Do You Have a Vanity License Plate?

[iLander]

If so, why?

I've never understood these things, and can't figure out why people have them. . .

I don't think they're bad, or weird, I just have never felt the urge myself, and I was curious since so many people seem to have them.

My neighbor has one that are the initials of each of their kids, it spells nothing in particular, and it costs her $50 a year. My DH said it would might be taken as rude if I asked her why she had it, so I'm asking here on PS (which is one of the reasons I love PS, it helps overly-curious people like me )

Please don't tell us about the one you have now, that's too public on the net.

 

[Sparklelu]

Not personalized but a breast cancer awareness one. But the weird thing is it is my initials and the year I got married!! The state I live in has about a billion specialty plates . Really not sure how much extra it is but % goes to research so... I hope!
Just as useless I suppose as those antenna balls everyone seems to have!! Really does your car need it? My new car does not have an external antenna so I am not tempted. Haha

 

[monarch64]

I do not have one, I have different priorities about spending. That said, people HAVE them because they are a form of identity. We all choose to identify ourselves to others in many ways. Think about greek letters, dress codes, bumper stickers, jewelry (ha!), team ball caps, logos on handbags or other items of apparel...all of those things are identifying factors and part of social interaction. (I majored in Textiles/Apparel/Merchandising--this was an important point to understand in why people choose to express themselves through fashion, etc.) Your neighbor is using her vanity plate kind of like jewelry--her kids are important to her, and she wants a tangible something signifying to others that she's very close with her family, I'd guess. Kind of like when we wear jewelry for sentimental purposes.

I once worked with a lady at a jewelry store who had the plate "GOT ROCKS" or similar. I thought it was cute!

 

[kenny]

I have one.
I got it for fun.

People vary.

 

[iLander]

I have one.
I got it for fun.

People vary.

Is it fun? Do people ask you about it or anything? Is it a conversation starter?

 

[rubybeth]

They vary in cost by state. In MN, it's $100 more per year. In Nebraska, though, it's far cheaper (like maybe $25?) so I saw a LOT more of them when I lived there.

 

[kenny]

I have one.
I got it for fun.

People vary.

Is it fun? Do people ask you about it or anything? Is it a conversation starter?

Yes to all three.
We have had a lot of fun with it over the years.
It is I think $45 a year . . . cheaper than a fancy restaurant bill, but it's not pooped away the next day.

 

[madelise]

I knew of someone with a vanity plate of a pattern of M's and W's so that it was symmetrical. Didn't mean anything, and it gave everyone a headache to read off its letters. His idea was that it'd be harder for the police to read his plates.

I've always wanted it bc I drive a VERY common car (Camry!!), and I'd just like to make something stand out about it. I've accidentally tried to hijack others' cars, and I've seen people accidentally try to get into mine

And if I had a NICE car, like a luxury, I'd want to put my name on it.

Some people don't mind that extra $50-100/ year. Heck, I waste a lot more on more useless, and less permanant things!

Have you seen the yahoo news article a few weeks ago about the guy who had more than $20k in fines due to his license plate?

 

[madelise]

Found it! Think you'll get a kick out of it

http://m.nbcwashington.com/nbcwashington/pm_112507/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=UHqSNf2C&rwthr=0

 

[Enerchi]

Where I live, you pay once and that's it for a vanity plate. I have one as does my husband. His is a 'non-vowel' version of our house name, and mine is my business name. I just wanted something that wasn't "run of the mill/issued upon purchase". With a bad memory, if it means something to me, I am more likely to remember!

 

[Amys Bling]

Nope.

 

[Imdanny]

I would no more have one than I would put any bumper sticker on my car of any kind. It's just not me.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

One of our cars has one. DH's thing, not my idea but the money does go to help support a nature preserve. I think a lot of them here helps different charities.

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Mine is perfect for me. My vanity plate includes the type of vehicle I drive AND my jewelry obsession. It's very clever, I have been told. I bet now you're really curious what my 7 letter/number combo is, aren't you?

 

[iheartscience]

I don't have a car, but my last several cars haven't had vanity plates. I had one in high school and early college but haven't had once since. And only 1 person ever asked me about it-I don't think most people got it! I think having personalized plates makes your car too identifiable, and I'm not even particularly paranoid about things like that.

As to why, I think it's fun for people to come up with clever plates. If they're not paranoid like me, why not?

 

[kenny]

I think having personalized plates makes your car too identifiable, and I'm not even particularly paranoid about things like that.

Huh?
All license plate numbers, even the regular ones, are equally identifiable.
Each is unique.

 

[marcy]

DH has one. I don't have one but only because I can never decide what I want. They are only about $35 extra in our state and you keep your plates for 5 years.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i've seen many obscene vanity license plates...

 

[sillyberry]

I think having personalized plates makes your car too identifiable, and I'm not even particularly paranoid about things like that.

Huh?
All license plate numbers, even the regular ones, are equally identifiable.
Each is unique.

Well, technically yes, but it's certainly easier to remember and identify a car with the plate REDCAR1 than one than says CP7X9J2.

 

[isaku5]

We actually have two sets. The renewal costs the same as a regular plate would. The extra cost involved with vanity plates is up front (when they are ordered ~$100.)

Why? Just for the fun of it.

 

[Haven]

I chose my license plate when I got my first car, a nine-year-old Blazer for which I paid $1,000 cash to a local church deacon.
I worked really hard to save all that cash to buy my own car, and I was SOOOOOOOOO excited to have it. Part of the dream of owning a car (for me, at least) included choosing my own license plate. Owning a car might not be a big deal for everyone, but it was for me. Nobody handed me that car, I earned it. I don't recall how much extra I paid to choose my license plate, but it doesn't cost any extra, now.

Anyway, that was 14 years ago, and I've been too lazy to change the plate ever since.

Mine isn't my name or anything, it's a play on letters. Of course. But the cool thing is that even though I no longer drive that $1,000 Blazer, old friends from HS have recognized me on the road by the plates. Once that happened, I decided I didn't want to change them. I was also shocked anyone remembered those plates so many years later!

 

[kenny]

I think having personalized plates makes your car too identifiable, and I'm not even particularly paranoid about things like that.

Huh?
All license plate numbers, even the regular ones, are equally identifiable.
Each is unique.

Well, technically yes, but it's certainly easier to remember and identify a car with the plate REDCAR1 than one than says CP7X9J2.

Yes, more memorable, indeed.
May be that's what she meant instead of identifiable.

 

[KaeKae]

I had one about ten years ago. Hubby has one now. Both plates are a play on the spelling of the name of the college we went to. When I had mine, it did inspire some conversations with strangers in parking lots.

First were the older gentleman, fellow alumni, that apparently hadn't kept current with the university news, and wanted to know if my husband had gone there...yes, and I did too...the school had been co-ed since the early seventies. Then there were the very helpful who just had to let me know how the name was really spelled. Thanks, can't imagine how I managed to graduate without knowing that!. Maybe the people in that area just had no sense of whimsy?

 

[HollyS]

Not to dis anyone here . . . but . . . vanity plates have a way of highlighting one's overblown ego.

Like the guy I saw the other day with a purple heart plate that merely said "2". It made me wonder, until I realized that he was patting himself on the back and announcing that he had not one, but two purple hearts. Well, great. You should be proud. But, gee, humility is so much more charming than a "Look at me!" gesture.

If you need to tell the world you're special, you probably aren't.

That said, many vanity plates are all in fun.

 

[sillyberry]

Not to dis anyone here . . . but . . . vanity plates have a way of highlighting one's overblown ego.

Like the guy I saw the other day with a purple heart plate that merely said "2". It made me wonder, until I realized that he was patting himself on the back and announcing that he had not one, but two purple hearts. Well, great. You should be proud. But, gee, humility is so much more charming than a "Look at me!" gesture.

If you need to tell the world you're special, you probably aren't.

That said, many vanity plates are all in fun.

I sincerely doubted the guy in the corvette with the AWESUM licences plates was either awesum or awesome. I did not doubt he was wearing an Ed Hardy shirt.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Not to dis anyone here . . . but . . . vanity plates have a way of highlighting one's overblown ego.

Like the guy I saw the other day with a purple heart plate that merely said "2". It made me wonder, until I realized that he was patting himself on the back and announcing that he had not one, but two purple hearts. Well, great. You should be proud. But, gee, humility is so much more charming than a "Look at me!" gesture.

If you need to tell the world you're special, you probably aren't.

That said, many vanity plates are all in fun.

i'm sure he's proud...
many yrs ago i saw one that said "9 inches".. ..i don't think DMV would allow it today..

 

[madelise]

Not to dis anyone here . . . but . . . vanity plates have a way of highlighting one's overblown ego.

Like the guy I saw the other day with a purple heart plate that merely said "2". It made me wonder, until I realized that he was patting himself on the back and announcing that he had not one, but two purple hearts. Well, great. You should be proud. But, gee, humility is so much more charming than a "Look at me!" gesture.

If you need to tell the world you're special, you probably aren't.

That said, many vanity plates are all in fun.

i'm sure he's proud...
many yrs ago i saw one that said "9 inches".. ..i don't think DMV would allow it today..

lol this is one i saw a few years ago. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...63503441711_1055340010_30929866_3162565_n.jpg i didn't know people were so proud of theirs being fake.. but maybe she's crediting them for owning the Maserati?

 

[kenny]

I have an overblown ego.
People vary.

 

[minousbijoux]

You know, it certainly would help now if I had a vanity plate as I'd be able to remember it. I used to have no problem memorizing my plate numbers, but this brain only has so much room and unfortunately, its already stuffed with the numbers of past cars...

 

[NOYFB]

Yep. For fun. And I love it!