The phenomenon of heritage license plates in Australia and why owners cling to them for dear life
Published on Jun 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Jun 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Sometimes trends just take off, ike the strange phenomenon of expensive heritage license plates in Australia, but do you know why owners of these rare plates cling to them for dear life?
Heritage license plates are license plates that have anything from just the single digit number one, all the way up to 285,000. And in Victoria and NSW, these plates are coveted like the owner’s lives depend on it.
Anyone can buy the rights to any numeric plate, but they can only actually be attached to their car if it’s registered in the state where it’s living.
The record-breaking sales prices are baffling, but a lot of the heritage plates come with lots of…heritage, and are often are passed down in families.
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It has become clear that a new trend for auto fans and collectors alike has been sweeping Australia.
The rise in the popularity of heritage license plates has been an emerging, if somewhat baffling, trend in recent years, with low-number license plates selling for eye-watering prices.
But what actually is a heritage plate?
Well, a heritage license plate is any number plate with numbers between one and 285,000. And some snazzy numbers, like 888-888, go for extortionate prices too.
Generally, the lower the number, the more expensive the license plate. And excitingly, in the South Australian area, a number eight plate is up for auction.
Back in 2020, a ‘number one’ plate went for $593,000. The number eight plate, though, is currently at AUS$1.32 million with bids so far.
Heritage license plates come with amazing history, so they’re passed down in families and rarely hit the market.
Which could explain why the prices are so eye-wateringly high.
The cost of some cool history and stories, though, seems to be more than $1.3 million, even if it is the lucky number eight plate…
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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
