A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 carrying the number plate DB 5 sold for £811,000 including fees at RM Sotheby's Woodcote Park auction on 8 July 2026. The hammer price was £700,000, and the registration was sold with the car.
The DB5 had just two owners from new and 44,429 miles on the clock. Its registration is one of the oldest in the country: DB 5 was first issued in Stockport in December 1903.
How much did the DB 5 Aston Martin sell for?
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | £700,000 |
| Buyer's premium | £92,500 |
| VAT on the premium | £18,500 |
| Total paid | £811,000 |
RM Sotheby's lists the result as £792,500, which includes the buyer's premium but not the VAT on it. The price is for the car and registration together, so there is no separate figure for the number plate.
Where does the DB 5 registration come from?
DB was the registration code for Stockport, and DB 5 was issued there in December 1903, just before registration under the Motor Car Act 1903 became compulsory on 1 January 1904. DB 1 was issued in Stockport at the same time.
The registration was advertised for sale for £12,000 in 1986. It was assigned to this Aston Martin in 1987, after the car changed hands, and has stayed with it since. A DB5 wearing DB 5 is about as close a match between a car and its registration as you will find.
Can DB 5 be taken off the car?
Yes. DB 5 is still transferable, so the new owner can keep it on the Aston Martin, move it to another vehicle or put it on retention. As a dateless registration, it can go on a vehicle of any age.
What did DB 1 sell for?
Its sister registration DB 1 sold on its own, without a car, at Bonhams' Goodwood Revival sale in September 2025. The hammer price was £380,000, or £437,000 with the buyer's premium. See DB 1 and HC 1 at Goodwood Revival.
Frequently asked questions
Was the number plate sold separately?
No. DB 5 was sold on the car as a single lot, so the £811,000 covers both.
Where else has an RM Sotheby's sale featured a famous registration?
RM Sotheby's London auction in November 2025 sold 1 F for £926,000, the highest price ever recorded for a UK registration.
Where can I see other number plate sales?
Every recorded sale is searchable in our Sales Explorer, and the biggest are listed in the most expensive number plate sales.