Japanese-style number plates launched in South Australia

Tom Koutsantonis said car-enthusiasts had been writing to his office for years pleading for the Japan-style plates to be released in SA.

Long-awaited custom Japanese-style number plates are being launched in South Australia and being revved up with an auction of the most prized special editions.

Highly sought after by a burgeoning Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) car enthusiast community, the plates were launched on Sunday.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis, who displayed the plates in the Adelaide Himeji Garden, said the JDM community had been writing to his office for years to campaign for their introduction.

The first of 100 special edition plates were set to be auctioned online from 8am Sunday and some of the most sought-after are expected to fetch thousands of dollars.

People can buy plates or register interest for the special edition plate auction at ezyplates.sa.gov.au.

The limited-edition Japanese-style number plates. Picture: Morgan Sette

Mr Koutsantonis said the plates, which will be launched at All Japan Day in Glenelg, would allow JDM drivers to display their much-loved vehicles in showroom condition on the road.

“There is a thriving and passionate Japanese Domestic Market car community in

Adelaide and we expect these plates to generate great excitement,” he said.

“My office has received plenty of correspondence asking for these plates to become

available in South Australia, and we’re delighted to deliver.”

Tom Koutsantonis at the Adelaide Himeji Garden with new, limited-edition Japanese-style number plates. Picture: Morgan Sette.

SA more than 800,000 registered Japanese-made vehicles. In an example of their popularity, some 25-year-old versions of popular sports cars are selling for more than their brand-new equivalents, as Gen X-ers begin to enter the classic car market looking to relive their “fast and furious” youths.

One of the state’s first licence plates – number eight first issued in 1906 – also is being auctioned and is expected to fetch more than $1 million.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis with the number eight plates. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Custom plates allow owners to choose their own combination of up to six characters and are available in black, blue, green or maroon writing on a white background, for an annual fee of $235.

A once-off $259 fee will buy a set series plate, which will be issued in sequence

starting from 00AAA. These will be available in the traditional green writing on white

background to reflect the number plates issued in Japan.

Another 100 special edition plates ranging from 00JDM-99JDM will be produced

and available through auction from later this year.

The first of the special edition plates to be auctioned will be numbers

7,11,21,33,43,54,60,74,82, and 98.

The plates are shorter in length than traditional SA plates, because some imported Japanese cars feature bumpers designed for smaller number plates.

The Japanese-style number plate is narrower and taller, so owners do not have to modify their bumper or bend their plate to fit.