Update (November 2025)
This article is now out of date; the UK auction record set by JB 1 at £608,600 has since been surpassed by 1 F, which sold for £926,000 at RM Sotheby's London auction on 1 November 2025.
The number plate 'JB 1' has become the UK's most expensive number plate to ever sell in a public auction, fetching £608,600 at the Bonhams auction during the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 11 July 2025. Prior to the sale, Bonhams had estimated the registration to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000.
Record-Breaking Auction at Goodwood
Absentee bids started at £180,000 and quickly escalated to £220,000. Once the price hit £270,000 the competition narrowed down to a heated battle between a single internet bidder and an attendee in the room. The hammer finally dropped at £530,000, with the winning bid coming from online.
A 15% buyer's premium was applied to the first £500,000, and a 12% buyer's premium on the remaining £30,000, adding £78,600 in fees. This brought the total price to £608,600. There was no VAT on the lot.
The lot additionally came with six historical photographs of the number plate displayed on Jack Barclay's Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. The plate was sold on a V778 Retention Document which expires on 18 March 2035.
Another plate, also part of the Jack Barclay collection, was featured in the auction: SCB 1. It sold for £42,000 + 15% buyer's premium, bringing the total to £48,300.
You can watch the full auction on YouTube here and see the Bonhams lot information for JB 1 here.
About the Plate
JB 1 was originally issued in Berkshire in March 1932 to Jack Barclay Limited. It was continued to be owned by Jack Barclay until it was sold in this auction.
Who Bought JB 1?
The buyer remains anonymous, but speculation is rife. One possible candidate is Prince Jefri Bolkiah, brother of the Sultan of Brunei, who already owns 1 JB as well as the legendary A 1 and 1 A registrations. Could JB 1 be the perfect addition to his ultra-rare collection?
On 1 August 2025, JB 1 was assigned to a 2019 black Bentley Continental GT with a very low mileage.
Why Did JB 1 Sell for Over £600,000?
Several key factors contributed to the record-breaking sale:
- 'JB' are among the most common initials in the UK
- Historic ownership by luxury car dealership Jack Barclay
- Has been off-market for over 92 years
- Exceptional auction exposure at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Previous Record
Previously, the record was held by 25 O which sold for £518,440 in November of 2014 to classic Ferrari dealer John Collins. The price was boosted by its association to the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most expensive cars in the world.