'1 F' Becomes the UK's Most Expensive Number Plate, Selling for £926,000 at RM Sotheby's London Auction
The registration 1 F has officially become the most expensive number plate ever sold in the UK after achieving a total price of £926,000 (including buyer's premium and VAT) at RM Sotheby's London Auction on 1 November 2025. The hammer fell at £800,000, surpassing the previous record set earlier in the year.
Record-Breaking Sale in London
Bidding for 1 F opened at £350,000 and accelerated rapidly. After spirited competition in the room and online, a persistent and anonymous internet bidder secured the plate when the hammer fell at £800,000.
- Motor Car Buyer's Premium: 15% + VAT on the first £200,000
- Motor Car Buyer's Premium: 12.5% + VAT on the remaining £600,000
- Total: £926,000 (including premium and VAT)
A Registration with Mystery Origins
First issued by Essex County Council in 1957, 1 F was reportedly reserved for one of the council's own vehicles. How Essex County Council later released it remains unclear, but the registration surfaced publicly when Bonhams sold it in June 2005 for £144,500. The buyer kept it until April 2024, when it was sold privately for an undisclosed figure before returning to auction this year.
Why 1 F Commanded Nearly £1 Million
- Ultra-short, highly coveted format (single digit + single letter)
- Natural association with "F1" and motorsport prestige
- Scarcity of comparable "1 + letter" combinations
- Historic and long-term private ownership
- Strong exposure at a major international London sale
The Previous Record
The previous UK auction record was held by JB 1, which sold for £608,600 at Bonhams during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2025. With a total of £926,000, 1 F now holds the crown as the UK's most valuable registration sold at public auction.
You can view some of the UK's most expensive number plate sales through our Sales Explorer.
At-a-Glance Lot Details
- Auction: RM Sotheby's London 2025
- Date: 1 November 2025
- Location: The Peninsula Hotel, London, United Kingdom
- Lot: 109
- Hammer Price: £800,000
- Total Price (incl. premium & VAT): £926,000
- Buyer: Anonymous, bidding online
Not to be confused with the F1 number plate