Vic Roads has announced a new round of handmade heritage licence plates, with limited combinations being sold at an eye-watering price.
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Heritage plates are handmade replicas of Victoria’s first ever number plates that were issued to motorists in the 1930s.
The plates are issued with six digits, replicating the original number series from the 1930s.
The combinations must be a number between 100,000 and 285,000, to ensure it is a true replica of those released in the early 20th century.
Heritage plates are handmade with extreme attention to detail. Picture: Vic Roads.
Last July, orders had to be paused after just three days due to unprecedented demand.
At auction, the heritage plates go for hundreds of thousands, with a set of three-digit heritage plates selling for $375,000.
Between 2020 and 2023, the price of four and five-digit heritage plates at auction doubled.
The July 2024 wave of heritage plates will go for $19,995. Picture: Vic Roads
Giles Thompson, VicRoads’ Chief Executive Officer, said the heritage plates represent an important era in the state’s motoring history, being replicas of Victoria’s first-ever number plates issued almost a century ago.
“The plates continue to be meticulously handcrafted in Victoria to the same exact specifications as those originally issued in the 1930s, with unparalleled attention to detail reflecting the time-honoured techniques used last century and making each one unique,” he said.
“Unlike regular number plates which have a wide variety of combinations available, six-digit Heritage plates are limited to combinations between 100.000 and 285.000. Their exclusivity and limited availability are largely what make them so appealing to collectors.”
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Mr Thompson explained a number of factors contribute to the plate’s value, revealing that combinations that include low digits, unique character combinations, repeating numbers, mirrored sequences, and alternating patterns are often in high demand.
“Beyond the visual style, there is also the value that lies in the personal significance they hold for the owner, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or some other milestone.”
Some limited-edition sequences that Vic Roads expect to be popular include:
100.055
100.066
100.077
110.001
110.100
122.234
177.701
191.100
200.021
255.225
Six-digit heritage plates will be available from Tuesday, July 30 from 8.30am either online, in person at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre or over the phone.