Following the pandemic, the fascination with elaborate numbers has risen to levels never seen before, even though it has always been prevalent. The growing craze for distinctive numbers can be attributed to several factors, including their status values, numerology, superstitions, date of birth and the idea of lucky numbers. Additionally, people who own multiple cars often prefer to maintain a certain pattern across all of their vehicles.
The allure of vanity plates reached a new height when the bid for vehicle number plate 0001 was Rs 23.4 lakh in Delhi in March. You can easily buy an SUV for this amount.
Data from the Delhi government's transport department, cited in a TOI report, showed that board number 0001 fetched the highest bid in any of the monthly auctions held from January to June this year. For privacy reasons, buyer's data is not disclosed. Soon after, board 0009 was sold for Rs 11 lakh in June and board 0007 collected Rs 10.8 lakh in the January auction.
The substantial bid of Rs 23.4 lakh for the 0001 board, well over the base price of Rs 5 lakh, highlighted the enormous value associated with this particular series. According to the transportation department, the rarity and prestige of the 0001 plate make it highly desirable. A transportation official noted that plate 0001 is the most sought-after number in electronic auctions because it gives the owner unparalleled bragging rights. similarly, the plate with the number 0007 is very popular due to its associations with the iconic super spy James Bond and famous cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In the January auction, board 0002 was also sold for a remarkable Rs 5.1 lakh.
Floor prices for these coveted numbers vary. Rs 3 lakh for numbers 0002 to 0009, Rs 2 lakh for numbers 0010 to 0099, 1000, 1111, 7777 and 9999 and Rs 1 lakh for numbers like 0100, 0111, 0300, 0333 etc. Other preferred numbers include base cost amounting to approximately 25,000 rupees for the 0786 number, which is particularly auspicious in the Muslim community.
In the first week of each month, electronic auctions are held for registration numbers, while weekly auctions are held for the remaining registration numbers. If someone wants a registration number outside the auction category and wants to skip the chronological order, the base price starts from Rs 25,000
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