In Delaware, owning a low-digit license plate isn’t just about proving you’re driving around in a properly registered vehicle. It’s about status, tradition…and even return on investment. For decades, the state’s obsession with these unique plates has only grown, and one family in particular, the Fuscos, made a fortune by jumping on the trend early.

The Fusco family, based in Delaware, started collecting the state’s rare license plates in the mid-90s. The Fuscos earned most of their wealth in real estate, but their high bids on low-digit Delaware tags paid off, too. It all began when Anthony Fusco bought plate number “9” in 1994…for $185,000. Since then, the Fuscos amassed an impressive collection.

For perspective, in 2008, CBS News reported the family owned 17 plates worth over $3 million. Their haul included some of the most coveted numbers in the state, and it’s a big deal because Delaware’s low-digit license plates are a unique form of currency…one that keeps appreciating.

“There is no better investment in the United States today,” Butch Emmert of Emmert Auctions told CBS in 2008. “I know it’ll outperform the stock market.”

What makes Delaware license plates so valuable?

More than a century ago, in 1910, Delaware started issuing plates in numerical order. The first license plates, then, went to the early car owners. Of course, most of those folks were very, very wealthy. 

Since early vehicle adopters scored the lowest numbers, low-digit plates became a status symbol…that persisted. The first three numbers are still reserved for the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state, which makes plates “4” and beyond prime targets for those looking to buy in.

Since the 1950s, the value of Delaware’s low-digit plates skyrocketed. For example, plate number “20” sold for $410,000 at auction in 2018, setting a record for a two-digit tag. Plates in the “4-9” range can go for up to $1.5 million, while numbers in the “10-29” range fetch anywhere from $600,000 to $750,000. The Fuscos, for their part, paid a staggering $675,000 for plate “11” at a special auction…a sum that would make most of us keel over.

The phenomenon of low-digit plates became so ingrained in Delaware culture that there’s even an annual event called “Tag-A-Palooza.” During the DMV event, plates are made available to the public, usually through a lottery. Reportedly, people line up in the early hours of the morning, hoping to get their hands on a rare plate number.

The Fuscos’ collection alone is worth millions, and it continues to appreciate.

This isn’t just speculation; experts agree that low-digit Delaware plates are a safer bet than the stock market. Delaware’s Emmert Auctions, one of the most respected in the business, says that these plates consistently increase in value over the years. In fact, plates from Delaware sold for more than some of the top sellers worldwide.

This “passion” for low-digit Delaware plates created a thriving subculture. Many of these license plates aren’t just bought and sold; they’re passed down through generations. Those from the “4” to “9” range are especially prized, often considered the ultimate status symbol.

The Fuscos, with their long-standing investment angle, managed to ride this arguably odd wave of fascination (and profit). I mean, let’s be honest…after reading all about the license plates, the frenzied auctions, and “Tag-A-Polooza,” it’s hard not to see the, well, shallowness of humanity here. I suppose you could say the same for any physical, people-invented item auctioned off as a “rare valuable.” Thankfully, at least, the Fuscos, especially the late head of the clan, Anthony, were and remain heavily involved in philanthropy.