vehicle. The plate shatters when tampered with, making it impossible for criminals to remove.

Such advances in technology are welcome, as number plate crime becomes more and more prevalent. But each time a new technology is enforced, it would seem criminals develop a new way to circumvent it.

Stolen number plates are used to get around the London congestion charge and other toll roads. Most of these road systems use Automatic Number Plate Recognition to scan number plates and trace the driver connected to the vehicle. Criminals use stolen number plates to avoid fines and charges by disguising the true identity of the vehicle.

All this amounts to an estimated 30,000 number plate thefts each year – of which 10,000 are forecourt crimes (source: neighbourhoodwatch.net).

But why steal a number plate? Why not just get a set made? National Numbers asks that all customers of acrylic plates provide their driver number and the first four digits of their document reference number from section D of the vehicle's V5 logbook. This combination matches the registered keeper to the vehicle and prevents fraudulent orders.

If you're looking to have acrylics made, a simple way to protect your acrylic number plates is to use a number plate lock kit, which can be bought cheaply from car outlets.

Or, if you need number plates for your vehicle, browse our easy-to-use acrylic number plates web site, or call 01642 363738 to speak to us about acrylics or securing your number plate.

The End of the Road for Big Cars?

2008-06-09T10:01:00.005+01:00

You may have read or seen on the news recently the stories reporting the slump in sales of vehicles dubbed "Chelsea Tractors" - the 4x4 and sports type vehicles that usurp fuel during outings to the nearest retail park or supermarket.

Sales of the fuel-hungry guzzlers dropped 18 percent last month, according to the Financial Times, whilst sales of small economical cars have rocketed. Whether or not the shift is a temporary state remains to be seen.

The reasons for the demise of the big car may not be as selfless as first appears - most drivers' cite financial reasons over green concerns. With the ever-increasing hike in fuel prices, this comes as no surprise.

Perhaps Chelsea Tractor engines will be replaced by new, petrol-free alternatives such as the electric Range Rover engine being developed by newly-formed company, Liberty Electric Cars.

Clearly, sales of big cars are dwindling, but what will this downturn mean for sales of personalised registrations? Will National Numbers take fewer sales of BIG plates; see a drop in JAG and BMW registrations and an increase in Smart and Ford searches?

Smart experienced the highest percent increase in sales, which were up 147% - and for good reasons - made by Mercedes Benz and highly personalised, the car is one of the most economical on the market.

Small cars are fun, affordable, and great for showing off a fantastic new personalised registration. If you own a small car it's possible you might want to customise it with a new number plate.

You can search for anything that's important to you on National Numbers web site - try it with your name, initials, or pet.

We also keep a list of registrations for vehicle makes and models. And if you can't find what you want on the web site - give our friendly sales staff a call on 01642 363738 - we'd be really happy to help!

Goodbye Yee and Ashley!

2008-06-05T09:09:00.002+01:00

Today sees the sad departure of two staff members, Yee and Ashley, who are off to travel the world over the summer holidays before returning to University in the autumn.

The two have brightened the National Numbers office for a year whilst undertaking work experience as part of their degree courses.

Everyone at National Numbers wishes them the best of luck (and fun!) with their travels and studies over the next year.

Two plates for Yee and Ashley:

Good luck girls!

Ronaldo’s Dream Plate – and Other Star Stories

2008-06-03T10:14:00.006+01:00

In the Sunday news this week was a story about Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, who's got himself in a spin over the private registration CR 7.

Millionaire property tycoon Charlie Robinson currently owns the registration, and Ronaldo may well pay the £175,000 Robinson is asking for the registration plate - the number features not only Ronaldo's initials, but also his favourite shirt number and the name of his fashion store in Funchal. He's even planning the launch of a nightclub bearing the CR 7 name - talk about branding!

Despite Ronaldo's enthusiasm, the plate means a lot to Robinson who said, "that registration plate is close to my heart and I won't be letting it go easily". Robinson though is willing to relinquish rights to the cherished number in exchange for the registration CR 1.

Ronaldo isn't the only celeb who loves personalised number plates. Many stars have invested in unique and interesting number plates that match their professions - one such celebrity is Toyah Willcox. National Numbers brochure features an interview with the legendary Toyah, who talks to us about investing in number plates and her fantastically varied career. If you don't yet have a copy, bag your free number plate brochure now!

The magician and entertainer Paul Daniels owns a registration that speaks for itself: MAG 1C.

Funny man Jimmy Tarbuck owns COM 1C, which fits brilliantly.

The personalised reg S8 RRY is owned by ex Take That band member and solo artist Robbie Williams – the "sorry" registration was a message to fans to explain the purchase of his very expensive car. He later ended up buying a moped!

Amstrad founder and The Apprentice star Sir Alan Sugar owns AMS 1 – which is absolutely perfect for his name and all of his business ventures.

Even her Highness Queen Elizabeth 2nd owns a private registration - A7 - a stately mark, fit for a Queen, and issued in London in 1903.

Dateless registrations like these really are the cream of the crop when it comes to the most personal of personalisations – why not try a search for your own star plate? National Numbers Dateless Number Plates page or our Number Plates Search showcase millions of potentials – give them a whirl!

Free Gun with Every Car from US Dealership

2008-05-28T10:28:00.004+01:00

A car dealership in the US is giving customers a free gun with every purchase of a new car - a move that has seen sales quadruple since the offer began. For those who have no need for firearms, a $250 petrol card alternative is offered alongside the gun – to date most customers have plumped for the latter.

Max Motors owner Mark Muller told the BBC "we're just damn glad to live in a free country where you can have a gun if you want to."

Amusingly – the logo of Max Motors, whose car dealership is in the US Midwest in Butler, Missouri – features an angry looking gun-toting cowboy. The outlet sells, amongst others, cars from Ford and Chrysler.

The offer is running until the end of the month - but highlights the requirement for an approved background check on gun ownership.

The dealership, whose slogan is God, Guns and Gas, say they are aware of the gasoline and crime problem in America, and want to be part of the solution and not the problem.

Whilst National Numbers can't offer something as exotic as a free gun with every number plate, we do guarantee to beat any other dealer's price on our range of millions of personalised registrations. Here's just a few to satisfy the inner cowboy/cowgirl inside.

Y88 HAA "Yeehaa!"
MY51 GUN "My Gun"
R16 NCH "Ranch"
RAN 50N "Ranson"
HH07 RSE "Horse"

Evans Pays £5 Million for Ferrari Spyder

2008-05-21T09:29:00.003+01:00

A £5 million Ferrari, once owned by Hollywood actor James Coburn, has been bought by BBC DJ Chris Evans. The 250 GT SWB California Spyder was bought at auction by Evans, who paid twice the estimated price for the sleek Ferrari at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event.

Auctions are often a great place to pick up rare buys you'd never find elsewhere. RM Auctions' founder Rob Myers told the BBC News web site that the fact the Ferrari was owned by Coburn was a factor in the higher-than-expected winning bid for the car, along with plenty of interest from other bidders, as well as Evans.

According to the Ultimate Car Pages web site, the California Spyder was a production car - however no two vehicles were the same, because they were finished to meet customers' demands.

So it looks like Evans really has bought a piece of history for his £5 million!

Looking for a good investment that will stand the test of time? How about a personalised dateless registration from National Numbers. We can't promise a piece of Hollywood history, but for personalisation and value for money, there's no better statement!

Private Registrations for St. George: England’s Glory

2008-04-21T09:54:00.005+01:00

It's that time of year again for celebrating everything that is English: no, not pints of warm beer, cricket, HP sauce, interminable queue lengths, or even the ubiquitous fry up; but St. George's day, on 24th of April; and how quickly it has come around this year!

But who was St. George anyway? Well, he was a soldier of the Roman Empire, born some time around 275-281 AD. Of course, his notoriety comes from the legendary slaying of the evil dragon. Apparently the dragon would lie in wait over the well from which the village people of Silene in Libya would draw their daily water. The dragon required a daily human sacrifice in order to allow access to the well, and the people of Silene would pick the unfortunate individual from a hat, so to speak. One day, when the princess of the village was randomly chosen for sacrifice, the powers that be must have decided that enough was enough, and dispatched St. George to the well, who quite rightly jumped in with both feet, and killed the dragon with his sword. Hooray for patriotism!

As well as being the patron saint of England and also Canada, China, Ethiopia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia, and Serbia – St. George is also the patron saint of Freemasonry and Scouting!

In England, we've been rallying to make St. George's Day a bank holiday for years, as yet with little success. But you could always pledge your patriotism to England with a private registration from National Numbers. How about the new style/millennium registration EN57 AND? Or a classic suffix registration: ENG 72C? George also has his fair share of glory on our web site; just look at all these wonderful George private registrations!

We have a wider selection of patriotic registrations and saint registrations that are well worth a look.

Happy St. George's Day!

Happy Birthday, Dear Gwen!

2008-04-02T17:52:00.000+01:00

Gwen, one of National Numbers longest serving members of staff, is celebrating her birthday today.

We know a lady never reveals her true age, so here's a subtle but much deserved ...

Ode To Gwen

Gwen, Gwen, you're such a gem
Out of ten we give you ten
You fill the office with orange zen
And you're so much wiser, than three wise men!

Happy birthday Gwen!

Here are some Gwen number plates that could've been made for you:

Number Plates for Gwen:

New Roadside Camera to Tackle Abusive Car-Share Lane Drivers

2008-03-11T08:44:00.004Z

A new roadside camera that can estimate how many travellers are inside a car by measuring human fluids has received a mixed reception.

The device has been developed in a bid to combat abuse of car-sharing lanes, with sneaky drivers attaching photographs to their windows and positioning mannequins in passenger seats in an attempt to foil conventional detection.

The technology, developed by Loughborough University, is being trialled in car-sharing lanes in Leeds, so its accuracy remains to be seen, however other councils have taken an interest in installing the cameras.

Motoring organisations question the effectiveness of car-sharing lanes, and argue the cameras are a further intrusion on private lives.

But cameras to measure bodily fluids? The Orwellian technology, if not laughable, reeks of privacy invasion, and is surely riddled with inaccuracies. How does the system take into account variations of weight and size, for instance the difference between a twenty-stone lorry driver, and a six-month old child?

I have to digress and speculate as to whether my little Jack Russell terrier, Charley, would count as a passenger under the watchful gaze of the new cameras!

Related Number Plates:

There's a spy in there!

They want blood!

Or are they just prying?

Two Birthdays to Celebrate Today!

2008-02-28T13:16:00.006Z

First up is Andrea, who hits the big forty today! Many happy returns Andrea!

It's also Craig's birthday today, although his age is totally undisclosed. Happy Birthday Craig! :)

We've had a lot of birthdays this week: with Eric, Ed, Andrea, and Craig all notching up an extra year. What is it with February? All I can say is they're very lucky their birthdays don't fall on the 29th, or else they'd only be having one every four years! And then there'd be far less cake making its way around the office, for the leap year (or intercalary year, as it's known by those in the right circles) is a measure taken to keep the calendar year synchronised with the astronomical or seasonal year, and normally consists of a year containing one or more extra days which of course only come round once every four years.

Our birthday bunch all fall under the astrological sign of Pisces – symbolised by two fish: one facing upwards, the other downwards - mirroring their dual pathway in life. Pisces is ruled by the element water and the planet Neptune.

As for numerology, the number 2 is a very powerful number for Pisces (presumably down to their dual personality): think Saint and Sinner rolled into one. According to the Psychic Guild, Pisces is a trendsetter when it comes to art or fashion; a lost soul, a philosopher, a psychotic and a visionary.

So, they're quite unique then! – Here are some February-type number plate suggestions for our brilliant birthday colleagues!

2 Number Plates
Pisces Number Plates
Water Number Plates
Neptune Number Plates

As you can see, you really can search our web site for anything! Try for yourself with our intelligent number plates search and bag yourself a number plate worth celebrating!

Happy Birthday Ed!

2008-02-25T09:38:00.002Z

Birthday wishes today go out to Ed, National Numbers' Office Manager/Database Administrator/Second-In-Command.

Ed sports a great registration on his car: TO02 FAR - a witty millennium/new style registration which has raised many a smile in its time!

Happy Birthday Eduardo!!

If you hanker after an eyebrow-raising personalised registration for your vehicle, don't hesitate to search for ANY word on our web site using our Number Plates Search. Its ingenious search facility hunts our vast database for ANY word, and words similar to it - give it a go!

Happy Birthday Eric!

2008-02-20T09:17:00.006Z

The Chairman of National Numbers, Eric, is celebrating his birthday today. His age is a figure shrouded by a degree of uncertainty - however, he has been heading up National Numbers for about 28 years, and previously worked in engineering for chemical giant ICI, so we can safely say he's been around long enough to know his stuff.

The perfect plate for Mr. Craggs? He already has it - EC 2, although I think he would take some persuading to part with it! Eric also owns EC 5 - both plates are excellent examples of two-initial dateless plates. Not so great on the wallet - but oh so very personal, and well worth the investment.

Happy birthday Eric!

Try National Numbers' initial number plates search to find your own perfect registration!

Most Expensive Number Plate? – Here's The “1” To Watch!

2008-02-08T18:42:00.000Z

Interested to learn what the world's most expensive number plate is? Here's the "1" to watch – quite literally!

Because the diminutive digit number 1 is set to become the World's most expensive number plate – with an estimated value of 25 million Dirhams (more than 3.5 million pounds) – when it sells at auction in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on February 16.

A similarly small registration number, the number 5, currently holds the record as the World's most expensive number plate, selling for a staggering 25.2 million Dirhams (again, more than 3.5 million pounds) .

Abdullah Mattar, Managing Director of Emirates Auction says, "Number 5 was sold for 25.2 million, which set the Guinness world record as the most expensive number plate. So we expect more for number plate 1". According to Mr. Mattar, the company expects fierce bidding from at least five people for number plate 1.

National Numbers sell some very special registrations, and with prices starting at just £188, they afford a cheap and cheerful way to personalise your vehicle. If you're stuck for ideas, we have plenty of suggestions. How about your name, initials, or browse through a list of A-Z Single Letters?

Or, if you yearn for something really special and very unique, and you have half as much money to spend as our Arab chums, you couldn't go far wrong with a classic dateless plate or irish plate featuring the number 1. Here are some singular suggestions to stir up your imagination:


CTK 1	1 GOA

1 GE	PAY 1T

XE 1	1 NKH

NKZ 1	HX 1

Nissan Skyline GT-R Hailed Car of the Century

2008-02-05T13:03:00.000Z

The soon to be launched revamped Nissan Skyline GT-R has been dubbed "the most eagerly awaited supercar launch of the century" by webmag readers in the US.

You'd expect other top marques, such as the Ferrari Testarossa, and Porsche 911 to be favoured above the Japanese sports coupe.

But, the supercar costs far less than other cars in the same class. And, these aren't your average drivers. In fact, most of the drivers have only experienced the car through the virtual reality worlds created in computer games like Zero 4 Champ R and Gran Turismo, and the odd appearance in movies, anime, and manga. Add to that the popularity the car has garnered thanks to illegal street races in Japan and its speed of 0-60 mph in less than four seconds, it is no wonder there's excitement.

And who can blame folks for getting sped up over the vehicle? The supercar features "integration with the driver" resulting in new components, and a "human-machine interface". It certainly sounds impressive, and just the kind of feature to appeal to a gamer - the personalisation of the driving experience clearly seduces buyers of the Skyline GT-R - of whom sixty percent are under 50 years old.

Just ask anyone who has screeched around a Gran Turismo track in a virtual Skyline and they'll testify - it's a lot of fun! And who wouldn't want that on their drive?

Turbo-charge your next supercar with a racy personalised number plate from National Numbers:

Nissan Number Plates
Nissan Skyline Number Plates
Nissan GTR Number Plates

Saintly Choices for Private Registrations

2008-01-18T15:00:00.000Z

When our lovely accounts/sales person, Andrea, isn't busy bringing smiles to the faces of countless private registration buyers and sellers, she also finds the time to run two successful Slimming World groups in Sedgefield and Billingham (details below).

To this end, a handful folks here at National Numbers have diligently followed Andrea's motivating and tasty eating plans, and have even made attempts to drag themselves off the couch and start going to the gym. As a result, some have shed a fair few pounds over the last six months, despite the usual holiday over-indulgences.

Amongst our more competitive sales people, watching the figures decrease every week has become something of a competition, with the scale revealing who amongst us has been a saint or a sinner.

Imagine my delight, while enjoying a chin-wag over the photocopier one morning, that two of Andrea's fellow Slimming World Consultants have invested in private registrations for their cars.

Where do people begin when choosing a private registration? Well, most people start by searching for registrations that include their name, initials; maybe their football team, or their favourite hobby. Innovatively, the svelte girls at Slimming World have pledged allegiance to their cause by choosing the unusual registrations S5 YNS (sounds like "Syns") and LE55 LBS (sounds like "less pounds").

What a fine example of camaraderie from a tightly-knit team, and a wonderfully inventive way to turn your car into a publicity vehicle: for "Syns" is a perfect reminder of Slimming World's daily allowance of treats – and few of us would mind having "less pounds"!

With motivation like that, there's fat chance of failure!

Have something to say? Say it with a private registration, on National Numbers' web site, 24 hours a day.

Andrea's Sedgefield group runs every Tuesday in the Community College at 7pm. Her Billingham group runs every Thursday in the Monkseaton Community Centre at 6.30pm. Details of Andrea's groups and programmes can be found on slimmingworld.co.uk or by calling Andrea on 01740 644727.

UK Roads Driving You Potty? That'll be the Jeep, the Chevrolet, and the Daewoo

2008-01-16T13:19:00.001Z

Shockingly, UK drivers are paying more than 2.8 billion pounds a year on mechanical car repairs, thanks to the shoddy condition of UK roads, recent news from independent insurer Warranty Direct has revealed.

The research, conducted on nearly 500,000 vehicles – pinpoints decaying British roads as a major cause of up to a third of all mechanical break-downs.

Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct says: "continuous driving over cracked or uneven road surfaces, or one sudden jolt from a pothole, can cause substantial damage to shock absorbers, springs, upper and lower arms and stabiliser bars".

Not good news, especially when you consider that the UK road tax payer, despite loosely paying twice as much tax as folks in the USA, is still twice as likely to suffer damage to his or her car as a result of bad British roads.

Some cars are affected more than others. Top of the hit list are Jeep, Chevrolet, Daewoo, Jaguar, Kia, Subaru, Volvo, Suzuki, Chrysler, Honda and Nissan.

Still, despite suffering busted shock absorbers, springs, arms and stabiliser bars, you can rest assured a securely-fixed personalised number plate from National Numbers won't fall victim to potholes, and will look the business too. Number plates for all car makes and models are included in our easy-to-use number plate search. Give it a go!

EC 2 and Vintage Marshall Story from National Numbers

2007-11-19T11:33:00.000Z

If you're interested in vintage cars and registrations, then read our new number plate story on EC 2 and the vintage Marshall on the National Numbers web site. It's all about our recent purchase of a very special registration: EC 2, and the fascinating tale behind the vintage Marshall car from which it came.

Check out the story (with pictures of the Marshall) and the history of the number plate and the Marshall (text kindly supplied by Bonhams).

Aston Martin Dominates Top Ten Dream Cars

2007-11-15T11:17:00.000Z

The polls are in, and visitors to the DVLA's registrations web site have voted top British marque Aston Martin's beautiful cars as their favourites in an online poll designed to discover the nation's top ten dream cars.

The poll, which shows that the famous British car manufacturer is still very much a name synonymous with quality, is a classic example of the good old British patriotic spirit rising to the fore.

The Aston Martin appears in three places in the list of most desirables. At the top spot is the uncompromising Aston Martin DB9, a car that Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson dubbed "motoring perfection" - and I don't think that James Bond would dare to disagree! Aston Martin's previous flagship vehicle, the Vanquish, comes in at number three, and the hand-built Vantage at a modest number five.

Also featuring amongst the favourites are Italian beauties such as the Ferrari Enzo and Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.

The ubiquitous Porsche Carrera GT also pushes its sleek nose in at number 8.

If you're looking for a dream number plate for your dream car, I think National Numbers Car Number Plates search is the most comprehensive you'll find on the Internet.

There are thousands of quality number plates, all conveniently categorised: from Aston Martin to Yugo - you'll find number plates for the most popular makes and models listed all starting from as little as £49 and delivered to your door. Give it a try!

Number Plates 4 Geeks

2007-10-24T11:41:00.001+01:00

You may have read in the news recently about the registration number L1NUX that's come up for sale on eBay.

The bidding started at £1000 for the registration number, which is available to buy for the first time since its release in 1993. The registration is popular: over the last three days, nearly 11,000 people have visited the L1NUX page, and 11 of have confirmed their alpha geekiness by placing a bid on the reg: taking its current value to £5,300.00.

Who knows how high the bidding in this online auction might climb? Those who know their BIOS from their DOS would likely welcome a number plate that makes a shush-shush statement subtly pointing to their geeky status. And whilst techies are typically a quiet and unassuming bunch, they often harbour a secret passion for some particular computer-related gadget or software – a personalised number plate might be just the ticket!

And for those who remember when Amazon was just a jungle, and Bluetooth was a painful condition brought on by an excess of ice cream, you might like to know that Linux is an alternative operating system you can use instead of Microsoft Windows. Its best feature is that it's mostly free – which may somewhat temper the bidding, as this bunch are typically heard crying, "liberate the software, man"!

So we will just have to wait and see what happens when the bidding ends in five days time. Until then, for all you lovely geek guys and gals, there are lots of computer, web, and gadget related registrations available to buy at National Numbers. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

WWW registrations	DOT registrations	LOL registrations
AJAX registrations	WTF registrations	VGA registrations
RGB registrations	PHP registrations	OMG registrations

We also have an entire page dedicated to all kinds of computing number plates, give them a whirl!

Doovla Number Plates

2007-09-28T13:27:00.000+01:00

It's a Friday. We've had a grand week selling number plates, so now it's time for a little fun.

And without even straying off the topic of number plates, I present to you two words: You and Tube.

This is one of the funniest (office friendly) videos we've seen in a while. Ladies and gents, Fonejacker's "Doovlah".

Doovlah, of course, being DVLA.

Watch the video on YouTube

PS watch Fonejacker on TV tonight!

The Great Divide – Petrolhead vs. Eco-Warrior

2007-09-13T10:28:00.000+01:00

What ever happened to the petrolheads who vamped up their cars for the purposes of being cool, living fast, and making a statement with (sometimes excessive) personalisation?

Youngsters passed their tests only to dash off down to the mod shop to kit up with the latest accessories for their beloved Ford Capri, Sierra Cosworth, or Golf GTI.

Whether it was something racy like a bonnet scoop or splitters, or something fluffy like – um – furry dice, virtually no youngster’s car was left bare of the latest auto styling. Times were free for petrolheads to indulge. And injudicious use of the accelerator was all part of the fun.

Not so nowadays. Today, government advisors tell us we need lessons in "eco-driving", in what seems like a covert attempt to curb our speed on the premise "the way you drive can be as important as what you drive, and how much you drive it". Less speed = less pollution.

There are a lot of us who would welcome eco-driving lessons. Being as green as possible is the new way to "keep up with the Joneses" – a cult of twenty-first century eco-yuppies battling to be the crowned the king and queen of green. And what better way to justify the sin of driving than being in receipt of a piece of paper branded "Green Driver"?

It would seem us drivers are being forced into two different camps, and are becoming more limited at every turn.

In order to determine whether driving faster really does create "significantly more" emissions, the BBC set a test. The results might see petrolheads crying into their Recaro seats: astonishingly, a third more carbon dioxide was created at a speed of 80mph than it was at 70mph!

Quite a figure. So it seems like the Eco-Warriors win this one. Still, there are more ways to make a statement than driving too fast. Your own private number plate would be a cheaper alternative: both for the environment and for your pocket.

Our Cheap Number Plates start at just £115 and we’re members of all the official bodies you’d expect of a number plate dealer over 25 years in the industry.

Private reg for Petrolheads
Speed Number Plates

Private reg for Eco-Warriors
Eco Number Plates

Is Your Driving Fuelled By Booze?

2007-09-12T10:23:00.000+01:00

I hope not! But a few years down the line, it could be. Researchers at the University of Abertay, Dundee, are studying new ways to make biofuel (a renewable plant source of fuel) using the by-products of fermentation from the brewing and distilling industries.

The point of the research is to see if converting used grain from whiskey and beer into bioethanol – an ecologically sound alternative – is a viable fuel solution for cars.

If proved right and implemented, the fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% over conventional petrol.

The research concludes in a year, so it will be interesting to see if the new biofuel promises to show up at our petrol stations some time soon.

I just hope the smell from the boozy fuel doesn’t raise suspicion from our sensitive-nosed traffic police. Can you imagine getting stopped and asked, "Have you been drinking Sir"?

"No, but the car has!"

National Numbers has a massive stock of registration numbers: about 8 million plates. Booze Hound or Eco Warrior; we’re sure to have a private plate to suit you. Try our Clever Search for great suggestions: you can enter anything you like!

A Number Plate For All Seasons

2007-09-05T10:08:00.000+01:00

As I drifted to work this morning, up past Europe’s largest chemical complex, from the valley of Middlesbrough, and into leafy Billingham – I couldn’t ignore the sad circling of multi-hued amber to the pavement; and with this visual reminder of the eve of summer, I realised that autumn is now upon us. Indeed, the first leaves are starting their slow gather in the corners of gardens, and the air carries a faint linger of wood smoke. The darling children are already back to another year of learning.

It makes me wonder if the purchase of private number plates is influenced by the seasons? Are people inspired to buy registrations at particular times of year?

Might it be spring: when full-of-joy car owners dash to the newly-budded outdoors; loaded with armfuls of turtle wax and pine-fresh magic trees, to clean and make good their cherished car?

Might summer be the favourable time for number plate purchases? After all, it’s a great season to show off your motor by peeling down the soft top and taking a leisurely drive through the countryside, or parking up by the sea front to eat soft ice cream.

Or maybe winter’s the season: to put a wrap on choosing the perfect Christmas present for your loved one.

But never autumn: in this overlooked season, we only ever seem to use our cars to trudge back to work following our glorious summer holiday, or to ferry the kids to and fro from school. It all seems so very serious.

If you fancy a lift from the daily grind, try looking up your perfect private reg on our web site. You can type literally anything into our Number Plate Clever Search: some examples are your initials (HCD has a nice ring to it!), your nickname (NELLY), or even your favourite football team (there is a number plate for Macclesfield Town by the way)!

Hopefully you’ll be able to find yourself a number plate for all seasons!

Number Plates, Street View, and Privacy Issues

2007-08-30T11:11:00.000+01:00

In the news this morning, fresh fears over privacy have been raised, but by two very separate incidents.

The first is a clamp down on car tax dodgers through Automatic Number Plate Recognition usage, in Wiltshire.

The second concerns ubiquitous search engine Google, which is changing its Street View privacy policy to ensure that imagery obscures faces and car number plates.

What is Street View? It’s Google’s new and fancy virtual street mapping tool that lets you virtually stroll the streets of the US as realistically as if you were there in the flesh.

It was only this very weekend that I was putting forward some concerns over Street View to NumberPlateGuy – as he was deftly demonstrating this new wonder of Internet technology – "what about people’s faces, and what about number plates!"

But Google didn’t reconsider their position on displaying faces and number plates off their own steam – the changes to Street View’s policy came about as a public reaction to concerns over privacy.

Anyhow, the technology has yet to be made available to the UK so we needn’t worry about Googler’s being able to view inside our houses, or peek at our number plates, just yet.

The person on the street might be concerned about having their number plate beamed out to millions of Google users, but if you owned private registration plates like L3 00K and P3 EKK, maybe you’d want to get some attention!

Motorcyclists Fearful Over Number Plate Chipping

2007-08-21T12:19:00.000+01:00

Coinciding with the recent increase in the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems, the DVLA are in the news again today for privacy related issues – and this time the fearful are solely motorcyclists.

Bikers quite rightly feel their privacy is just a little threatened by the recent consultations taking place between the DVLA and number plate manufacturers.

For the two are clashing heads over fitting Electronic Vehicle Identification (EVI) chips to motorcycles.

And it’s no wonder that motorcyclists are concerned: fitting EVI chips would potentially allow Police to monitor and track a motorbike’s every move.

There are also longer-term implications: if the chips are installed at manufacturer level, what choice is there for the motorcyclist?

Discussions raised on the MCN web site point to a general feeling of victimisation – that the DVLA are simply using motorcyclists as a minority case to prove their stance on security. The DVLA however are keen to stress that the consultation isn’t an official consultation.

Whatever happens, this news is bound to cause more uncertainty and anger amongst motorcyclists. Maybe these plates would suit them?

Spyin’
Watched
Hawk

Thinking of Investing? Number Plates Are The Real Deal!

2007-08-10T14:09:00.000+01:00

When it comes to investing your cash wisely, you could do far worse than putting your money where your personalised number plate is.

Driving to work this dazzling summer morning, Eric had a sighting from yore in the form of a number plate – a dateless registration (meaning it can be affixed to any vehicle regardless of age) with the suffix DD, on a King’s coach (King’s are a coach travel firm here in Middlesbrough).

Amazingly, this DD plate, and thousands of others just like it, were all available for the paltry figure of around £100 each 20 years ago – a quick DD number plate search on the National Numbers web site proves just how excellent an investment number plates can be – now these plates command a price far more bountiful; around £2500.

As I mentioned, Eric bought the plates for about £100 apiece, specifically for the King’s coach company. The chairman of National Numbers enlisted the services of a gentleman in Gloucester, who took a whole two years to fulfil the tailor-made order, scouring the county for the seven plates; most of which were found on Morris Minor cars. Finding the host cars for specific reg and canvassing the owners had to be done back in the day, as it just wasn’t possible to call a number plate dealer, or use a web site to buy reg – and there was no such thing as a retention certificate! *

Selling the plates on to King’s for £300 each delivered a tidy return for Eric, back in eighties. And it’s so nice to see the DD plates still in use on the coaches in Middlesbrough. The members of staff that have been with us for the 25 years since we founded are always looking out for the infamous Double D number plates that have proved such a delightfully delicious investment for our coach firm customer.

Even our customers agree. Our customer testimonials include accounts from folks whose plates have, at worst, retained the value; and at best, made them money, since they first purchased them.

Where to start? Try our clever search to find your own great investment, or browse through our DD number plates for ideas.

Or, if you’re interested to read more about investing in private number plates, our article Number Plates For Investment contains everything you need to know and also makes an interesting read!

* Retention certificates allow owners to remove registrations from their vehicle and "retain" them through a Certificate of Entitlement; they can then easily transfer UK registered plates between vehicles at their convenience.

Dodgy garage? My 4rs3!

2007-08-06T10:51:00.000+01:00

Liverpudlian comic actor Ricky Tomlinson has recently started his own car garage with long-time mechanic chum Harry Walsh.

Ricky is best known for his role as dosser Dad Jim Royle in the BBC kitchen sink comedy The Royle Family.

The garage, however, has considerably higher standards; being a member of the Good Garage Scheme, which aims to improve standards and ensure consumers get a fair deal.

Quoting a news story from the Auto Express web site, Tomlinson said: "We believe it’s really important to raise the reputation of garages like ours, and show that we adhere to strict customer service guidelines".

And despite his character being dubbed "Sultan of Sloth", we're sure the banjo playing scouser will make a great success of his new venture.

But I do wonder if any of these number plates would be enough to move him off that armchair?

Ricky number plates:
RR51 CKY
R22 KKY
Arse number plates:
A110 RSE
L8 RSE
Liver number plates:
1 VER
R11 VER
Royle number plates:
J20 YLE
ROY 55L

Happy Birthday Sue!

2007-08-02T09:38:00.000+01:00

Here's wishing you Happy Birthday, Sue
Without you here, what would we do?
I won't say your age; you're such a wise sage
And here's to the years you've accrued!

Here are some beautiful Sue plates:
SUE 1A (a top number plate for Sue)
500 SUE (another great dateless reg)
H15 SUE (one for Eric!)

Go EA57, DVLA Number Plate Censors!

2007-07-31T10:24:00.000+01:00

DVLA are causing a scandal again with their latest manoeuvre – censoring of the new 57 plates.

I hear cries of "what’s in a number?" - when it comes to value and variety; surely 57’s got the flavour? OK, well maybe people don’t want to report their fondness for national gastronomic favourite, Heinz, in their personalised number plate. But just what is so strong about 57, DVLA?

Well, the strength of the combo lies in that it can be used to spell ST and SY. And how strong these words are. Take the popular game, Scrabble, where, due to their ability to make numerous words, S and T score but 1, and Y earns players’ 4 points; they're strong, all right.

Admittedly, a couple of the plates that have been pulled by the Government agency do have a certain stigma attached: BA57 ARD (bastard) and TE57 CLE (testicle) are mildly offensive to anybody; EC57 ASY (ecstasy), MY57 ASH (my stash) and H057 AGE (hostage) are what could be considered touchy.

But what happened to cutting loose and allowing just a little bit of numeric horseplay?

Also ripped from the reg list was EA57 GAL (easy gal), which could have been taken with some light humour. Given the DVLA’s track record for smut, I’m sure with this plate – they ought to have gone easy, themselves.

Looking for some terribly naughty 57 number plates?
LO57 BET (lost bet)
EX57 ASY (ecstasy)
FA57 LAY (fast lay)
FA57 LUV (fast love)
HA57 NOB (you decide)

A Victory For Common Sense: The Vehicle Registration Marks Act 2007

2007-07-30T13:21:00.000+01:00

This new private members’ Act was passed to become law on Thursday 19th July 2007. It seeks to simplify the process of transferring registrations between buyers and sellers, and create a safer process that reduces the potential for fraud.

Richard Ottoway, the Conservative MP for Croydon South, introduced the Act – which has received support from both influential motoring bodies and the UK Government, with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Cherished Numbers Dealer Association (CNDA - part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation) rallying to push the bill through to law.

The Police are also backing the new regime for its potential to curtail crime against registration plate buyers: the old system made it possible for a seller to take a buyer’s money without providing the plate or the plate’s documentation.

But now, the registered keeper of a vehicle can apply to retain the registration mark separately from the vehicle, and the owner is warranted the right to use the mark on another vehicle for up to 12 months.

A further extension may be possible until such time as the mark is assigned to a vehicle.

Robert Wicken, chairman at the CNDA said:

"Now the Act has passed into law, consumers and cherished number dealers will get a process that provides more choice and flexibility."

This is really exciting news for all those involved in buying and selling car number plates. Instead of a registration mark having to go on to a retention certificate in the name of the seller (with the buyer’s name as nominee only and, thus, having no legal rights), the certificate can now go straight into the buyer’s name at the time of the retention application.

This is much safer and fairer system all round, with no chance of the seller reneging on the deal and applying for a duplicate certificate. It puts the buyer much more in control, with all reminders from DVLA coming straight to the buyer.

Absolutely brilliant – plus a victory for common sense!

More information:
Retail Motor Industry Federation
Read the Act:
Vehicle Registration Marks Act 2007

Looking for cherished numbers?
Bill Number Plates
Law Number Plates
Act Number Plates

Personalised Number Plates: A Fine Formula

2007-07-20T16:03:00.000+01:00

The Seattle Times’ Top 20 most read news stories has placed a story about a number plate as the fifth most read online article for 2005.

Why all the fuss about a personalised number plate? Well, the registration mirrored the formula used by chemists for identifying common narcotics.

The plate, C9H13N – a label for chemicals such as meths – was first seen on a black Audi, cruising around the streets of Seattle. Because of the chances of the general public knowing that the plate contains a reference to drugs, and because the formula also applies to compounds used in legal medicines such as amphetamine, the owner had so far managed to avoid legal action and revocation of the plate – successfully bypassing the US Department of Licensing state regulations.

These stringent guidelines govern the granting of vanity applications, clearly stating that the application will be rejected if it relates to alcohol or illegal activities or substances.

I wonder if our very own DVLA would have spotted this? To be fair, it’s an obscure case.

"It’s pretty easy for something like this to slip through"

said a spokesman for the department.

"With a series of letters and numbers, if you’re not a chemist it doesn’t ring a bell."

Either way, it shows just how personalised, and how popular, number plates have become.

It’s fun to speculate on the type of owner of this plate: a fast, downtown drug dealer with a wad of cash, or a modest chemist paying homage to a popular class of compounds?

Either way, if he were to emigrate here to the UK, he could be sure of finding his perfect formula for a UK number plate using our Clever Search. Here are some suggestions for personalised number plates of a chemical variety:

D20 UGS
K155 LSD
T2 RYP
H1 YGH
M13 THS

Happy Birthday Ali!

2007-07-20T13:21:00.000+01:00

Ali is our resident thrill seeker here at National Numbers. No, he isn't a stunt racing driver or anything like that (although he does have a class set of wheels). In fact, his thrills have nothing to do with cars (and you could be excused from expecting this from a National Numbers employee!) No, when it comes to being a first class dare devil; Ali excels in the field of STRANGE PETS.

Such is the extent of his interest that he regularly terrorises the office dollies with tales of his ever expanding collection of rare, and potentially fatal, serpents and amphibians – he even has his very own brood of eggs waiting to hatch soon (that's snakes, not chucks, by the way).

And as it's Ali's 21st birthday today, he deserves an extra large pat on the back, not just to mark the occasion, but for making it to the ripe old age of twenty-one without yet having received a fatal strike from one of these beautiful, but deadly, familiars. Nice one Ali!

Plates for Snakes

Sounds like snake: 87 AKE
Sounds like hiss: H1 SSF
Looks like asp: K155 ASP
And my favourite, simply: SS55 SSS

If you love Animal and Pet Number Plates, check out our selection online!

Happy Anniversary Sue and Eric!

2007-07-20T11:19:00.000+01:00

Sue and Eric are out of the office this weekend celebrating their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in Paris. Here’s to forty happy years together!

Two Plates Just For You

To many happy years: T40 MHY
Looks like Ruby: R15 UBY

SN07 Good: DVLA Get Picky Over Plates

2007-07-16T15:30:00.000+01:00

Scottish number plate prefix SN has been hastily replaced with TN in Edinburgh because DVLA officials have deemed the prefix too "offensive".

The DVLA has already released SN05 and SN06, so why the change of heart with 07?

Well, the plates clearly look far too much like snot.

There has been a general outcry of "bureaucracy gone mad" amongst dealers who are used to, and indeed, make a living from, seeking out new and interesting name and number combinations; and it has to be said that this sort of censorship in itself can cause more offence than it intends to contain. Surely nobody would sniff at such innocuous word?

Not according the DVLA:

"It is our policy that any registration mark that can be construed as being offensive to people will be suppressed. In this case, the SN07 marks would have been too similar to the word 'snot' and, as that could possibly offend some buyers, they were replaced with new TN07 registrations."

And how disappointing it must be for Edinburgh residents who can no longer sport patriotic plates on their 07 vehicles, as the rest of Scotland do.

Quoting an article in the Edinburgh News, Tim Shalcross, spokesman for the British Institute of Advanced Motorists, said:

"I think a lot of people would have been very keen to have those plates. I don't think its particularly blatant word either. After all, the registration is SN07 - which is very different to SNOT. The DVLA obviously have too much time on their hands."

Here are some plates you can’t turn your nose up at:

SCOT number plates
DVLA number plates
....................
542 NOT
BOG 3Y
S55 NOT
PA55 NOT

Happy Birthday Yee!

2007-07-13T13:39:00.000+01:00

We love birthday celebrations here at National Numbers: we get to take a five minute break from hunting down perfect registration numbers to kick back, and eat cakes.

One of our newest members of staff, Yee Ling, is celebrating her 20th birthday today. Yee's name has been the source of much banter here in the office: "Happy Birthday to Yee" has been very popular this morning.

Even with a name as rare as Yee, our Clever Search is still capable of coming up with plenty of suggestions for personalised registrations.

So happy Birthday Yee! Here are some plates just for you!

Interview with Derek Clements - Seller of Cherished Reg Plates CEO 1 and CEO 2

2007-07-11T15:32:00.000+01:00

Well, the bidding on the number plates CEO 1 and CEO 2 has finally closed. CEO 1 sold for a whopping £154,100.01. The bidding on CEO 2 ended on £10,000 (its reserve was not met).

For those who are new to the story, we’ve been closely watching the bidding on Derek Clements’ cherished registrations CEO 1 and CEO 2.

National Numbers’ Chairman, Eric Craggs, got the chance to catch up with Derek whilst taking a short break in Cumbria (which, co-incidentally, also happens to be the home of CEO 1 and CEO 2: the numbers were first registered there).

In fact, Derek and Eric get on famously, not in the least down to their shared interest in classic cars and cherished numbers.

Derek has been interested in classic cars and classic car restoration since 16 years of age. He has spent most of his adult life reviving and refurbishing old and jaded classic cars to their former glory.

Leaving school in 1961 at 16 years old, he saw his first E–type Jaguar Series I and said, "one day I’ll own one of those!"

By 1966, at the tender age of 21 years, Derek had bought his first E–type Jaguar for £750. Although he couldn’t afford car insurance, he didn’t let this curb his enthusiasm to drive, and so the car was insured in his father’s name.

Despite insurance woes, this was a fantastic era to be 21 years old. Take the widespread national pride over England’s World Cup glory, and mix it with the image and excitement generated by sensuously–styled classic car that most 21 year olds could only dream of, and you surely have a perfect James Bond–esque dream lifestyle!

Sadly, the dream had to end, and Derek sold the car a few years later for £500: a small loss for such prestige!

Mr. Clements’ connection with Jaguar actually runs far deeper than his first car: his aunt is Mrs Emily Baily whose husband Claude Baily was a chief engine designer for Jaguar in the fifties. Baily was instrumental in the design of the four-cam racing engine that powered the Jaguar XJ13 and he and another designer were jointly responsible for the XK and the V12 engine.

But what happened to Derek’s first love, his E–type? Well, the car was exported to Australia, but happily, he has since received letters from its owner, who is taking good care of her, and making the most of her elegance by exhibiting her in competitions.

Despite a brief diversion into restoring the classic MGB, Derek was soon lured back to the E–type and other Jaguar cars, and quickly built a profitable and rewarding career based on his favourite hobby.

One of Derek’s best deals was buying a Roadster for £3,000, which he restored, and sold for £30,000.

More recently, Derek bought five cars of elite prestige, including a Jaguar XK120, from a local dealer. One of the cars, an Aston Martin DB6, had the cherished number CEO 1 on it. He sold the car and transferred the plate to one of his E–type Jaguars. As part of the same deal came a Ferrari Daytona on which CEO 2 was registered. The dealer had already sold the car but Mr. Clements bought the plate on a retention certificate.

The online auction has ended for CEO 1 and CEO 2, and so too has this particular chapter in Derek Clements’ life. But I doubt that his love of the classic Jaguar E–type or of cherished registrations will ever die.

If you have an interest in the cars mentioned here, check out the E–type Club or the MGB Enthusiasts Group, or our Number Plate Story GTY 7, a tale about the cherished number GTY 7 that was proudly displayed on Phillip Walton’s Jaguar MK 2 at the Monte Carlo Rally.

If your love lies with cherished numbers, how about these classic car themed suggestions?

Sounds like Bond, James Bond: C8 OND or B1 OND
Sounds like MG: 4 MG or K155 MGB
E–Type: ETY 9E or E10 JAG

Number Plate Criminals Screwed by New Technology

2007-07-09T14:56:00.000+01:00

A partnership recently formed in Oxford has the intention of curbing surging numbers of car number plate thefts through the use of new anti–theft screws.

The partnership, formed a year ago by Oxford council and the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership, was launched following an increase in number plate theft incidents. This new scheme, involving the free of charge screws, will run over the coming summer months.

What makes the screws different to regular number plate screws, is that they are impossible to remove without breaking the number plate. Successful pilot schemes previously run in the county gave anecdotal reports of a significant reduction in thefts.

This is great news for those motorists who have been wrongly involved in crime, fined, given points on their licence, or worse – convicted, because their number plate was stolen.

Crime Reduction Officer Nick Gilbert said: "The stolen plates are often used to disguise the identity of vehicles used to commit crimes such as the theft of fuel, avoiding London congestion charges or fooling speed cameras."

According to BBC News, more than 40,000 sets of number plates were stolen in 2006, a rise of almost 25%.

With car ringing and other identity crimes becoming more prevalent daily, let’s hope this free technology can be rolled out to the rest of the country some time very soon.

For now, you can buy anti-theft screws from Speeding.co.uk for £5.99 per set.

If you’d like to secure a private number plate of your own, how about a screwed plate, a safe plate or maybe a sorted plate? Or try your own combination with our Clever Search.

CEO 1 Plate Breaks £150,000!

2007-07-09T10:40:00.001+01:00

Just a quick update this morning to duly note that the current bidding on the number plate CEO 1 stands at £154,100.01 and 101 bids. CEO 2 is at £10,000.00 24 bids.

Both have just over two days left!

Latest Updates on CEO 1 and CEO 2

2007-07-05T10:21:00.000+01:00

NumberPlateGirl yesterday wrote that she would keep you informed on the bidding on cherished number plates CEO 1 and CEO 2, but I have decided to have a go at Blogging myself by posting a simple update.

75 people have ramped the current bid on the CEO 1 cherished number plate to a slick £127,300.

The CEO 2 number plate follows behind at £7,900 and 16 bids.

Both plates have just under 6 days left.

So it's not a massive jump since yesterday, but it's common knowledge that eBayers often "lurk" around a sale, waiting until the last minute until they strike.

Let's hope that's the case, and the plates close on their true worth.

Incidentally, I was talking with the seller of the plates, Mr. Clements, this morning; we exchanged our own stories on the beautiful Jaguar XK120 (we're both big enthusiasts). NumberPlateGirl is busy right now writing up our stories. I'll have her post those when they're done.

In the mean time, if you're in the mood for some number plate stories, why not take a look at our story about the Monte Carlo Rally and number plate GTY 7, complete with fantastic pictures of the car, a Jaguar MK 2.

The Corporate Race For Cherished Number Plates CEO 1 and CEO 2

2007-07-04T14:49:00.000+01:00

There has been a lot of talk in the press and on television over the past few days about the race to buy number plates CEO 1 and CEO 2 at auction.

It’s easy to see why people have been clamouring to buy the coveted plates, which are for sale on eBay.

These desirable numbers are perfect for business leaders across the length of the country: Chief Executive Officers, Communication Electronics Officers and Chief Electoral Officers will be falling over themselves for developments on the sales; not to mention the countless number plate enthusiasts who would no doubt envy the owner of such distinguished marks.

As it stands, the bidding on CEO 1 is currently at £126,100 with 69 bids; CEO 2 considerably less at £7,900 and just 16 bids (and quite rightly so – which fat cat wants to be number 2?).

But how far would a bidder go to secure CEO 1? After all, money might be no object for the jet set that this simple abbreviation describes.

With less than a week to go until the close of the auctions, it really is a demonstration of a plate’s value being determined by "what’s it worth to the buyer?" – and in this case, the buyers are some of the richest people in the country!

What remains to be seen is whether or not the final sale price of the plate will reach last years proportions, when the registration M1 sold for a staggering £331,000.

The seller of the plates is Derek Clements, 61, a retired bank manager from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who is removing them from the two classic E-Type Jaguars amongst his collection of classic cars. In previous lives, the plates have adorned car brands as glamorous as Ferrari and Aston Martin.

The number plates were, in fact, first registered in 1956 and are what is known in the trade as being "dateless" – because they carry no year identifier and it would be necessary to consult a reference book to find out when they were originally issued. This only serves to increase the value and exclusivity of the plates, as they can be used on a vehicle of any age. The "C" part of the number has absolutely no relation to the fact that the plates were first registered in Cumbria. The "EO" parts of the number plate however relate to the town of registration, Barrow-in-Furness.

Eric Craggs, Director of National Numbers expects the bidding to go as high as £150,000. Would he be interested in buying CEO 1 for himself? Not at all, he believes the number plate would be far better off in the possession of a chief to a large multinational company.

And happily, Mr. Clements intends to use the money to "enjoy his retirement".

I think the stories of CEO 1 and CEO 2 are particularly interesting and shall be watching the bidding on eBay closely over the coming week, so watch this space for more news!

To enter a bid on CEO 1, you can view the plate on eBay, or for an alternative CEO plate, try National Number's Clever Search. We could offer you the slightly risqué K155 CEO at £1299, or the more demure M155 CEO at £999.

Either way, you’re likely to find your perfect reg, for a far more reasonable price!

Goodbye Linzi!

2007-06-29T14:03:00.000+01:00

As I write this, one of our newest recruits is just starting her final day of working in Sales here at National Numbers. I hoped she'd be around to stay, as she's rekindled the office fires following their untimely extinguishing on Sam's sad departure.

Good luck with your career Linzi! You are sure to be a success whatever you turn your hand to!

I thought I would have to mark the occasion of your leaving National Numbers, in a blog, if nothing else.

And I even spelled your name right. :)

Techno-whati?

2007-06-29T13:32:00.000+01:00

I have just signed up to Technorati which is about to release the spiders on the blog. Want to see my Technorati Profile?

National Numbers Meet The Blairs

2007-06-28T13:57:00.000+01:00

Living and working in the North East sees you perfectly situated for attending important political pow-wows, what with ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s very own constituency being mere tens of miles away, in sunny Sedgefield.

Eric and Susan Craggs last night had the pleasure of not only brushing shoulders with the Blairs, but also of attending a dinner event at the newly retired Labour party leader’s local watering hole, The Dun Cow.

Co-incidentally, Eric and Susan Craggs, the directors of National Numbers, regularly enjoy evenings out at the Sedgefield pub, which is a lovely little watering hole, and just so happens to be a regular haunt of Mr. Blair on visits to his hometown. It’s even been rumoured that once upon a time Mr. Blair ushered in Mr. Bush for a nice traditional ploughman’s lunch.

Eric was obviously feeling the vibe of the VIP and must have suspected that someone important was due to arrive, because he made a point of asking the bar lady if Tony would be attending.

The security – eight security guards dressed from their heads to their burly toes in black, and sporting earpieces, kept a watch over every move, as part of Blair’s goodbye farewell from 10 Downing Street, which saw him step down from his role as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party.

Regarding security Eric, however, felt that: "anyone could take him out!" But we know he is just teasing! We hope so anyway...

You would expect a day of mixed emotions for the Blairs: how did their departure from the numero uno reflect in their reception of consorts, friends, and number plate dealers, at the event? Was the obvious sadness of the occasion conveyed in Tony’s demeanour? Eric says that only the best of manners were graciously bestowed upon all at the meal, with Tony making sure to extend his warmth to everyone who attended: looking Eric straight in the eye and greeting him with a warm "hello".

So he’s not too sad about stepping down then? Presumably he’s gearing up for his next job, as representative of the "Middle East Quartet" where he’ll be promoting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Did Eric make an attempt to sell Tony a personalised number plate? What does Eric think would make an ideal plate for Mr. Blair? Well, Eric’s far too busy to tell me right now; dealing with the day-to-day running of the UK’s favourite number plate company requires full on attention!

But luckily, National Numbers web site has many options for searching different kinds of registrations, and the Clever Search developed by our software team is second to none. There are those personal registrations that relate to names: Mr. Blair could go for T1 ONY (call for price!) or the subtler TOE 9Y (£1850). Then there are the surname options: B14 AYR would be a good choice at £1115. And to celebrate Tony’s new career? Peace plates would be nice and PEA 5S (call for price!) is a very good plate.

Or maybe a plate closer to Mr. Blair’s heart would be enough? Just a simple BY53 BYE, at a bargain price of £799.00?

Read more about this story on the National Numbers web site.

Big Brother Tactics Using Number Plates

2007-06-27T13:28:00.000+01:00

Locals in Somerset are stunned today following the upgrade of their CCTV cameras to a constantly monitored system which stores details of cars that pass through, and forwards the details to government agencies.

Weston Town Hall's investment in cutting edge equipment has promised to track residents' every move using sophisticated Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, along with additional monitors at their CCTV headquarters, and a 42-inch plasma screen.

ANPR is a police initiative that is based on the premise that criminals need a car in order to conduct criminal activity. Every number plate that passes through an ANPR camera is scanned, logged, and referenced to a national database of registration plates and vehicles. The car registration is fed to various sources, including the Police National Computer, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and insurance databases.

Previous schemes throughout the country have seen arrest figures soar - Thames Valley Police said arrests rose nine times when they installed the system.

But what about law abiding citizens who fear for their privacy through the use of such systems? What is the knock on effect of such a tightly controlled system?

In order to avoid surveillance or penalty charges, there has been an upsurge in car ringing and cloning, which we covered in an earlier news article, particularly in London.

The criminal need not worry if he is logged using someone else's registration, and again the good guy loses.

Reports from a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) trial showed that ANPR had an error rate of up to 40%, opening the door to the incorrect pointing of fingers towards innocent drivers.

But maybe this is a little serious – we do after all live in a democracy where we have the right to choose and where if we stick to the rules we have nothing to fear right?

So most of us have nothing to fear. But the very thought of misidentification using the system is fit to induce fear of 1984-esque proportions here in the UK, where every move is watched and we see the country nose-dive into an automated justice system.

Oh, you can also read NumberPlateGuy's view on this, in an earlier post.

DVLA Workers Sacked Over Porn Scandal

2007-06-25T10:27:00.000+01:00

I just wrote a news article for the National Numbers web site. I will paste it in below for you to read.
----------------------------------------

The government body and registrations provider DVLA has finally closed the book on their recent porn scandal, following the conclusion of their enquiry into the circulation of "inappropriate" emails during 2005 and 2006.

A total of 18 members of DVLA's 6000 plus staff have been sacked, and a further 147 officially reprimanded. The guilty members of staff were found to have downloaded or sent pornographic material.

This scandal is not the only one to have hit the DVLA in the past few years. The tale began in July 2005 when a female worker was dismissed after sending a video clip of her having sex with her boyfriend, via her mobile phone.

Then, in October 2006, 65 DVLA workers found themselves facing disciplinary action following a thorough scrutiny of company servers for inappropriate material.

About the content discovered on company computers in the enquiry, a DVLA worker told the South Wales Evening Post:

"It is everywhere. It is hardcore stuff and very offensive. A lot of people have been unhappy to have the emails popping up on their computers".

A spokeswoman for the DVLA said all staff had been reminded about the rules governing the use of work emails.

"The matter is now officially closed"

She added.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My question is, how can a government body who spends all their time wading through red tape and making rules, go so badly off the respectability scale? The mind boggles as to what they get up to in their work time. Video clips of staff doing the deed, staff being sent naughty material by other members of staff, investigations of bloated and slowed servers; no doubt the direct result of all the bandwidth-heavy porn flying around. It's all quite amusing.

On that note, if you're interested in rude or funny number plates why not continue the humour by using our Clever Search? It's really good - so try not to be offended! :)

Goodbye Tom

2007-06-18T09:14:00.000+01:00

An official National Numbers farewell was had on the 15th June at the Bluebell in Yarm to commemorate the honour of Tom, National Numbers' eBay/showplates/Google/sales person extraordinaire, upon his leaving to return to University.

Tom pioneered many advances in technology during his time here. He even turned his hand to PR (not to mention brushing shoulders with Middlesbrough football legends such as Stuart Boam!). You can read all about one of Tom's many adventures at National Numbers in a story on the web site: Number Plate Story S18 0AM - Stuart Boam.

And of course now is my chance to wish Tom good luck with his future career! Good luck Tom!

NumberPlateGirl Has Arrived!

2007-06-15T16:38:00.000+01:00

This is my first post in my new role as NumberPlateGirl, taking over from the most excellent NumberPlateGuy, who has sadly retired from posting most knowledgeable and enlightening number plate posts (not to mention pictures of National Numbers staff with scary facial contortions, no doubt on a works' night out).

Bird Flu Plates

2006-04-06T12:23:00.000+01:00

I spotted this article on the register the other day. Some chap trying to make a buck by selling his Bird Flu themed number plate on eBay. Can't blame him for trying!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/24/bird_flu_plate/

No Plates? No. Lots Of Plates :)

2006-02-24T19:26:00.000Z

I've never understood why the word number is often shortened to no. There's no O in number, so why's it not nu. or nm. or something like that? It's probably the term "number of" shortened, and just put into regular usage as "number". But I don't know for sure. Can anyone shed any light on that?

The reason I ask is that as part of our ongoing SEO work, the term "no plates", as in "number plates" often crops up as a search term people use to try and find us. How can I write any kind of tailored blurb to fit that? "We sell no plates", oh, really? Well, I'll go someplace they DO sell plates then...

Catch 22 innit? I guess I could put up a bunch of stuff about plates that actually have NO in them (e.g NO 9423), perhaps bulk the pages up with some pictures of Ursula Andress in a bikini from Dr. No? I dunno. Stupid English language.

Private Reg - Not Born In The USA

2006-02-23T13:41:00.000Z

There's a really good book available for anyone who's interested in number plates, the in's and outs of buying one, and plenty of stories about (famous) people who've bought them. Fanatical About Number Plates is available direct from Amazon.

Many people phone or contact us asking for private reg that simply aren't possible to make. As outlined in a previous post there are certain formats that private reg need to follow, not least of which is the inclusion of a number (you wouldn't believe how many people believe it possible to get just "BARRY" or "STEVE" on their number plates - they're called NUMBER plates for a reason, m'kay?). If you can follow these rules and still make up your ideal reg, that's great. But just because you've watched an episode of Knight Rider and seen that Michael Knight has KITT on his Pontiac Trans-Am doesn't mean you can.

The US has a vastly different system of registration to that of the UK. Private reg probably aren't as big a thing as they are here in the UK. The main reason is that you can (in most states - and availability permitting) simply pick your reg (normally 2 to 6 characters in length) and it doesn't have to contain numbers - it just needs to be unique. In fairness the Yanks don't call them number plates - instead opting for license plate, so we'll let them off with that. Assuming your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) allows the reg you can pick it up for a minimum fee (and I believe there's a yearly renewal). The plate itself has to show the state of origin, however, and some other little bits of info. But KITT would be a perfectly valid reg - if nobody else was already driving around with it on their vehicle.

Because of the total openness of the system, anyone can pick up a private reg. And because of that, they're just not as sought after. Whereas here in the UK where all reg need to follow rigid formats, picking a private reg can make you stand out from the crowd.

Amazingly enough in the US, collecting the actual plates themselves is a popular pasttime. If you recall the classic black and silver reg of the UK of yesteryear, then the US plates are similar. Stamped out of metal, the allowed logos, decorations and stories they tell of the states they're issued in make them collectables. Bit more interesting than our yellow and white acrylic ones no doubt.

Related Links

Wikipedia

Number Plate Recognition

2006-02-22T18:29:00.000Z

I've just posted a news article at National Numbers which details the fact that the police will be wheeling out a number of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) tools in the near future, and all the info they capture on it will be stored for up to 2 years.

To be honest, as a law abiding individual, I'm not too worried about that. But what I can't really see is the point of it? Sure, I can see how being able to have a robot scan passing cars, check if they're taxed/insured/owned by a mass murderer on the run is very handy. Much quicker than PC Plod cross-referencing his memory for a vague recollection of some similar info. That'll free the coppers up to do the high speed chasing when the robot reports the info to them. You know, the fun bit of their job.

Fine. All well and good. But surely if you're being chased by the bobbies, and they've got a description of your vehicle, the last thing you're gonna do is drive around in it? Not all criminals are that stupid (some are). They'll just pinch some plates off an innocents car and pass themselves off as them. Indeed, theft of number plates has skyrocketted since the introduction of these ANPR systems. Especially in London, where the congestion charge is in effect. Cheaper to pinch your neighbours plates than pay for access to the city. (PLUG : Buy yourself a set of personalised reg! If your number plate is REALLY unique, nobody will pinch it! It's too much of a give away!)

Keeping the data captured by the ANPR system on file could, potentially, allow a big brother style of record to be built up that'll show exactly where you are/were in the country at specific times, and what your driving habits are. Well, that's not so bad either. It wasn't that long ago that it was being suggested all vehicles will be GPS tagged so we'd pay a road tax based on mileage and what roads we use rather than a set road tax. Does which roads you drive down give away that much information about you? I know if I was tracked it'd probably reveal where I live, where I work, where I get my petrol and that I sometimes go to Tescos to do my shopping (that'd have to be an assumption - I don't drive my car up and down the aisles).

But 2 years worth of data? I'd expect a few months, it'd help with, say, a missing persons case. Where were they last spotted? Slap in the vehicle reg and our robot friends will tell us where they were last seen driving to. And can you imagine how much storage space it'd require to keep that info handy and accessible? The DVLA struggle now to keep their records in order - and that's just one record of each vehicle. Imagine the state those records would be in if there was multiple info for each vehicle covering each time the reg cropped up on a ANPR for 2 whole years. Chaos.

Still, I'm sure the police have thought it through. I'm sure some IT company will stick in a tender for the job of sorting it and cock it up at the tax payers expense. Can anybody shed any light on why it might be an idea to retain this kind of info for such a long period of time? Am I missing something?

Registrations On Scrapped/Written Off Vehicles

2006-02-21T19:55:00.000Z

If you've got a reg on a vehicle, and you manage to write it off, you CAN still salvage the number. However, you have to be fairly quick about it. Get in touch with your insurers and confirm that they don't want the reg as part of any settlement or payout or whatever. Ask them to issue you with a letter to that effect. Your next step is to get in touch with the DVLA. Inform them that your vehicle is now in pieces but you'd like to keep the reg. They'll ask you for the letter and arrange for the registration to be transfered onto a certificate. This can take some time. Typically you're looking at 12 months before you'll be seeing your reg again.

All of this HAS to be done before the vehicle is out of your hands and sitting in a scrap yard. If you scrap a vehicle without taking a number off, then that number is scrapped along with the vehicle. There's no going back (see below for the exception). You need to remove the number (if you want to keep it) before getting rid of the car.

Many people think that if you have the V5 logbook for a vehicle then you own the mark and can do with it as you wish. That's TOTALLY INCORRECT. The reg belongs to the vehicle. Logbooks are pretty useless when it comes down to it. We get an unbelieveable number of customers who fear releasing their logbooks to us to perform transfers (obviously we need to get the registration changed on the logbook so it matches the number going onto the car). They think that as soon as it reaches us we'll immediately ask for a change of keeper and be able to waltz off with their car. Hmmm. If it was as simple as that we probably would :)

To kick off with we're an honest company, long established and not fly by night. I'm sure it would do our reputation wonders if we started pinching people's cars.
Secondly, whilst from the logbook we know where the customer lives (which we knew anyway because we ask for that info when people buy number plates from us), and hence can probably make a good guess as to where their vehicle will be located, we don't have any keys for it do we?

And thirdly, the logbook is NOT A DOCUMENT OF TITLE. That means that anyone's name on it isn't necessarily the legal owner of the vehicle. Ever bought a vehicle on hire purchase or using finance? The V5 generally stays in the name of the finance company until you've paid it off. Otherwise folks would just sign the change of owner slip and say "Ner-ner-ner-ner-ner! It's mine now! Nothing you can do!" - probably whilst dancing some kind of jig and pointing.

Anyhoo, I digress (again). The one exception to scrapping a vehicle and being able to retain the reg is if you can make the vehicle roadworthy again. If less than a year has passed since the vehicle was scrapped, you may have a SLIM chance of retrieving the number. You'd need to get the vehicle restored, taxed and tested and then apply to take the reg from it. Of course, the DVLA may turn round and simply dismiss it, or say that the reg must remain on the vehicle, or (if you're lucky) agree to transfer the number for you (either onto certificate or another vehicle).

If it's been more than 12 months since the scrapping of the vehicle, then your chances are greatly reduced. Otherwise we'd just wander into our local scrap yard, find the shell of a classic car with a brilliant plate on it, restore it to it's former glory, retrieve the reg and sell it on for HUGE sums of money. As it is, in these cases the DVLA will query if the reg is part of the original car, and that the car is indeed "original" enough. If you've only got the steering wheel and build a whole new car around it you're not going to be entitled to the reg back...

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

2006-02-19T18:34:00.000Z

As you've probably noticed (what do you mean this is the first time you've looked at my blog?) I've revamped the layout a little. I've not got my head around all the CSS that goes hand in hand with a custom layout, but that may come in time. Or not.

Anyway, for those of you who care, we've now got a search box going on to the right which'll let you find any registration(s) in the National Numbers database - which is 30 million+ registrations in size. I've also added an RSS feed option BUT it's not for this blog. It's the National Numbers news feed. Sometimes worth a read.

In other news (and one that fits neatly with the title), the DVLA have adjusted their prices on C, D and G registrations. Usually it's a rare occurance for them to ever adjust prices, so dropping them on 3 lots of prefix letters is a bit of a biggy. When you look at it though, the C reg have been on the market since 1985, so lowering the price now isn't exactly going to make hundreds of prime reg available at basement prices - they've been well picked over in the meanwhile.

But, you may find that the adjustment in price will tempt you into buying one. Check them out.

Wadda Ya Wanna Know?

2006-02-18T18:11:00.000Z

So, is there anything you want to know about number plates? I'll just ramble on and on about them otherwise. If you can give me a subject you'd be interested in I'll cover it. Want to know if you import a vehicle how to get a personalised reg onto it? Wondering if you can track down the reg you used to own a few cars ago? Want to try and sell your reg - want to know how to go about that? Anything you wanna know - just ask.

Feel free to comment on my existing posts, of course.

Number Plates Are Forever

2006-02-17T17:26:00.000Z

The new style of registration that came into use in 2001 was originally thought to be a bit rubbishy in terms of what words/names you could make out of it. However, whilst some number sequences offer very little in terms of look-a-like options (06 - what can you make out of that? OG? How many names/words can you think of that have OG in the middle of them?), it does offer the occassional gem. And where the number is usable (55 was a good sequence, plenty of SS terms you can squeeze out of that), you get a HUGE range of great looking number plates.

Sadly, because of the way the system works your ideal reg may require use of a specific number, and that means you have to wait until that number comes rolling round. OO78 OND (007 BOND), for example, would be a cracking plate for any would be secret agent. The catch? 78 signifies the year of release, and that's not going to be available until the second half of 2028.

Only 22 years to go. This does give you time to get saving though. Reckon you'll have enough stashed away to buy and Aston Martin to put the reg on?

Ooo Stick You

2006-02-16T16:54:00.000Z

Rude number plates. The DVLA generally scours all of its pending number plates and withdraws those that look like words that may offend. Doesn't matter how little you might think such words may offend in this day and age, they just don't need the headache of complaints, having to withdraw potentially thousands of reg from vehicles on the road and issuing replacement number plates. That means you just WON'T ever get your hands on some reg.

Standard withdrawls from ALL number plate sequences are combinations such as DAM, SEX, WOP, WOG, ASS, FCK, CUM, BUM, SOD, COK and so on. It's quite surprising when you think about it how many rude words you can make out of just three letters :)

On top of these ones you get reg witheld because they have initials used for a specific purpose - MAN, for example is only used on the Isle of Man. You won't find it in use on UK reg.

Occasionally though a rude reg will slip through the DVLA's net. X351 ARO for example seems like a perfectly innocent number plate, right? Yet somebody requested it for auction. Even at the auction few people twigged just what it represented and the sale went through. Can you spot it? Here's a clue - imagine what it'd look like if you saw it in your rear view mirror...