Number 13 Registration Plates - Unlucky for Some?

Pressure is mounting on the government of Ireland to omit the use of the number 13 on vehicle registration plates. The system of vehicle registrations in Ireland is very similar to that of Great Britain; the registration mark contains a year identifier relevant to the year the vehicle is first registered. That means under current rules, cars registered in Ireland from January 2013 through to December 2013 would contain ‘unlucky’ number 13.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) claims superstitious buyers will choose to postpone the purchase of a new car until 2014 to ensure they do not have ‘unlucky 13’ on their car number plates. It is estimated that as much as 8% of the population of Ireland are uncomfortable with the number 13. That could equate to 5,000 less cars being purchased in 2013 which would have a serious impact on the already depressed Irish motor industry.

Number 13 – Unlucky for Some?

Whilst some motorists have dismissed the idea as laughable, many other industries are conscious of the discomfort associated with number 13. House builders have long been aware of the situation with many choosing to skip the number altogether when allocating house numbers to new build properties. Many hotels also choose not to have a 13^th floor over worries that guests would boycott rooms. Very seldom will you see a button in a lift indicating the 13^th floor. So maybe the concerns voiced by the Irish motor industry are indeed valid.

The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) along with the Government of the United Kingdom may be watching proceedings in Ireland with interest. Our own system of car registrations would see the introduction of the number 13 on the number plates of vehicles registered from the 1^st of March next year. I would presume we have just as many superstitious British car buyers as our Irish counterparts. Could this also mean fewer cars being registered in Great Britain between 1^st March and the 31^st August 2013?

At Simply Registrations we are keen to hear what you have to say about the number 13 on registration plates. Would you deliberately not buy a car if it had the number 13 as part of the registration mark, or is this a just a load of nonsense and another example of people allowing superstitions to rule their lives?

Please add your comments below stating whether you are for, or against, the issuing of 13 number plates in either the UK or Ireland.

About James Saperia

Successfully helping British motorists acquire their ideal personalised number plates for over fifteen years, James Saperia is the Managing Director and founder of Simply Registrations. The company is situated between Leeds and Wakefield and serves motorists all over the United Kingdom. Have a quick look at some of the cherished registrations available for sale, there could be one that is perfect for you. Follow James on Twitter and Google+.