Cherished Number Plate Information

Information about cherished number plate B397 JAN.

The registration mark B397 JAN was part DVLA's standard issue release on 01 August 1984

These registrations were not made available for sale. They were put onto newly registered vehicles.

The popularity of personalized car numbers has spawned a very healthy marketplace. Whereas the majority of owners purchase their numbers for pleasure, there are an increasing number of investment-conscious buyers who acquire their plates with a view to selling them later at a profit. A former BBC Top Gear presenter is widely quoted as having said that a well chosen private number can be better than money in the bank. Certainly some of Britain's most astute business people are converted to the personal registrations cause. Sir Alan Sugar, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis - they all own carefully chosen cherished numbers.

When choosing a personalised number plate, one must be aware that the chosen registration plate must not be newer than the vehicle it is being paired with. This is because a newer plate on an older car would give the impression that the vehicle is newer than it truly is. This applies to all registration numbers that have age-identifiers (introduced in 1963 to today). However, dateless registrations are also available. These are popular because they are succinct, extremely scarce, and can be displayed on any car.

Although many buyers of private number plates choose numbers that represent their names or initials, there are numerous categories of registrations available. While some purchase plates that are personal to them, others prefer to give their vehicles the limelight with number plates that relate to their particular models of car. For example, the proud owner of a classic MG may wish to display the prestigious plate, MG 1 while the driver of a Smart car really would look stylish with the plate SMA 2T.