The private number plates couples buy to share

Not every personal plate is for one person. A steady share of the market is made up of plates chosen so that a couple, or two people in the same household, can both feel they own them.

How it works. On a current-style plate the two-letter area block and the three random letters can both point to the same surname. When they share the same final letter, as in SJ12 ABJ or BJ11 SDJ, that repeated last initial often stands for a shared surname. It is a quiet signal that a plate suits two people rather than one, so a couple called Jones or Jackson can both relate to it.

How common it is. Over the last 30 days, our figures from official DVLA new-reg data and newreg.co.uk show more than 3,000 current-style plates sold where the area block and the letters share that final initial. A smaller, separate group went further, with the area block matching the first and last letter of the trio, as in SJ11 STJ. That pattern almost always points to one person doubling up on their own two-letter and three-letter initials rather than a couple, and we look at it on its own in our guide to plates that show your initials twice.

Why it appeals. A shared plate can move between two cars in a family, or simply feel right to both partners. It works for any couple, and it is a practical reason to choose one combination over another that looks similar on paper.

These figures are drawn from official DVLA new-reg data and newreg.co.uk and cover the last 30 days. If you are looking for a plate you can both relate to, you can search by initials at newreg.co.uk. This is general information, not advice.