Private company to sell custom plates

by Jennifer McCarthy

April 23, 2008

The WA government’s multi-million dollar custom licence plate business is set to be outsourced to a private manufacturer.

Sales of custom plates have consistently increased since their introduction in 1975, with over 140,000 of WA’s 2.25 million vehicles now sporting a personalised plate.

“Having a custom plate is about personalising your car,” said 23-year-old Mandurah resident Jessica Bails. “Thousands of people have a Suzuki, but only mine has a pink plate saying LUVZZ IT.”

Last financial year the government received $5.43 million from custom plate sales,  a hefty increase from the $4.45 million earned in 2005/6 and the $3.3 million of 2004/05.

The Department for Planning and Infrastructure, which currently administers the plates’ sale, failed to respond to questions on whether the outsourcing would lead to higher prices, or a larger range of plates.

“Price is definitely a consideration for me,” Murdoch University student, Shaun Western, 20 said. “I only got mine because mum chipped in as a graduation present.”

Tenders for marketing and selling the plates close on June 4.