Why do people put personalized license plates on their cars that no one else understands except them?

I think most are readable, but in general, people use them like bumper stickers, or to just make their car feel like it’s completely thiers, similar to decorating your house.

What’s wrong with self-gratification that serves no real purpose?

Some people just enjoy to feel they are in control. If you choose your licence plate then it isn’t being chosen for you. You aren’t just given a random string of letters and numbers. Plus, you can remember it more easily if you come up with it yourself.

I agree with @athenasgriffin.

It is a form of masturbation.

Yeah, it is more about making it more personal to yourself, not really about making a statement to others (at least that’s how I see it). I’m thinking about getting a personalized plate and I have no intention of making it that understandable to the general public. I’d want it to be more of an inside reference.

IDNTKNW

They’re not trying to communicate. They’re just pleasing themselves. Like a lot of poetry writers.

Got it. So basically a vanity (me), self-interest thing. Meh. lol

When I was a young atheist, I was so bent on getting a license plate that said “NO2GOD” lol. I thought I was so cool that I thought of that….but then I realized it was kind of dumb of me to commercialize it.

@MRSHINYSHOES…. aren’t they are called “vanity plates?”

What state has that many characters on their plates? Isn’t 6 about the max?

Do you really think displaying things so that others can understand their meaning has little to do with self-gratification or has a purpose? I disagree.

2GTURGT
or
2BC00L

Undoubtedly their state acccountants laugh all the way to the bank whenever citizens pay more for “individualizing” mandatory annual plates, on vehicles that are already over-taxed and over-licensed..

I think my license plate has been photographed and talked about more than any other in the United States. My wife bought it for me for my new Toyota and it is the only one like it in the U.S.

Guess what it is?

I always go with whatever the tag agency hands me, the normal plain Jane tags that blend in with everyone else. Drawing attention to yourself is usually unwanted attention if you sport those cutsie plates. That ,and they cost more money, every year you have them. Not worth it my ego will understand.

For the lulz.

I give up, what was it? @john65pennington

Like if I had a plate that read FLUTHER, I would know what it mean (and feel smug about it), but how many others would? I can hear drivers behind me now saying, wth!

Yeah, @john65pennington, spill the beans.:)

@john65pennington, TOY YODA

LOST TAG

????

@bkcunningham LOL! or

A TOY OT

lol

I had a friend who went through a terrible divorce. He got taken to the cleaners. The one thing he got to keep that she tried very hard to get in the divorce was a ‘57 Chevy he’d lovingly restored. As soon as the divorce was final, he got a personalized tag that read: RIDAHER

Sometimes they are gifts, or the people just think what is obvious to them is obvious to everyone else.

I like a good clever one. Around the corner is a Cal alum whose license is BE AU AR as in gold-in-bear (Golden Bear).

I got one of those on me Lotus. A combination of the kids initials & birthdates, we like it coz it looks cool.

@ucme Like: BU021095JU110497?

Nah, just the standard 7 characters, only room for my sons birthdate. Had to compromise on the initials, make things square with my daughter. It’s all good though.

@ucme You are a nice dad!

@rebbel So i’m frequently told, cheers anyway.

To me, its the cars name. “JMIE4VR” “H3H8ME” “LVRB0YZ”