A study carried out by AA has reported that one in ten male drivers have personalised number plates. The study found they are most popular with the rich, company bosses and professional workers.

On the other hand, the AA study claims cherished numbers are not so popular with the ladies! Only one in twenty women has a private number plate.
AA president Edmund King said “some motorists need a personalised number plate to demonstrate a sense of individuality, to mark their success or even to show the world their sense of humour!”

If you are male and aged between 4 and 12 (or possibly if you are a 50-something Jonathan Ross who featured this toy on his show) you will be hoping that Santa leaves ‘Doggy Doo’ under your tree this year. A Dachshund model, it poops plasticine and tops the list of toys in greatest demand for Christmas 2011 according to the Toy Retailers Association. Horrified parents up and down the UK will be desperately trying to persuade little Johnny that he doesn’t really want to ask for a defecating dog this Yuletide! However, Alan Simpson, spokesman for the TRA, pointed out: “Kids like poo, but it’s yellow, so it’s OK. It’s not a normal game, it’s wacky.”

Thanks Alan! But if your taste stops short of toys with imitation bodily functions, you may like to know that 2011 again sees a Personalised Registration Number as an absolute must-have for the grown-ups.

The very definition of ‘personal’, private plates can cost anything from under £100 to whatever you feel inclined to spend (and all levels in between). In every case, it guarantees a happy recipient on Christmas morning and for years to come. Unlike most of the alternative gift choices, it also represents excellent investment potential too. What’s more, the whole gift-buying experience can be over and done with, in a matter of minutes from the comfort of your own desk or armchair. No need to brave the shopping crowds this year, lift your phone or click your mouse and it’s as easy as that! At British Car Registrations you will find expert advice and assistance and a wide choice of registrations to suit both your requirements and your wallet. Contact us now at www.britishcarregistrations.co.uk or on 0121 353 3333.

The 3rd quarter of 2011 saw a slight increase in new car sales in Europe with the number of new cars sold increasing by 1.4% overall to 3,087,348. Some countries showed better results than others and the German brands of Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and BMW remained strong throughout this period. Predictably, the biggest contributor to the overall increase was Germany where car sales increased by a very healthy 11.6% to nearly 800,000 cars in the same period. In other major European economies, sales were in decline; including The UK and France but, more notably, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain. Italy showed the biggest drop in sales over this period. Conversely, the Baltic region showed exceptionally strong growth in sales with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania recording astonishing increases of 57.5%, 60.4% and 62.6% respectively. Volkswagen remains the most popular car brand in Europe with more than 400,000 models sold during the 3rd quarter of 2011; leaving its UK counterparts cowering in its shadow. Be sure to kit your car out with a personalised DVLA car registration.

London’s famous Regent Street is set to hold a motor show on November 5th. 300 high profile cars will be displayed on the famous high street known for its luxury stores. Cars from the 19th, 20th and 21st century will be displayed in the show. 100 veteran cars will also be displayed with drivers and passengers in period costume. It will most certainly be a fun day out with some exciting private number plates to be seen!

Birmingham-based Jaguar Land Rover stole the show today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Defender (the vehicle which is regarded as being responsible for the Land Rover brand) will not be made after 2015. Gerry McGovern, Design Director for Land Rover explained that the DC100, the concept car revealed in Frankfurt, is expected to form the basis of the vehicle which will replace the Defender and take Land Rover in a new direction. Also in Germany, the long-awaited replacement for the E-Type Jaguar made a very welcome debut in Frankfurt with lots of praise from the many motoring journalists present. It is hoped that the 2-seater sports car will appeal to a younger market than is usual for the Jaguar brand – the aim being that those buyers can grow up with the brand; remaining a customer for life. We hope that those who buy personalised registration plates from us remain for life also!

Workers at Fujitsu, IT suppliers to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (as well as the Ministry of Defence, The Office for National Statistics and HM Revenue & Customs) have voted in favour of a 24 hour strike which is due to being at midnight on September 19th. The workers are in dispute with Fujitsu over the pay rises they have been offered which represent increases of between 1.5% and 2.5% – many of the employees are said to be in salaries of £13,500 pa or less. “Such a pitiful pay offer to workers, who are paid less than what some senior executives pocket in bonuses alone, is an insult.” Said Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union which represents the majority of Fujitsu employees working on Government contracts. If the strike does go ahead, work for the DVLA will be affected by non-production of driving licences and transfers of DVLA registrations.

As the world watched the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave their wedding reception in Prince Charles’ Aston Martin, it was only fit that Prince Harry would personalise the vehicle with dummy private plates JU5T WED. The happy couple could be seen smiling broadly and waving to the crowds lining The Mall as they made their way to Clarence House. At the same time the cameras were zooming in on what must currently be the most famous spoof number plate on earth.

Motorists wanting to add some cachet to their driving experience chose personalised registrations

They won’t get you from A to B any quicker, and will probably earn a sneer from fellow drivers, but what do “Betsy”, “Paul” and “Roy” care?
For thousands of car drivers personalised number plates are a prize possession; a statement of individuality in a world of faceless conformity, and a neat investment.
Former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis (1 DLT) is a big fan. He bought the licence plate 35 years ago and hasn’t regretted it for a moment.
“It’s not flash. All the time I’ve had that number I’ve always thought ‘that’s fun’. I’m not that kind of flash person.”
The plate currently adorns his new Bentley, but at times “it’s been a toss up whether it or the car has been more valuable” says the ex DJ.

And while Travis has no problem advertising his whereabouts in such a way “I’m of the old school” it has at times caused him inconvenience. The number plate was pinched by a fan some years back, reducing Travis to scrawl “1 DLT” on a piece of paper.
Such criminal intent could hardly have been conceived when first ever number plate, A1, was issued in 1903. Earl Russell is said to have camped outside the vehicle registration office to get the prestigious plate.
And buying a personalised registration can be a financially shrewd move. According to one industry tale, a haulage company had a fleet of lorries that all had personalised number plates with the company’s name in them. The plates ended up being worth far more than the actual business!