When people think of personalised number plates, for some reason they still think of yuppies from the mid 1980's being pretentious egotistical snobs. Not only is this stereo-typical view extremely incorrect, it is outdated and immensely narrow minded.

In the past ten years the demand for personalised number plates has dramatically increased with recent statistics showing that people from all walks of life have an interest in personalising their vehicle. It has now become fashionable to make a statement of your individuality.

We all have a desire to be unique and stand out in a crowd, and despite what some would like us to think, we care about other peoples perceptions of us. In today's society we do this through the clothes we wear, the music we listen to and even our favourite watering hole is a signification of who we are! A personalised number plate on your car is merely an extension of this form of self-expression.

Why should the people with the flashy cars and money to blow on thousands of pounds worth of cash to blow on number plates be the only ones to enjoy this personal touch? In today's market there are over 30 million number plates available ranging from as little as £99.00, and so there really is a choice to suit every taste and budget.

With the ever increasing popularity of number plates, people are even choosing to buy them as an investment for the future, believing that they will become more profitable in the future. There is a fast growing trend in buying personalised number plates as gifts for birthdays and Christmas too.

If you are looking to invest in a number plate then here are some things to consider. Having your surname on a number plate will be more expensive to acquire, but will increase more in value of the years than having three initials. A number plate with your first name is also a sound investment. The general rule which concerns number plates and their value, is the rarer the plate, the more expensive.

It can be an overwhelming at first to choose your ideal personalised number plates, however it has been made really easy to do online having searchable databases, where you can enter your requirements and it will instantly tell you what is available and how much it will cost.

There are a few other charges you need to know about before you invest. There is an £80.00 transfer fee to pay when you buy your new plates. This is a fixed standard rate set by the DVLA, so be sure to bear this in mind when sorting your budget. Also, if you're buying the plates for use at a later date, there is a £25.00 retention fee involved if you do not assign it to a vehicle within a year.