Getting Personal in the USA with Vanity Plates.

We know them as personalised number plates, but in America, they call them "vanity plates". 

They work on the same principle as they do in the UK, with people paying for a number plate which spells out a favourite word or slogan. In New York, it's currently $60 for a vanity plate, then $31.25 each year to renew it. A 2007 survey, the first of its kind, revealed that there were 9.7 million vanity plates in use across America.

Vanity plates are most popular in the state of Virginia, where 16% of vehicles have one. Hardly a surprise since they only charge $10 for a vanity plate. At the other end of the league table, only 0.5% of vehicles in Texas have personalised plates.

Because American vehicle registrations don't follow the same sort of alphanumeric format as they do in the UK, there's a lot more creativity with personalised plates. You can have around seven characters on your vanity plate, depending on your state of residence, with spaces allowed. Entire words and short phrases are possible, although each state has its own list of banned words. New York has banned "Police" and "God", while Florida has banned "Pimpala". Generally, if your proposed plate features reference to drink, drugs, boasting, race or religion, expect to come across problems when you apply.

It is possible for a plate to be issued, only for it to be recalled if someone complains that it offends them. A vegetarian family, who claimed to be big fans of tofu, registered the plate "ILVTOFU", but the plate was banned. "I GOTTA P" was allowed though, and is a viral image floating around the internet.

Famous Personalised Plates

Personalised plates are also popular with some of our most beloved characters in the movies. The infamous De Lorean from Back To The Future bore the plates "OUTATIME", while Tom Selleck's moustached Magnum PI had "ROBIN1", "ROBIN2" and "ROBIN3".

With one American referring to vanity plates as "minimalist poetry in motion", it looks like these little slices of customisation are going to continue being just as popular across the pond as they are in the UK.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/">Virginia Vanity Plate by Tobyotter licensed underhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative commons 4

2016's popular cars and 2017's hot models

2016's popular cars and 2017's hot models look great with a private number plate

The latest statistics from the UK auto trade show that the following models of car are the most common purchases around the country. Few drivers want to feel like they are part of the herd, which is why modifications, limited editions and custom versions are increasingly popular. However, if you ended up with a car that's just too common in styling or colour, and it seems strange to say that about the Mercedes C-Class - a new entry in the top 10, then a cherished number plate might make your car stand out.

10. Mercedes C-Class

9. Vauxhall Mokka

8. Mini

7. VW Polo

6. Vauxhall Astra

5. Nissan Qashqai

4. VW Golf

3. Ford Focus

2. Vauxhall Corsa

1. Ford Fiesta

Personalised Number Plates for New Cars

A personalised number plate is just the thing to divert attention from the fact your car might be so popular. With our close proximity to the DVLA, we can offer very fast turnarounds for private plates to make your car a little more distinguished. Of course, your next purchase might have to be a little more exotic to attract some attention.

The hottest cars for 2017, which definitely won't be appearing in a most common car list, are shipping in from around the world to light up British garage forecourts. Most models are already on sale and cover a range of budgets or driver preferences, covering the green and luxury end of the car market.

From Italy, the new Alfa Romeo Giulia (http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/models/alfa-romeo-giulia) or the Fiat 124 Spider (http://www.fiat.co.uk/124-spider).

From South Korea, the Hyundai Ioniq, the company's first hybrid, EV car (http://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/ioniq).

From Britain, the Jaguar XE (http://www.jaguar.co.uk/jaguar-range/xe/index.html).

From Japan, the Lexus LC (http://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/lc/lc-500/).

From Sweden, the Volvo S90 (http://www.volvocars.com/uk/cars/new-models/s90).

Whatever new model you pick up next, a personalised car registration will help increase its visibility and can either tie in to your name, business or the make of car itself. They can make a good investment and will definitely add a touch of style to your car, whatever the model or brand. Whatever your next auto adventure, make sure you pick us for your plate. Get in touch today for details.