The £80,000 plate

The DVLA's first auction of Personalised Registrations for 2012 got off to an explosive start when a mystery businessman paid nearly £80,000 for the registration DH11 LON.

Expectations surrounding the personalised registration were high, especially as Dhillon is a popular Asian surname, but no one predicted the hammer would come down on such a huge sum during the first day of the Agency's three-day sale.

The reserve price of £2,000 was soon left far behind, as a fierce battle between four rival bidders, all in the auction room, ensued. The final winning bid was £61,000. However, the total amount paid was £79,100 because of the VAT on the hammer price, buyer’s premium, VAT on the buyer’s premium and assignment fee.

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Events Manager, said: “What a way to start our 2012 programme? We were hopeful DH11 LON would create some interest, but no one predicted it would fetch such a high figure. We are delighted, of course, but a little stunned.”