Victoria has finally joined the 7-character club, and it could change what your current plate is worth. For years, Victorian custom plates were capped at six characters, so names like FERRARI or PORSCHE simply couldn’t exist here. In May 2026 that changed, and the first seven-character plates went under the hammer for huge money.
Here’s what happened, when everyday Victorians might get one, and why we think shorter plates are about to become even more valuable.
The Seven Reserve auction: over $2 million in one night
On 26 May 2026, VicRoads held “Seven Reserve” at the Park Hyatt Melbourne, the first-ever release of 7-character Victorian plates. Just 12 lots went up: 11 hand-picked combinations plus a “Winner’s Choice”, where the buyer could design their own 7-character plate (subject to VicRoads approval).
The pre-selected plates were 1111111, AAAAAAA, MCLAREN, 1234567, 6666666, PORSCHE, 7654321, XXXXXXX, 9999999, 8888888 and FERRARI.
| Plate | Sold for |
|---|---|
| FERRARI | $328,000 |
| PORSCHE | $270,000 |
| 8888888 | $270,000 |
All up, the night brought in more than $2 million (Auctions Live). That tells you how hungry Victorian buyers are for rare and meaningful plates.
When can everyday Victorians get one?
Not yet. VicRoads has said Seven Reserve was a prestige release, not a general public launch. It is working on plans for wider availability and will share details once confirmed, but no date has been set (VicRoads).
When it does open up, Victoria will be catching up with most other states and territories, which already allow 7-character plates. We’ll update this post as soon as VicRoads announces anything.
Our view: short plates are about to get more valuable
Here at AusPlates, we believe the public release of 7-character plates will push up the value of shorter plates. This is our opinion as plate traders, not a guarantee, but here’s our thinking.
- Longer plates send a message. Moving to seven characters shows that good combinations in the shorter formats are running out. When buyers see that, the short plates that already exist start to look a lot rarer.
- 4 and 5 character plates should climb. With fewer good short combinations left to issue, existing 4 and 5 character plates become harder to replace, and that usually means higher prices.
- 2 and 3 character plates could sky-rocket. These are already the rarest plates in the state. When everyone can order a long plate, the true status symbol becomes the shortest plate, not the longest.
In short: when anyone can have seven characters, fewer characters means more prestige.
Own a short plate? Here’s what to do
- Find out what it’s worth. Try our Free Plate Valuation tool to get a feel for today’s value.
- See it on your car, or someone else’s. Our Exclusive Plate Previewer shows any plate listed on AusPlates on a range of popular cars.
- Decide: hold or sell. If you believe prices will rise, holding may pay off. If you’re ready to sell, list your plate from just $12, with 0% commission, so you keep 100% of the sale.
FAQ: 7-character plates in Victoria
Can I order a 7-character plate in Victoria right now? No. So far only the 12 plates from the Seven Reserve auction have been issued. VicRoads hasn’t announced a public release date yet.
What sold at the first auction? Twelve lots, including FERRARI for $328,000 and PORSCHE and 8888888 for $270,000 each. The night raised over $2 million.
Will my 6-character plate lose value? We don’t think so. A good 6-character word or name is still a great plate. It’s the very short plates (2 to 5 characters) we expect to gain the most.
Why would short plates go up in price? Because rarity drives value. Once anyone can order a long plate, short plates stand out more, and there are only so many of them.
What could I put on a 7-character plate? The extra character opens up surnames, business names, longer words and number runs that don’t fit in six characters, as long as VicRoads approves the combination.
Do other states already have 7-character plates? Yes. Most other states and territories already allow them. Victoria is one of the last to catch up.
Where can I buy or sell a short plate? Right here on AusPlates. Browse the plates for sale, or list your own for a one-time fee with no commission.
Got a question? Ask below
Do you agree that short plates will go up, or do you think 7-character plates will take over? Got a question about the new format? Leave a comment below and we’ll answer it, and we’ll add the best questions to the FAQ.