Driving was dangerous in the early 20th century. Only two American states required driver’s licenses in 1903, and driving exams weren’t standard until after the ‘50s. The Model T came out in 1908 and made cars accessible to middle-class Americans, but seat belts weren’t mandatory until 1968.
Less driving rules meant more driving deaths. Automobile death rates were 95% higher in 1913 compared to 2020.
Many modern car rules didn’t exist in the early 20th century, but license plates were adopted pretty quickly. Parts of America began requiring them in 1901, similar to other countries. The U.K. enforced plates with the Motor Car Act of 1903, and Japan started requiring them around 1907.
Most of us take license plates for granted in the modern world — but some people take them very seriously. “Rare” and “unique” plates can sell for thousands if not millions of dollars.
Keep reading to learn more about the most expensive license plates in the world!
8. VIP 1
License Country: Ireland
Reported Owner: Formerly Bill Finnegan
Interesting Fact: This plate was first available in the ‘70s
photo source: pinterest.co.uk
The “VIP 1” license plate was first made available in 1971 in the city of Kilkenny, Ireland. A local businessman named Bill Finnegan was given the plate that year, reportedly because of his help organizing a local beer festival.
Finnegan moved to London soon after receiving the gift. He tried to transfer the license plate to the regional government’s system, but the rules wouldn’t allow it, so he decided to sell his car, license plate and all.
By this point, the plate had become something of a celebrity. Pope John Paul II even had a replica for his “Popemobile.” Finnegan only earned about $6,000 from the sale, but the plate’s famous status boosted its price over the years.
In 2006, the plate sold again for more than $300,000. Original reports said a Russian billionaire named Roman Abramovich bought it, but an Abramovich spokesperson later denied the claims, calling them “widespread misinformation.”
Did you know?
Roman Abramovich is the former owner of the Chelsea football club.
7. 25 O
License Country: The United Kingdom
Reported Owner: John Collins
Interesting Fact: This plate was purchased for a Ferrari
photo source: bbc.com
In the U.S., anyone can buy personalized plates from the DMV. The U.K. offers something similar through an auction system. These auctions are held by the DVLA, the country’s DMV equivalent. The department makes unique plates, like “25 O,” then puts them up for public bidding.
Unlike America, U.K. license plates can transfer between drivers. As a result, unique plates sold at DVLA auctions often sell for even more in the secondary market. Bidders win the plate, then sell it again for a profit.
“25 O” is one of these unique and expensive U.K. plates. In 2014, a Ferrari salesman named John Collins bought the plate for one of his sports cars. The wealthy buyer paid £518,000 for it, which equals about $630,000.
Did you know?
Eric Clapton once owned the Ferrari equipped with “25 O” according to John Collins.
6. 28
License Country: China, Hong Kong
Reported Owner: Anonymous
Interesting Fact: Hong Kong began auctioning license plates in 1973
photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
Would you pay two million dollars for a license plate? A wealthy person in Hong Kong did! The plate features “28,” a number that was called “auspicious” at the time of the sale.
Why’s 28 a lucky number? The word for 28 in Cantonese sounds similar to words that mean “easy” and “prosper.” As a result, the number brings good fortune according to traditional beliefs.
Hong Kong began license plate auctions in the ‘70s, and a lot of money has changed hands since then. The “lucky numbers” 18 and nine sold for more than a million dollars each — but it didn’t stop there. At the beginning of the cell phone age, lucky cell phone numbers could fetch thousands of dollars.
Did you know?
People expected this plate to sell for just $413,000, but intense bidding pushed the price way up.
5. D5
License Country: The United Arab Emirates
Reported Owner: Balwinder Sahani
Interesting Fact: This plate was put on a Rolls Royce
photo source: pbs.twimg.com
The United Arab Emirates is another country that offers license plate auctions. Dubai, the country’s wealthiest city, made the news in 2016 when one of these auctions sold a plate for nine million dollars to an Indian businessman. Balwinder Sahani said the purchase would be used for his Rolls Royce.
Sahani isn’t a stranger to wealth. Born into a rich family, the real estate mogul transitioned away from the family automotive business and started buying up properties across the globe. “My father was very wealthy so I grew up around a lot of wealth,” says Sahani, “my brother loaned me $300,000 [to start a business]…Whenever I make big money I buy a building…I have a big chunk of real estate in the US.”
Did you know?
In Sahani’s home country of India, about 176 million people live in extreme poverty according to data from the World Bank. The Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 per day.
4. AA8
License Country: The United Arab Emirates
Reported Owner: Anonymous
Interesting Fact: This license plate sold at a charity auction
photo source: carscoops.com
In 2022, a charity auction sold plate code “AA8” to an anonymous buyer for nine and a half million dollars. The wildly expensive license plate was part of an auction called Most Noble Numbers, a charity event benefiting efforts to provide food to poor households. Others earned million-dollar price tags during the event, including F55, which sold for just over a million dollars.
Beyond license plates, Most Noble Numbers sold phone numbers — much like the early days of cell phones in China. One phone number consisting mostly of nines went for more than a million dollars.
Did you know?
According to reports, the money generated by the sale of “AA8” will provide 76 million meals to people in need.
3. 1
License Country: The United Arab Emirates
Reported Owner: Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri
Interesting Fact: This is considered the most prestigious license plate in the UAE
photo source: tripadvisor.com
Pop quiz: where’s the best place to hold a multi-million-dollar license plate auction? In a multi-million-dollar hotel, of course!
In 2008, the United Arab Emirates held one of its many license plate auctions for wealthy buyers. The event took place at Emirates Palace, a stunning hotel in Abu Dhabi known for its absurdly luxurious amenities and opulent design. The most expensive license plate sold during the auction was “1,” a “prestigious” number that went for more than $14 million.
Reports from 2008 don’t offer a glimpse of this special license plate, but pictures of the Emirates Palace hints at what the exclusive auction was like.
Did you know?
Some rooms at Emirates Palace cost several thousand dollars per night.
2. New York
License Country: The United States
Reported Owner: Unreported
Interesting Fact: This plate was made in the ‘70s
photo source: carscoops.com
Coming in at number two is “New York.” The plate was ordered by a New York state resident when the government started allowing vanity plates in the late ‘70s, making this one of the oldest customized license plates in the US.
Beyond being old, this license plate is rare and expensive. It’s the only street-legal plate reading “New York,” and current regulations make it hard to buy vanity plates with similar codes. As a result, this plate is worth about $20 million.
Did you know?
New York doesn’t let people transfer license plates to new owners, so anyone who buys this plate won’t actually be able to drive with it.
1. F1
License Country: The United Kingdom
Reported Owner: Formerly Afzal Kahn
Interesting Fact: This plate once sold for about $530,000
photo source: nypost.com
“F1” is the most expensive license plate in the world.
In 2008, a wealthy British entrepreneur named Afzal Kahn purchased “F1” for about $530,000. Ten years later, the plate hit the market again with an even more jaw-dropping price tag: Twenty million dollars.
Yes, seriously.
The plate earned its insanely expensive reputation thanks to its connection to Formula One racing, the highest class of motorsports. Kahn reportedly declined an offer of more than eight million dollars for the plate around 2014, but he decided to sell it at an auction a few years later in 2018.
Did you know?
Reports say this license plate costs about $20.4 million when accounting for sales taxes. Many auction houses charge selling fees, so the final price could actually be even higher.
