When the hammer drops at a classic car sale in London next month, the number plate '1F' could become the UK's most expensive number plate ever sold, with an estimated auction price ranging from £800,000 to £1.2 million. Currently, the record is held by the plate 'JB 1', which sold for £608,600 at Bonhams' Goodwood auction during the festival of speed in July 2025, smashing previous UK number plate auction records.
Private registration plates have become a status symbol for many motorists, who use them as a way to flaunt wealth, personalize their cars, or promote a business. For some, owning a rare number plate is akin to investing in fine art, wine, or exclusive timepieces—symbols of success and status.
'1F', first registered in 1957 in Essex and most recently seen on a £300,000 Ferrari, will be offered by RM Sotheby’s on November 1st. Its auction guide price, equivalent to the average house price in affluent London areas like Camden and Fulham, dwarfs the existing record by a significant margin.
RM Sotheby’s UK director of sales Sholto Gilbertson explained, "The fascination with exclusive, private registration plates continues unabated. Usually, the shortest registrations command the highest prices, and ‘1F’ has previously traded privately for a substantial sum. It's highly likely to set a new world auction record when sold."
Below is a table showing the top 10 most expensive number plates sold in the UK, reflecting the growing market and considerable sums collectors are willing to pay.
| Rank | Number Plate | Sale Price (GBP) | Year | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JB 1 | £608,600 | 2025 | Auctioned at Goodwood; originally issued 1932 |
| 2 | 1F | £800,000–£1.2m (estimated) | 2025 (Upcoming auction) | First registered 1957, on Ferrari recently |
| 3 | 25 O | £518,480 | 2014 | Desired by Ferrari collectors |
| 4 | X 1 | £502,676 | 2012 | Among highest valued |
| 5 | G 1 | £500,126 | 2011 | Prestigious short plate |
| 6 | RR 1 | Approx. £480,000 | Early 2020s | Classic collectible plate |
| 7 | P7 | $15 million (record world plate) | - | World's highest price, outside UK |
| 8 | 1 A | Unknown | Owned by Brunei royalty, like JB 1 | |
| 9 | 1 JB | Unknown | Owned by Brunei royalty | |
| 10 | A 1 | Unknown | Owned by Brunei royalty |
Number plates like 'JB 1' fetch their incredible prices due to several factors: extreme brevity, widely popular initials, rich provenance, and a long history of exclusivity. There are over 560,000 potential buyers with the initials "JB" in the UK, making the plate highly sought after, not to mention its association with a famous dealership and rare exotic cars.
The arrival of '1F' at auction next month promises to shake up the market and may set a new record for the UK's most expensive number plate, doubling the existing high water mark. The luxury and rarity market continues to thrive, with private registrations becoming a symbol of wealth and exclusivity.