When ‘special’ plates were first released, it used to be only for government vehicles and for those cars that are used by the diplomatic corps. This is actually the reason why people view private reg plates as a step above the ‘ordinary’ plates. It has the added prestige in it that no ‘ordinary’ plate can match. When a person reads the law that legalizes the sale and use of these special license plates, he would come to find that it offers no added privileges to its owner other than the right to choose his own combinations and to transfer this plate to another if he so desires.
Like Magic
Political analysts say that power is an illusion. It derives power because people believe that it exists even if they cannot see or feel it. Power is also the reason why there are private reg plates. In fact, the most beneficial effect of these plates is not even seen as these are felt. Remember how there are some people, who are so enigmatic and charismatic that they are able to draw people into them just by entering the room? Now, the principle behind this also applies with private reg plates and it is called perception.
The people perceive the guy and are therefore drawn towards him. In the case of cars with Private reg plates, the people perceive that the owner has got to be someone important or successful to be able to afford one of these. The power and prestige exuded by the government ministers’ vehicles and diplomatic limousines are also in a way shared with the private reg plates even if its owners are just private individuals with no government power to wield or diplomatic immunity to protect them.
And like all illusions, the reality is always different. People see private reg plates as expensive buys. In truth, they should see these are must-buys if they wanted to start being treated as important because no one can become important unless he first starts to see himself as one. For pricing, these ‘special’ license plates are not really that expensive. It is just that, for obvious reasons, it is not something that is advertised by owners of these ‘special’ plates for fear of losing its allure and effects on others.