A MIND-BOGGING eight million new number and letter combinations will be within reach of thousands of creative motorists this November when DVLA’s 03 personalised registrations go on sale to the public for the first time.

From November 4 until November 30, the DVLA database of 2003 registrations will be thrown open in a number plate free-for-all, allowing the public to steal a march and secure their favourite 03 numbers from virtually every potential number in the series for as little as £399 (including Vat and assignment fee).

After this bumper month, DVLA will continue to offer around two million 03 registrations ahead of the on-the-road date of March 1 2003, when they will replace the current 52 plate.

The initial wealth of choice is so enormous that if each pair of plates were made-up and placed end to end, they would reach around the entire coast of Great Britain by road - giving motorists more than 5,000 miles of choice.

Louise Pierpoint, publicity manager for DVLA Sale of Marks, said: “The new style plates have been on the road for more than a year and customers are now getting used to the system and realising the enormity of choice and the simplicity of creating a plate truly personal to them. It's amazing the creativity our customers display.’’

To check availability and price of all DVLA’s Select Registrations log onto the official DVLA website, www.dvla-som.co.uk. All registrations are available through the DVLA’s official telesales hotline, 0870 6000142, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, except Bank Holidays and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.