A private registration plate number or cherished number plate is one which has a series of letters and numbers of either general significance or of significance to the owner.  Examples would be plates with your initials or some combination of your initials and birth date.  Plates such as MS 1 (Mark Smythe) or LP 1000 (Lance Painter) would likely fetch very high prices.

Cherished number plates, especially those costing high amounts, are often viewed as investments which go up in value over time.  The very first plate, now lost to time, was plate A 1 issued in 1903 when the numbering scheme first became law.  Should that plate somehow be located, it would fetch millions of pounds at auction.  While it is illegal to use a car registration to make your vehicle appear newer than it is, there is no such prohibition on making your car appear older. 

Regardless of age, however, many people enjoy the novelty of having a say in the car number plate on their vehicle.  There are several private companies that can supply someone with a private number plate or several private registration plates for all your vehicles, and the DVLA periodically holds auctions of cherished number plates that have been withheld from public consumption.  Many of the private companies also offer a “plate search” service, which allows you to input the plate number you would like.  It will tell you if a plate meeting your requirements, or close to your requirements, is available.

Of course, the price may need to be negotiated, and it may become a little expensive for a plate with special significance to both you and the seller.  However, cherished number plates have proven to be a good investment over time, which requires little in the way of maintenance and upkeep.  For those looking to invest without much worry, this might be the option for you.