Rare, expensive heritage plates from VicRoads expected to draw big bucks in auction

A rare set of heritage Victorian number plates is going up for auction — and the event is expected to rake in more than $1m.

Car enthusiasts from across the state are expected to vie for the latest round of heritage plates from VicRoads at an auction at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne.

A rare set of heritage Victorian number plates is set to be put up for auction with the event expected to rake in more than $1m.

Car enthusiasts from across the state are expected to vie for the latest round of heritage plates from VicRoads at an auction at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne on February 18.

It’s the second ever event since VicRoads introduced the new system in 2020 and some plates are expected to command price tags of up to $400,000.

Combinations on offer will include the new 2025 heritage plate to commemorate the new year.

There will also be a combo of lucky Chinese number plates up for grabs to coincide with the Chinese Lunar New Year

A set of plates to be auctioned in February

VicRoads licencing and registration chief Giles Thompson said the new plates would garner a lot of attention and big bids.

“There’s often a lot of interest,” he said.

“The most recent three digit plate that we sold, which was plate number 698, and we sold that at this equivalent auction in October last year, that went for just over $400,000.”

The last auction attracted more than 300 participants and, when asked if he expected to see any heavy hitters, such as Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli —who made a name for himself showing up to auctions of Channel Nine’s The Block in a Yellow Lamborghini — Mr Giles said he expected a varied crowd.

Some of the plates to be auctioned in February.

“You’ll be amazed by the diversity of people being young, old,” he said.

“It’s hard to pigeonhole exactly who it is going to be there.”

Heritage plates have been worth big bucks in the past.

In 2023, the four-digit heritage plate commemorating that year sold for more than $200,000.

The latest auction comes after Victoria’s personalised car number plate system was overhauled in 2020.

VicRoads was given control of the sake of the plates after the value of some plates have skyrocketed to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Single- and double-digit Heritage plates are the most valuable, with double digit plates often fetching prices in the millions.

In June 2024, Victorian number plate “20” sold for a record-breaking $2.54m.

It topped the previous record held by Victorian number plate “14” which sold for $2.27m in May 2022.

Combinations up for auction include:

• 766

• 1.680

• 2.025

• 6.886

• 7.887

• 8.282

• 28.000

• 59.999

• 86.888

• 98.989