Aussie Plate Goes for $6.7 Million

Auction until Jan 27 could fetch more.

In certain nations, transferring license plates between individuals is an option, and especially sought-after ones can be worth millions of dollars. A case in point is the “1” plate from the state of New South Wales, Australia, which is being offered by Lloyds auction house. The current value stands at the equivalent of $6.7 million (10,010,000 Australian dollars), and bidding will not close until January 27 at 10:00 AM local time, meaning it could fetch even more money.

The “1” license plate from New South Wales has never been available at auction before, making it a truly unique item. It was first issued to the first police commissioner before Sir Frederick Stewart, the founding chairman of Australian National Airways, acquired it in the Thirties. After his passing, his wife inherited the plate and took over ownership. She held onto it until her death in 2000, and now, the plate is finally up for grabs. This is a rare opportunity for car enthusiasts to get their hands on a piece of history.

From 1910 to 1937, every Australian state released license plates as a consecutive sequence beginning with 1 and concluding at 274-000. Different plates were allocated to passenger cars, motorbikes, and commercial vehicles. People in the country who are passionate about collecting look for these original plates and are typically willing to pay exorbitant prices for them.

The New South Wales “1” plate is sure to set a new record for an Australian license plate, with the “4” plate from that state selling for the equivalent of $1.6 million (2.45 million Australian dollars at the time) in 2017, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. It’s expected that the “1” plate will be even more valuable due to its rarity and unique status. With only one available, the plate is sure to be highly sought after by collectors and those looking to make a statement.

The New South Wales 1 motorbike plate was purchased in 2018 for an undisclosed sum. Predictions placed it between $500,000 and $1 million AUD.

In other parts of the world, the price of license plates has been even higher. “AA8” was sold for a massive $9.5 million in Dubai, and the “P7” plate there went for an astonishing $15 million. The most valuable plate in the world, “F1,” was listed for sale in 2018 for an eye-watering £12 million (around $15.3 million). As of today, according to regtransfers.co.uk, it still hasn’t been sold, with the asking price now set at £15 million (over $19 million).

Source: Lloyds via Man of Many