It may be the personalised number plates of the rich and famous which grab the headlines - especially when the most sought after plates are sold for the price of a house.

But for every football star, pop idol, or captain of industry whose cars have them, millions more people of more modest means pay from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds to buy their own unique plate that also tells THEIR story.

The plates go by a variety of names - such as personalised, cherished or prestige registrations.

For some it's a mark that they have achieved a goal or a level of success in life or in business. For others, it's a status symbol. For businesses it can be part of their marketing strategy. For many it's a bit of fun. And, let's be honest, for those with a little bit of an ego, it's a great way to show off and flaunt it.

The plate M1 sold for £331,000 2006 and K1 NGS for £235,000 1993. Much in demand 51 NGH went for £254,000 2006 (with S1 NGH going for £108,000 1998 and MR51 NGH for £101,000 2006.) The plate 1A sold for £200,000 1989 while 1RR sold for £106,000 1994, and G1 LLY for £87,000 1990.

Registering cars is almost as old as the motor car itself. The first proper system is believed to have begun in the South German state of Baden in 1896, with the first national scheme launched in Holland in 1899. The British system began 1903 when Earl Russell camped outside the London Council office building all night to secure A1 for his Napier.

The first 'celebrity' registration was probably T8, owned by Harry Tate, a music-hall artiste who featured the number in his comic motoring sketches. Comics seen particularly attracted. Arthur Askey owned AA 10 and Norman Wisdom 1 NW. Magician Paul Daniels has MAG 1C, Jimmy Tarbuck COM 1C.

If you're keeping up with the Joneses, former football hard-man and now movie actor Vinnie Jones has 100 VJ on his Range Rover. The ex-Wimbledon FA cup winner has given his wife Tanya 99 TJ and his daughter Kaley 75 KJ. He's bought personalised plates for his parents and in-laws and is looking now for his son.

Romantic crooner Engelbert Humperdinck has had EH1 on his Rolls-Royce. Radio DJ and TV personality David Hamilton has D1 DDY on his classic Mini to enshrine his long-standing nickname, which he acquired in the 1960s when working alongside Ken Dodd and his Diddymen from Knotty Ash. James Bond film producer Cubby Broccoli owned CUB 1.

Companies, like Pimlico Plumbers, are using amusing plates - such as LAV 1 - to personalise their fleets.

Football supporters can back their teams with plates like AR51 NAL or WE51 HAM or D3 RBY.

Plates with the word 'SEX' have been banned - but that hasn't stopped some 'naughty' plates sneaking through, including ORG 45M and FU2, which has adorned the E-Type Jaguar of X-rated porn star Fiona Richmond - and a Mercedes belonging to the Billy Smart circus family.

How to buy your personalised number plate

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