9 Most Expensive Number Plates Around The World

Did you know there are many people around the world who don't just buy luxury cars but also spend a lot of money on number plates? Yes, are read that right. While some do it for business, many others see it as a worthwhile investment. Those who have particular initials may want to get a number plate to match, while others may purchase a number plate for its appearance or as a status symbol.

Some of the most sought-after signs in the world contain just a few numbers and letters, which can instantly make a sign recognizable on the road. Here are the nine most expensive number plates around the world:

1. ‘MM’ – Rs 188 crore

Robbreport

The 'MM', which is the initials of the name of the first owner Michael Modecki, has been listed up for sale on OpenSea, a popular NFT marketplace with an asking price of 5,888 Ethereum cryptocurrency which is valued approx $24.3 million (Rs 188 crore). If sold, the plaque would go down in history as the most expensive license plate ever sold.

2. ‘F1’ – Rs 154 crore

Agencies

UK-based automotive designer Afzal Kahn owns the world's second most expensive number plate worth $20 million (Rs 154 crore). "I was looking at buying the number plate for quite a while. When it was made available in 2008, I beat off two other potential buyers to snap up the plate from Essex County Council. The 114-year-old registration was previously on a 30,000 pounds Volvo S80 used by the council chairman. The council sold it to me in 2008 to raise money for a charity, which aims to raise the standards of young drivers." Afzal told ET.

3. ‘New York’ – Rs 154 crore

Du pontregistry

'New York' is what can be read on the plate that has been in the same family since the late 1970s, when the father of this seller bought it for a bargain, as soon as it became possible to customize license plates in America. More than 40 years later, the owner of this license plate has put his Volvo V70 up for sale — on the duPont Registry portal — for $20 million ((Rs 154 crore), which, despite including the registration “ New York” in the business, makes this the most expensive Volvo ever.

4. ‘D5’ – Rs 74 crore

Khaleej Times

In 2016 Balwinder Sahni also known as Abu Sabah a Dubai-based property developer paid $9.6 million (Rs 74 crore) for number plate 'D5' one of his Rolls-Royce at a government auction. Since Dubai has no personal income tax, Mr. Sahni hopes these large sums can help contribute to the community. He believes the money will go to charity and improve the city’s facilities.

5. ‘AA8’ - Rs 72 crore

Emirates Auction

Recently at Dubai’s inaugural ‘Most Noble Numbers’ charity auction number plate 'AA8' sold for a whopping amount of $9.5 million (Rs 72 crore) and became the fifth most expensive number plate in the world. The entire amount was donated to the ‘1 Billion Meals’ charity campaign, which will provide food to undernourished children, refugees, displaced people, and those affected by disasters and crises in over 50 countries across the world. Since the campaign was launched at the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, funds equivalent to providing 340 million meals have been raised.

6. ‘1’ – Rs 73 crore

Middle Easteye

In 2008, Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri, also from the United Arab Emirates, set a new record for the most expensive number plate ever sold with a single digit, worth $9.5 million (Rs 73 crore). After the auction, Mr. Khouri said that “I bought it because it’s the best number”. When you work in a city in the Persian Gulf where there is not much public transport, the car you drive is extremely important and represents pride and status and that's the reason Mr. Ghaffar Khouri thought it would be very important to get the most expensive single-digit license plate in the world.

7. ‘09’ – Rs 51 crore

GQ India

Balwinder Sahni is back again, he purchased license plate number 09 in another auction for $6.7 million? (Rs 51 crore) in 2015. Sahni told CNN in an interview that he’s a “simple man”. “I always like to give myself a gift every year,” Sahni told CNNMoney. “When you work very hard, you need to present yourself something.” He said his big purchase had brought him a lot of attention, making it difficult for him to go out in public without people stopping him and asking to take a photo. Some people though aren’t impressed and have accused Sahni of wasting his money, reported HT.

8. ‘7’ – Rs 30 crore

Representational image

An unknown Emirati businessman bought plate No 7 for $3.9 Million (Rs 30 crore)? in 2016 as he wanted to celebrate the seven emirates and because it is a lucky number.

9. ‘2’ – Rs 20 crore

Khaleej Times

UAE businessman Ahmed Al Marzuoqi won the bid to own the exclusive 'Abu Dhabi 2' number plate for a whopping $2.7 million (Rs 20 crore). "I am very excited and proud to get number 2," he told Khaleej Times. He said he bought the number plate because of its significance to the nation. "Number 2 is a historical and very important number. It's the number that signifies the UAE union which is on December 2," said Al Marzuoqi. "I'm proud of my country and I want that money to go to charity. This is a year of giving and the Police will use the money from the sale of number plates to support the poor and needy people."

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