About digits
What is digits?
digits is a valuation tool for Guernsey number plates. It estimates the market value of every registration number on the island — from single-digit plates worth six figures to five-digit plates worth a few hundred pounds.
The site has been running in various forms since 2014. This is version 3, rebuilt from scratch with a more sophisticated scoring and valuation model.
How does it work?
Every plate gets a pattern score between 0 and 1. This score is calculated by analysing the digit pattern against 18 different rules — things like repeating digits, palindromes, sequential runs, round numbers, memorable patterns, and culturally significant numbers like dates and years.
Each rule produces a continuous score, and these are combined using carefully tuned weights. Shorter plates (fewer digits) always score higher than longer ones, reflecting the real market where a 1-digit plate is worth far more than a 5-digit plate. Within each tier, the rules determine which patterns are most desirable.
From scores to prices
A score alone doesn't tell you what a plate is worth. To estimate prices, digits uses real auction data — years of results from Guernsey's number plate auctions, covering hundreds of sales.
The valuation model uses kernel-weighted regression to map scores to estimated prices. For any given plate, the model looks at real sales of similarly-scored plates, weighted by how close their scores are and how recent the sale was. Recent sales count for more than older ones, so valuations naturally track market movement over time.
The result is a smooth price curve that captures the exponential relationship between score and value — top-scoring plates command dramatically higher prices, mirroring what we see at auction.
Important caveats
Valuations are estimates, not guarantees. The model is only as good as the data it's trained on, and number plate prices are influenced by factors beyond pattern alone — seller motivation, auction timing, sentimental value, and plain luck all play a part.
Use these valuations as a guide, not a price tag.