THE quest for individuality has boosted sales of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's personalised registration numbers through the £200 million sales barrier. The DVLA has sold more than 400,000 personalised number plates since the scheme was launched in 1989 and fleets have been buying them to 'get noticed'.

Edinburgh-based MRS Distribution has one of the largest fleets of personalised number plates with 70 vehicles now sporting MRS number plates. Trowbridge-based Airsprung, one of the UK's leading bed manufacturers, recently bought the number plates N8 BED and N15 BED for two new delivery vans. And Derek Latham, transport manager at Lancashire-based bakers Waterfields, has put BUN number plates on many of the company's vehicles.