'Unbelievable' sales record for two-digit ACT number plates

ACT licence plates with number 35 set Canberra auction record selling for $203,628By Monte BovillTopic:Car EnthusiasmPosted Thu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:42amThu 5 Nov 2026 at 6:42amBernard Vant with a 1930s Morris and the number 35 plates. (Supplied)In short:ACT licence plates with the number 35 have set a sales record at auction. The two-digit plates had been in the same Canberra family for 99 years. They sold for $203,628 surpassing the previous record, set by the sale of the number 54 plates, by more than $22,000.ACT number plates with just two digits have been sold for a record $203,628 after being held by the same family for almost a century.The number 35 plates were first owned by Bernard Vant, who had moved to Canberra from Sydney around 1927.In the 99 years since, the plates were passed down to his son, Clifford, then to Clifford's wife, and eventually to his grandson Warren Vant."My grandfather ended up with the number 35 licence in the ACT, and he then got himself the 35 number plate to match," Mr Vant said."I have had the occasional problem in car parks where they don't recognise the plate, but that is pretty rare."Warren Vant has removed the plates from his Nissan X-Trail. (Supplied)The front and rear 35 plates have appeared on several family vehicles, with Mr Vant's Nissan X-Trail being the most recent. The plates have also changed in appearance, from the early black-and-white FCT (Federal Capital Territory) design to the current blue-and-white ACT registration.Mr Vant said he had decided to sell the plates following his mother's death."It would be nice to hang on to, but with my mum passing we are just finalising the estate," he said.Sales record brokenCARBIDS general manager Ben Hastings hosted the auction of the plates. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)CARBIDS general manager Ben Hastings, who hosted the Canberra-based auction, said the sale price of the rare item was an "unbelievable result"."All two-digit number plate sales for us are incredibly significant," he said."When we have sold a lot of these lower-digit plates that have got rich Canberra history, like this plate does, we find that they go to people that really have been chasing that Canberra history."There are 90 ACT number plates with two digits. (Supplied)The previous ACT number plates auction record was for the number 54, which sold for $181,000 in November 2025.In 2022, single-letter X ACT number plates sold for $147,200.Mr Hastings said single-digit plates would be worth even more."The lower the number, the more significant and collectable it becomes," he said."We haven't sold a single-digit yet and we would absolutely love the opportunity because we know we would set a record there too."