77-7 number plate fetches JD522,000 at auction

AMMAN — A Jordanian man bought a number plate for JD522,000, including tax, in Amman on Wednesday as part of a licence plate auction. 

Jordanian number plate enthusiasts witnessed a fierce competition between two bidders to clinch the plate, numbered 77-7. 

The Drivers and Motor Vehicles Licensing Department organised the auction for the first time in Jordan with the aim of introducing an "honest way” to sell number plates, according to Colonel Mamoun Al Azzam, the department’s acting director.

“We wanted to make these 15 plates available for people who are willing to buy them. We do not aim to collect money and we only wanted to provide Jordanians, companies and foreigners the opportunity to take part in this auction,” he told The Jordan Times. 

He noted that one of the main goals of the event is to curb the trend of number plates being sold on the black market. 

Manar Abu Alayan, who bought two number plates during the event, commended the idea of the auction. 

“My husband’s hobby is to collect these plates. I like this event because there is credibility here compared to dealing with individual vendors. I prefer to deal with formal parties,” she said. 

Some participants were shocked by the huge amount of money some spent on number plates. 

Mohammad Sahouri, who came hoping to get one of these unique plate numbers, said he felt most of the participants were merchants. 

“These numbers are very expensive. I feel that most participants were not collectors or regular people wanting to obtain a unique number,” he noted. 

For Radi Farahan, some people exaggerated with their bets. “The most expensive plate that was sold was auctioned at a price beyond my expectation,” he said. 

Due to the "success" of the event, organisers said they are planning to keep holding similar auctions in the future.