Investment Opportunity: License Plates
If you thought luxury cars were the ultimate status symbol, just wait until you hear about the booming market for rare license plates.
👋🏼,
OK, so the more obscure an alternative asset is, the more curious I become.
I’ve always known (though never thought about it too deeply) that a car's number plate can sometimes be worth more than the car itself, especially as the car loses value over time.
Private or vanity plates - those personalized number plates - can be customized with different letters and numbers to create phrases, initials, names, or even words. You can even get them tinted.
But can investing in a vanity plate actually make it more valuable as the years go by.
Let’s find out more and dive into the (niche) world of license plates investing.
I'll cover:
Why are rare license plates valuable?
The market and the numbers
Buying a fresh Number Plates? How to Choose Wisely
How to buy a rare license plate
Major risks involved in rare license plate investing
Why are rare license plates valuable?
So, you might be wondering, what's the big deal with private and rare plates anyway?
First, it's important to understand that the value isn’t just in the plate itself (though the craftsmanship is top-notch).
The real value lies in the right to publicly display the plate.
Imagine driving through town with a license plate that simply says "1." Seriously? Quite, at least for some, the power move.
Now, these are different from “vanity plates.” Sure, vanity plates can be fun. But in the end, they’re not that valuable. You can get one for $125 and a bit of paperwork.
Heritage plates, on the other hand, are a whole different league. They’re an instant status symbol. Nobody else has them, and they’re incredibly hard to come by. Even the super-rich can’t just walk in and buy one.
For car collectors, they’re the “crown jewel” (often worth more than the cars themselves) and the ultimate bragging right for anyone fortunate enough to own one.
The Numbers...
Upgrade to Finbrain Pro to read the rest
Finbrain Pro members get ongoing access to:
✅ +20 (and growing) Investment Opportunity Guides
✅ The Stock Market Fundamentals Program
✅ Investment Portfolios
✅ Investment Tools & Resources
DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. The Finbrain newsletter is strictly for educational purposes.