How We Think About Selling License Plate Collections
Selling license plates, especially an entire collection, can feel overwhelming. What follows is the advice we most often give, based on how we’ve evaluated and purchased collections ourselves over many years.
1. Start by Understanding What You Have
Most sellers fall into one of three situations:
- A small group of individual plates
- A partial collection
- A lifetime or multi-generation collection
If you have more than a handful of plates, you likely have a collection. Thinking of it that way helps frame next steps more realistically.
2. Why We Recommend Keeping Collections Together
One of the most common things we see is collections being split up. From our perspective as buyers and collectors, intact collections are easier to understand because:
- Most plates are common, but many collections include a few genuinely special ones. You don’t want to unknowingly sell off the gems and get stuck with the bulk.
- Low numbers, scarce counties, or specialty plates are often easier to spot in context.
- Patterns and themes become clearer when everything is viewed together.
For those reasons, collections that stay intact—at least initially—are often evaluated more accurately.
3. How Value Is Typically Assessed
Value in license plates isn’t always obvious, and age alone doesn’t guarantee worth.
When we evaluate collections, we usually look at:
- Rarity
- Condition
- State and year demand
- Graphic vs. non-graphic designs
- Serial number patterns
- Current collector market trends
Sometimes the most interesting plates aren’t the oldest ones—they’re the ones that are simply harder to find.
4. Shipping vs. In-Person Evaluation
Depending on size and location, collections are typically:
- Shipped securely
- Picked up in person
- Evaluated locally or remotely
An experienced buyer should be able to talk through the options and help determine what’s safest and most practical for the situation.
5. What a Good Selling Experience Should Feel Like
Regardless of who you sell to, the process should feel straightforward.
A good buyer will:
- Explain how value is determined
- Answer questions clearly and honestly
- Respect the history of the collection
- Avoid rushing decisions
Selling license plates doesn’t need to be complicated, and it shouldn’t feel pressured.
Final Thoughts
License plate collecting sits at the intersection of history, design, and personal story. Selling a collection, especially one built over many years, deserves care and clarity.
Whether you’re exploring options or simply trying to understand what you have, informed decisions tend to lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. If questions come up along the way, we’re always happy to share what we know. We’ve been buying, selling, and collecting license plates for many years and regularly work with private collectors, estates, and long-time hobbyists. If you’d like to talk through a collection, we’re always happy to listen.
