The Stories Behind The World’s Most Expensive License Plates

2 – Abu Dhabi: $2.7 million

Single-digit plates are held in high esteem in the UAE

Single-digit plates are held in such high esteem in the United Arab Emirates, that when plate No 2 was introduced at its auction in November of 2017, it was given a rock-star entrance with rock music, a light show, and smoke.

The No 2 plate has an added bit of historic significance — the 2 is symbolic of December 2, 1971, the founding of the United Arab Emirates. The winner of the bidding war between 20 eager bidders was 23 year-old Emirati businessman Ahmed Al Mazroui who paid $2.7 million.

9 – Dubai: $2.8 Million

Actually sold twice for staggering amounts

The first of our United Arab Emirates entries, 9 actually sold twice for staggering amounts. The first sale was in 2008 for $2.8 million and then dipped a bit in price in 2010, dropping to the paltry sum of $2.7 million.

Citing that Dubai has no income tax, the proud owner, property developer Balwinder Sahni, says that the big purchase is a way for him to contribute to charity and toward improving the city’s infrastructure.

7 – Abu Dhabi: $3.9 Million

Sold for an extraordinary amount not once, not twice, but three times!

The biggest of the No 7 sales took place on Feb 2, 2010 for a breezy $3.9 million.

The well-travelled No 7 has the prestige of being a single-digit plate of course, but like No 2, it has a bonus significance attached to its number — there are 7 emirates in the UAE.

5 – Abu Dhabi: $4.6 Million

Since the money will go to the government, the owner hopes it will be used to improve the city’s infrastructure.

We can understand Sahni’s desire for smoother roads. He wouldn’t want to damage any of his eight Rolls Royce cars, one of which became the proud new home of plate No 5.

09 – Dubai: $5.7 Million

Information is thin on the ground when it comes to plate 09.

Sold in Dubai on July 7th, 2015, for $5.7 million, information is thin on the ground when it comes to plate 09.

Plates in the UAE can have different categories, so the same number can be issued more than once. That being said, it’s generally held that this is a different plate than plate No 9, which we mentioned above.

1 – Abu Dhabi: $9.5 Million

In the car-centric environment of Abu Dhabi, your car and its adornments are statements of power and position.

When asked why he paid $9.5 million at the 2008 auction for plate No 1, property mogul Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri replied, “I bought it because it’s the best number.”

By hanging 1 from his fenders, Khouri boldly let the world know that he was a man of confidence and prestige.

D5 – Dubai: $9.6 Million

Why D5? Because D is the fourth letter of the English alphabet ;)

Property developer Balwinder Sahni is back again, this time grabbing the D5 plate for one of his aforementioned Rolls-Royces in October of 2016 for $9.6 million.

Why D5? Because D is the fourth letter of the English alphabet, and 4 + 5 = 9, the same number as his previous mention in this list.

New York – USA: $20 Million

Just remember that the family is throwing in the decades-old Volvo that is currently carrying the plates.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. The most expensive license plate in New York has the designation of, you guessed it, “New York”.

The state of New York started issuing vanity plates in the late 1970s, and one unidentified family was lucky enough to get their hands on the only street-legal “New York” plate in existence.

If you think the $20 million dollar price tag is a little steep, just remember that the family is throwing in the decades-old Volvo that is currently carrying the plates.

F1 – England: $20 Million

The plate F1 is up for sale...

Looking to usurp 25 O’s (coming up below) top spot in the UK, the plate F1 is up for sale for $20 Million. The current owner, Afzal Kahn (an automotive designer and entrepreneur) currently has the plate gracing his Bugatti Veyron.

Khan originally bought the plate back in 2008 from the Essex County Council. Previously owned by a councilman who had it on his Volvo, Khan paid $619,771, with the money going to charity.

MM – USA: $24.3 Million

Two-character plates are the hardest to find in the U.S., and plates using the same letter for both characters are rarer still.

It’s not just the most expensive license plate in California. It’s not even just the most expensive license plate in the US. Valued at $24.3 Million, California plate MM takes the top spot for the most expensive license plate in the world.

Two-character plates are the hardest to find in the U.S., and plates using the same letter for both characters are rarer still. In fact, there are only 35 of them in existence. This particular plate is also dished up with an NFT, making it more valuable still.

If you’re treating yourself to a $24 Million license plate, you should probably make sure you have a cool ride worthy of its stature. Perhaps a luxury SUV would fit the bill, or maybe a top tier electric car. Or if two-wheelin’ it is more your thing, you could always consider a bleeding-edge motorcycle.

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