Number 1 Plates: The UK's Most Prized Registrations

A "Number 1" registration pairs letters with the single number 1, such as F 1, JB 1 or 1 ABC. They are among the most sought-after registrations in the UK, and the shortest of them hold most of the country's price records. This guide explains the different types, how many have sold and what they sell for, using the documented sales in our database.

What counts as a Number 1 plate?

A Number 1 plate is a dateless registration made up of letters and the number 1, with no other digits. There are three lengths, and each can be written letters-first or number-first:

Type	Letters first	Number first
One-letter Number 1	S 1	1 S
Two-letter Number 1	RR 1	1 AA
Three-letter Number 1	VIP 1	1 DEO

A registration that merely contains a 1 is not a Number 1 plate. 21 ST or A 11, for example, are different formats. One-letter Number 1 plates are also covered in our guide to single letter and single number plates.

Why are Number 1 plates so valuable?

They are the first of their series. Number 1 was the first registration issued in each code, and some have only recently left public ownership. U 1, for example, was sold by Leeds City Council in 2025.
They are short. Fewer characters means fewer possible combinations and a cleaner look on the car.
They read as initials. JB 1 or 1 RH can stand for a name, and three-letter versions often spell words, names or abbreviations, such as 1 NHS or CEO 1.
They can go on any vehicle. Because they have no age identifier, the age rule never restricts them.

What do Number 1 plates sell for?

Prices depend heavily on length, and on whether the letters come first. The table below uses documented single-plate sales in our database, with totals including auction fees and VAT where known.

Type	Documented sales	Sales since 2020	Median price since 2020	Highest recorded
Two letters, letters first (AB 1)	53	26	£233,930	£608,600 (JB 1)
Two letters, number first (1 AB)	427	20	£114,100	£285,209 (1 BM)
Three letters, letters first (ABC 1)	1,042	328	£12,780	£285,000 (VIP 1)
Three letters, number first (1 ABC)	6,303	802	£12,190	£136,300 (1 DEO)

Three findings stand out:

Two-letter Number 1s are worth roughly ten to twenty times as much as three-letter ones. Since 2020, the median two-letter sale has been over £100,000, against about £12,000 for three letters.
Letters first usually commands a premium. Since 2020 the median AB 1 sale has been about double the median 1 AB sale.
Meaning matters more than format at three letters. Most three-letter Number 1s sell for around £12,000, but words, names and well-known initials sell for far more. Of the 19 three-letter sales over £100,000 in our records, most spell something, such as VIP 1, ACE 1, SUE 1 and 1 NHS.

One-letter Number 1 plates have changed hands too rarely for a meaningful median, but every one sold since 2020 has fetched at least £750,000.

What are the record Number 1 sales?

Registration	Price	Date	Sold through
1 F	£926,000	November 2025	RM Sotheby's
1 E	£900,000	December 2025	Reg Plates
U 1	£750,000	November 2025	Leeds City Council
JB 1	£608,600	July 2025	Bonhams
X 1	£502,676	November 2012	Regtransfers
G 1	£500,126	September 2011	Regtransfers
RR 1	£472,000	September 2018	Bonhams
F 1	£440,625	January 2008	Bonhams
DB 1	£437,000	September 2025	Bonhams
SH 1	£415,143	April 2019	Regtransfers

The top three-letter sales are VIP 1 at £285,000 in 2006, RAF 1 at £223,200 at RM Sotheby's in 2026, LSK 1 at £205,520 from the DVLA in 2021 and ACE 1 at £182,900 in 2026.

For more records across all formats, see Britain's most expensive number plates.

How have Number 1 prices changed?

Number 1 plates once sold for a fraction of today's prices. In the 1990s the DVLA auctioned large numbers of previously unissued Number 1 registrations. All 389 of the 1 AB sales we have recorded from 1989 to 1999, and almost all of the 2,759 three-letter sales, were DVLA auctions:

Type	Median 1989–1999	Median 2000–2009	Median 2010–2019	Median 2020 onwards
One letter (A 1 / 1 A)	£52,993	£330,000	£425,063	£900,000
Two letters, letters first	One sale only	£235,176	£255,196	£233,930
Two letters, number first	£14,218	£29,659	£150,650	£114,100
Three letters, letters first	£6,850	£9,048	£7,348	£12,780
Three letters, number first	£5,946	£7,831	£6,998	£12,190

Figures are not adjusted for inflation, and some periods have only a handful of sales, so treat them as a guide to the trend rather than precise values. Short Number 1 plates have risen most. Three-letter plates have climbed more gently, because hundreds sell every year and buyers have plenty of choice. Our Number Plate Price Index tracks prices across formats.

How can you buy a Number 1 plate?

From the DVLA. The DVLA still auctions previously unissued three-letter Number 1 registrations: we have recorded 159 since the start of 2025. Remember to add the fees; see DVLA auction fees explained. Past results are in our DVLA auction sold prices.
At classic car auctions and through dealers. Most one- and two-letter Number 1 plates now change hands this way.
From private sellers. Use comparable sales to judge an asking price. See how to buy and sell safely.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most expensive Number 1 plate ever sold?

1 F, which sold for £926,000 including fees at RM Sotheby's in November 2025. It is also the highest documented UK registration sale in our records.

Is a Number 1 plate a good investment?

The shortest Number 1 plates have risen strongly over the long term, but prices vary and there is no guarantee of a return. Check comparable sales in the Sales Explorer before buying.

How do I find out what a Number 1 plate is worth?

Look up its Timeline for past sales, compare similar registrations in the Sales Explorer, or ask for a free valuation.