Study Claims Drivers With Vanity License Plates Have Lower IQs

Vanity License Plate
Vanity License Plate

Personalized vanity license plates let you add an extra layer of personality to your car. They can be clever, funny, or reflect a part of who you are, and only you are legally allowed to own them. Customizing your vehicle is always a fun way to make your ride stand out from the crowd, but a vanity license plate is like the cherry on top that makes a vehicle uniquely yours.

Are Vanity License Plates a Sign of Intelligence?

But according to a study conducted by Scrap Car Comparison, drivers who own vanity license plates demonstrated to have a lower IQ. Based on the results of the study, participants who admitted to owning a vanity license plate had an average IQ score 2.2 points less than participants that didn’t own one.

RankPersonalised number plate?Average IQ
1No94.15
2Yes91.95

Which Drivers Are The Most Intelligent?

As individuals, we all presume that we are the smartest person on the road and everyone else is either a total idiot or a raving lunatic. So in an attempt to measure the intelligence of everyday UK motorists, over 2,000 people were asked to take an IQ test and their scores would be correlated with the brand of vehicle they drive, the color of their car, and whether they own vanity license plates.

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But how does one’s IQ score determine one’s level of intelligence? The average IQ score is 100, granting anyone that scores between 85 and 114 a grade of “average intelligence.”

  • 85 to 114: Average intelligence
  • 115 to 129: Above average or bright
  • 130 to 144: Moderately gifted
  • 145 to 159: Highly gifted
  • 160 to 179: Exceptionally gifted
  • 180 and up: Profoundly gifted

Which Auto Brand Has The Most Intelligent Drivers?

While most participants scored relatively close in terms of IQ, certain brands did appear to have drivers of higher intelligence than others. With drivers of the Czech automaker Skoda scoring the highest with an average IQ of 99, Suzuki (98.09), Peugeot (97.79), and Mini (97.31) were not far behind.

However, auto brands that featured lower-scoring drivers were BMW (91.68), Fiat (90.14), and Land Rover (88.58). But regardless of where each of these automakers stand, all of their consumers’ average IQ scores classified them all as “average intelligence.”

RankBrandAverage IQ
1Skoda99
2Suzuki98.09
3Peugeot97.79
4Mini97.41
5Mazda95.91
6Toyota95.76
7Vauxhall95.11
8Mercedes Benz94.74
9Nissan94.71
10Seat94.71
11Citroen94.29
12Hyundai93.52
13Renault93.41
14Audi93.25
15Kia93.01
16Honda92.88
17Ford92.75
18Volvo92.40
19Volkswagen92.25
20BMW91.68
21Fiat90.14
22Land Rover88.58

What Color Car Do Intelligent Drivers Own?

Now that we’ve established which brands attract drivers of certain IQs, can the same be said for the color of the car you drive? According to the study, yes it can.

Based on the results, participants that drive white cars scored the highest with an average IQ of 95.71, with grey (94.97) and red (94.88) in a photo finish for second and third place. As for the color that came in last, drivers of green cars received an average IQ of 88.43, which is a 7.28 point difference from drivers of white cars.

RankColourAverage IQ
1White95.71
2Grey94.97
3Red94.88
4Blue93.60
5Black92.83
6Silver92.67
7Green88.43

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