10 Outrageously Expensive License Plates That Cost More Than a Luxury Car

A collection of vintage license plates from various locations, including Nassau, Connecticut, and Buenos Aires, displayed on a wooden background. The plates vary in color and design, creating a visually diverse arrangement.
Zuberka/istockphoto

While most of us see license plates as mundane identifiers for vehicles, that’s far from the case for serious collectors. Across the globe, some license plates are worth more than luxury cars. Driven by factors like rarity, unique combinations, or personalized designs, these plates double as symbols of status, prestige, and exclusivity.

From single-digit plates in Dubai to vanity designs in Texas, here are 10 of the most expensive license plates ever sold, plus insights into their insane price tags.

1. Dubai P7 – UAE: $15 million

A white BMW 7 Series sedan with tinted windows is driving on a highway. The license plate reads "7" and "Dubai." The car has dark wheels and a sleek design. The background features hills, trees, and a concrete barrier.
u/bighag via Reddit.com

Sold in 2023, this single-digit plate holds the record for the most expensive license plate in the world (at least currently). Reflecting Dubai’s love for all things exclusive and extra fancy, the plate was purchased by an “unnamed wealthy bidder.”

2. Dubai 1 – UAE: $14.3 million

A bright orange SUV with a Dubai license plate reading "1" is parked on a sunlit street. Trees create shadows on the vehicle, and other cars are visible in the background.
hewy/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND)

Purchased by businessman Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri in 2008, this single-digit plate set the world record at the time for the most expensive license plate ever sold at a charity auction in Dubai.

3. Dubai D5 – UAE: $9 million

An auction display shows a Dubai license plate with the number "5." Nominal value is 1,000,000, increment value is 100,000, and the current amount is 32,000,000. The setting is a brightly lit event venue.
Gulf Business/YouTube

Another single-digit plate from Dubai, this one sold in 2016 to an Indian businessman. It showcases the city’s obsession with low-numbered plates as symbols of wealth and status.

4. Dubai 09 – UAE: $5.7 million

A white and orange Bugatti sports car is parked in a luxurious setting with a Rolls-Royce in the background. The car has sleek design features and is positioned on a tiled surface with marble columns nearby.
u/KraftyAdvantage via Reddit.com

If it looks like Dubai has the luxury license plate market cornered, it’s because it kind of does. In 2015, the city again made headlines when this plate sold for nearly $6 million. Sold to an anonymous buyer, the details remain shrouded in mystery.

5. 8 – Australia: $2.3 million

A close-up of a vehicle's license plate shows the characters "SA 8" in bold, white letters and numbers on a dark background. The plate is mounted on the front of the vehicle.
7NEWS Australia/YouTube

Sold in 2024, this single-digit plate traces its roots all the way back to 1906 as the eighth-ever license plate issued in the land Down Under. The auction reportedly sparked a two-week “bidding frenzy” before being sold to an undisclosed buyer.

6. Disney World 50th Anniversary Plate – USA: $1.5 million

Dark blue Florida license plate featuring "SAMPL" in white letters. The plate has a graphic of a castle with "50" on the left, symbolizing Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary. The words "Walt Disney World" appear at the bottom in yellow.
Etsy

This limited-edition license plate was created to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. Proceeds from the sale raised $1.5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. While not a traditional vanity plate, its unique design and philanthropic impact make it a standout in the world of high-value license plates. (And we thought it deserved a spot on this list.)

7. VIC 26 – Australia: $1.1 million

A black rectangular road sign with white text displaying the abbreviation "VI C" above the number "26".
Blakelee Bartik / Wealth Gang

This “rare vintage number plate” sold for a staggering $1.11 million at an auction organized by Heritage Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. The two-digit gem had remained in the same hands for over two decades before resurfacing on the market.

8. Delaware 6 – USA: $675,000

A rectangular black sign with a white border displaying the text "DEL. 6" in white bold capital letters and numbers.
Blakelee Bartik / Wealth Gang

This single-digit plate from Delaware sold for nearly $700k after its owner, Charles Murphy, died in 2008. According to Butch Emmert of Emmert Auctions, the plate was invaluable because of its low serial number. “There’s every possibility that today, his plate will sell for more than his home will,” Emmert told CBS News at the time. “It’s more important in Delaware to have a low number than to drive a Rolls Royce,” added Emmert.

9. F1 – UK: $618,000

A black Bugatti Veyron with a red accent on the door is parked on a city street. The car has its rear spoiler raised and a license plate reading "F1." A white van is parked nearby, and people are walking on the sidewalk.
Galaxy89cars / YouTube

Purchased in 2008 by British entrepreneur Afzal Kahn, this low-number plate is one of the most recognizable (and iconic) plates in the U.K. And get this: It’s currently listed for a whopping £12,009,995 (nearly $15 million) according to CarScoops.

10. 12THMAN – USA: $115,000

A Texas A&M University-themed license plate is shown. It has a maroon background with the text "12THMAN" in the center. The logo "A&M" is on the left, and "TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY" is written at the bottom.
Texas A&M University

As the most expensive license plate in the state, this vanity plate pays homage to the passionate fanbase of the Texas A&M University football team. It was bought by Houston-based attorney (and Texas A&M alumni) Tony Buzbee in 2013.

Author
Alina Wang

From Queens, New York, Alina has a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communications from CUNY Baruch and enjoys writing and creating content on a variety of topics, including lifestyle, politics, and, of course, wealth trends. Find her on X @atlasseventeen