News & Features

Two buyers broke the bank within minutes of each other and spent a total of £149,745 during the opening hour of the third day of DVLA Personalised Registrations' summer auction.

Twenty-four-year-old Ghanim al-Kuwari set the pace in his quest to buy 4 O with a winning bid of £51,000, his final bill including VAT and taxes topped £63,128.75.

That fee was soon dwarfed by a mystery bidder wanting 1 PNE. Unfortunately for him he came up against a buyer representing a businessman closely linked to Preston North End Football Club. His determination paid off as he won the battle with a total bid of £86,617.50.

For London-based Mr Kuwari, a member of a Qatar diplomatic family, it was a case of third time lucky. For he had been unsuccessful in buying the registrations 1 O and 2 O sold at DVLA's first two auctions of the year and released for sale as part of the agency's 20th Anniversary celebrations.

Mr Kuwari said: "I was a little nervous coming into the auction, but also very determined to get my plate. I am just delighted."

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations Marketing Manager, said: "We were hoping that
4 O would fetch a princely sum and, thanks to Mr Kuwari we were not disappointed. That said, no one predicted 1 PNE would fetch such a high sum."

He added: "This week's sale at the RBS Williams F1 Conference Centre has been a tremendous success. Incredibly, we had people queuing up to gain entry. While 4 O and 1 PNE will steal the headlines, there has been a whole raft of registrations sold for more modest fees."

Images

Ghanim al-Kuwari and 4 O plate