Undoubtedly the quickest way to identify any vehicle in Victoria is by its numberplate.
Many motorists memorise and form attachment to the random assortment of numbers and letters provided on their standard issue blue-on-white plate.
Others prefer something less dependent on chance and more inherently linked to them.
The option to order customised registration plates in Victoria became available in 1984.
As long as a combination is not already taken, within the confines of six characters, people can change the assortment of numbers and letters, and even the design and size of the plate to meet their satisfaction.
What counts as a custom plate?
According to VicRoads, of Victoria’s 6.84 million registered vehicles, 1.71 million have non-standard, or “custom” plates.
That can include personalised content, themed designs and black-and-white styles.
Slimline black and white plates (left) are the most commonly seen custom plate style in Victoria. (Supplied: VicRoads)
Slimline Black is the most popular non-standard plate in Victoria, with 1.12 million cars and 44,450 motorcycles having plates with white characters on a black background.
Some of the available custom plate designs in Victoria. (Supplied: VicRoads)
The remaining custom plates span a variety of styles including personalised colours, novelty plates, international plates and premium plates.
Options include USA, Euro-style or Japanese-style plates, plates featuring Looney Tunes or DC Comics characters, Holden, Ford, an AFL team or Melbourne Storm logos.
There are even plates that say you love something, or to show an enthusiasm for fishing.
Why customise?
VicRoads chief commercial officer David Ginnane said ultimately, picking a custom plate was about identity.
“The benefits are certainly around personal identity and what it means to you,” Mr Ginnane said.
“A lot of the custom plates that are in circulation are very benign and they mean something to the individual and may not mean anything to anyone else.”
This bright pink Hello Kitty car has become a talking point among motorists in Mildura. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
He said the available licence plate customisation options had undergone rigorous testing, to make sure Victoria Police, car park and tollway cameras were able to read them.
“Subject to the approval requirements that need to be made, it’s close to limitless the variation of colours you can have as a background, the font, colour, et cetera,” Mr Ginnane said.
“The variations that are available now versus five years ago, versus 10 to 15 years ago has expanded exponentially.
“They’re incredibly popular products amongst Victorians and that demand continues to grow.”
What motivates people to get custom plates?
Mildura couple Chin Ming Owi and Ting Yieng Yieng decided to get a custom numberplate to match the colour of their rather unique car.
The pair transformed their Nissan Micra into a Hello Kitty-mobile three months ago, by applying Hello Kitty stickers, badges and exterior grilles to the vehicle.
The custom plates, badge and anti-theft screw cap covers match the couple’s Hello Kitty-themed car. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
Mr Owi, who uses Morris as his English name, convinced Ms Ying, who goes by Anni, to get a custom plate to complete the look.
“It’s nice, and is matching the colour, and it’s funny driving it around,” he said.
“We felt like the number 25 is good, and we tried to get it online, and it was available and we could buy it.”
A custom pink number plate adds a personal touch to a Hello Kitty-themed car. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
Joanne Stephens took that logic one step further, after she bought a green Suzuki Jimny last year.
She was inspired by the make and colour of the car and created a numberplate with a custom colour as she waited for it to arrive.
Joanne Stephens got a custom number plate to mark her love of Disney. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
“I got a Suzuki Jimny, and I love Disney, so it had to be Jiminy Cricket,” Ms Stephens said.
“Also the Jimny are a little bit bouncy when it’s windy when you’re driving, so it’s like I’m a cricket bouncing across the road and I’ve got the bright green colour, so I’m a KRICKT.
“Most people don’t get the Jiminy Cricket reference, the Disney one, but I have occasionally had a person going, ‘Yeah, I get it.’
“It entertains me, anyway.”
Joanne Stephens’ custom, green, slimline Victorian number plate. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
Jarryd Gahan was given a more sentimental custom plate by his family for his 30th birthday.
His licence, GG 1991, is a reference to his birth year, and the nickname he shared with his grandfather.
“It’s two-fold, GG is a nickname I’ve been been given … the GG nickname was also my grandfather’s nickname as well,” Mr Gahan said.
Jarryd Gahan’s custom plate has a family and football connection. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
“It’s both personal to me but also has that significance to my grandfather, who by my 30th had been passed away a couple of years but I had a really good connection with as well, so it was nice to have that.”
His number plate colours weren’t selected to match his car, but to match his favourite AFL team.
A custom Victorian numberplate in the Richmond Football Club colours. (ABC News: Wade Stephens)
“I’m a Richmond supporter, and to tie-back with my grandfather, he’s a former Richmond player, he played in the 60s,” Mr Gahan said.
“It’s just all ties in with both myself, my link to my grandfather, my birthday and the footy colours, the footy team.”