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HERITAGE NUMBER PLATES
Have you ever wanted to know more about Heritage Number Plates?
You've found the right place!
Heritage Plates aren’t just registration numbers — they’re pieces of Victorian motoring history, symbols of prestige, and some of the most sought-after collectibles in Australia.
These black-and-white plates have become investment assets in their own right, commanding prices from tens of thousands to millions. Whether you’re drawn to them for their rarity, their status, or their proven record of long-term value, Heritage Plates are where history and exclusivity meet the open road
Victorian Heritage Plates are the original numeric-only registration plates first issued when vehicles started to be common on our roads, a time when the state transitioned from enamelled steel to pressed steel designs.
Always finished in black with white numerals, they cover the range from number 1 through to 285,000 and stand apart from later alphanumeric or coloured formats.
Early examples were made in vitreous enamel on steel and later reissued in pressed steel or aluminium, but the defining feature has always been the simple black-and-white presentation. This limited run of purely numeric registrations has given rise to one of the most established and sought-after collectible markets in Australia.
Heritage plates are desirable because they combine absolute scarcity, cultural cachet, and investment appeal in a way few other assets can. They carry enormous status value: a low-digit or symmetrical number instantly signals wealth and individuality in a way few other automotive accessories can. Beyond prestige, many buyers treat them as an alternative investment, a tangible store of value much like art or fine wine, with a long track record of appreciating prices and liquidity in auction rooms. That’s why people will spend tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even millions of dollars for what are, on the surface, just two pieces of black-and-white metal — because they represent exclusivity, identity, and a secure place in one of Australia’s most established collectible markets.
For buyers, the key is to confirm both authenticity and transfer rights. Genuine Heritage plates should be backed by VicRoads paperwork (commonly called the “Right to Display” certificate), without which the plates cannot be legally used or transferred. A complete set includes both the front and rear plate, and condition plays a major role in value: untouched original enamel examples command a premium, while restored or reissued plates are considered less desirable. Collectors also weigh factors such as rust, chips, bends, or evidence of repainting, and place additional value on plates with a solid provenance or unique number patterns. These checks form the foundation of a sound purchase or valuation.
International Comparisons
Australia isn’t alone — number plates as collectibles are a global phenomenon, but the focus differs.
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United Arab Emirates: The most famous international market. There, prestige is tied to low-digit plates (1, 2, 3, etc.) or unique combinations (like 77777 or 11111). Auctions are headline events — in 2008, plate “1” in Abu Dhabi sold for US$14.3 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for a plate worldwide. Plates are viewed as both status symbols and wealth flexes, tied to luxury car culture.
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United Kingdom: The UK has a huge market in cherished registrations, where desirable letter/number combinations spell names or words (e.g. “VIP 1”, “250 GTO”). This is less about pure numbers and more about vanity or branding. DVLA auctions are well established, with plates regularly fetching six figures.
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Hong Kong & Mainland China: Low-digit or lucky-number plates (especially those with the number 8, which sounds like “prosperity” in Chinese) are highly prized. Hong Kong plate “28” fetched millions in local currency, and combinations like “8888” or “168” command enormous premiums.
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USA: Collecting tends to focus on historic state-issued plates (old colours, first runs), rather than a numeric-only series. Vanity plates exist but are managed differently, and there isn’t the same high-end speculative market as in Australia or the Gulf.
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Middle East generally: Similar to the UAE, other Gulf states such as Qatar and Kuwait also see extraordinary sums spent on short, low-digit plates, often as displays of social prestige.
Number Plates in Australia - Rarity Tiers
Single Digit Plates - ( 9 possible numbers )
Two Digit Plates - ( 90 possible numbers )
Three Digit Plates – ( 900 possible numbers )
Four Digit Plates – ( 8,799 possible numbers ) excluding bicentennial plates 1788-1988
Five Digit Plates – ( 90,000 possible numbers )
Six Digit Plates – (185,001 possible numbers )
Currently, not all of these possible combinations are in circulation. From time to time, VicRoads does release a limited number of plates that have not been offered before. Some collectors follow certain combinations, and also understand which combinations are rarer or more desirable.
Desirable and Rarer Combinations
Some combinations or pockets of plates are more desirable than others. This can be for visual aesthetics, it can be because the numbers are linked with something like a birth date, or a specific model of car (think 911, 488, 351). Lets take a look at some of the numeric sets and combinations that are highly sought after by heritage plate enthusiasts and collectors.
Palindrome Number, which is a combination that reads the same forwards and backwards. (example ABCBA or ABCCBA)
Repeats, which is a combination that has the same sequence repeating twice or even three times. (example - ABCABC or ABABAB)
Round Numbers, which is a combination that is a round number. (example ABBBBB or ABCCCC)
Ladders, which is a combination that steps up in numerical order. (example ABCDEF or ABCDE)
Doubles, which is a combination that includes numbers that are pairs. (example AABBCC or AABB)
Triples, which is a combination that includes numbers that are three of a kind (example AAABBB or AAABB)
Quads, which is a combination that includes numbers that are four of a kind (example AAAA or AAAABB)
Bookends, which is a combination that includes the same number at the start and the end (ABBBBA or ABBA)
Have a think about what your dream combination might be?
Would it be a pattern? Perhaps it includes your lucky number?
What are Heritage Plates worth?
You might think that this question has a simple straight forward answer. But, it most certainly does not. With so many variables, so few plates in circulation, and number trends changing often, it is difficult to ascertain what a special plate is really worth.
VIP Automotive Solutions are connected with industry experts and collectors, to ensure that accurate appraisals and valuations can be provided to our clients.
If you have a heritage plate, or a special plate that you need valued, contact VIP today and find out how we can assist you. Valuations start from just $150.00!
Visit https://www.vipautomotivesolutions.com.au/heritage-plate-valuations for more information or give us a call to make a booking today!
