On a plate
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:27 pm
Never seen the point myself, but each to their own
BE ''CR8TIV'', just don't call yourself Jesus. Personalised number plates might get you chuckling, but wait until you see the ones that didn't make it through the censors.
More than 41,000 people applied for personalised number plates with the Roads and Traffic Authority in the past year, bringing in $62 million in revenue.
Drivers have branded themselves ''QRIOUS'' (curious), ''CR8TIV'' (creative), or the ''GR8TST'' (greatest), and a garbage truck was given the plate ''STINKY''.
However, about 200 number plates were rejected for being offensive, overtly religious, sexual or violent. Number plates that ''encourage unsafe drinking or driving'' were also banned, said an RTA spokeswoman.
''JESUSX'' and ''LCIFR'' (Lucifer) were canned, as were ''RAC3M3'' (race me), ''PLSTRD'' (plastered), ''4P1AY'' (foreplay), ''RAP3D'' (raped) and the creatively spelt ''UTERAS''.
But picking the unsavoury from the acceptable is no science - the RTA has recalled 12 number plates that were issued and later deemed to be inappropriate. Each set of plates costs $200 to order and carries an annual fee of $90.
A bargain? Consider how much people will pay for the perfect plate: ''EZZ-11Y'' (easy) is listed for $10,000 on the Trading Post website, and eBay lists ''MRJAZZ'' for $6000, and ''MY-00-MY'' for $3388.88.
The most expensive number plate listed for sale on eBay is ''QB-8888'', considered a lucky grouping of letters and numbers in Chinese culture, priced at $98,888.
Websites such as Number Plate Trader deal especially in collectable plates that are considered investments by their owners, while the motoring auction house, Shannons, regularly sells off premium plates, some valued at more that $1 million.
The auction administrator, Ian Clayton, said NSW antique numeral-only number plates were the most collectable because they were discontinued in 1937.
These are registered plates numbered from 1 to 273879, and single-numeral plates are the most collectable and expensive.
''It depends on what the number is, but the numeral eight is highly valued in the Asian market, and balanced numbers bring more money than random groupings of numbers.
''On average, for a four-digit plate you are looking around the $40,000 mark,'' Mr Clayton said.
The RTA no longer controls the vetting of personalised number plates. Since October, applications go through the contractor Plate Marketing Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Licensys Pty Ltd.
Documents published by the RTA reveal the contract is worth $15 million over 15 years.
