Number plate recognition too expensive for condor ferries

When you book on a condor ferry with a vehicle, you tell its plate.

When you do the drive-thru checkin, condor asks you the booking ref. 

I asked if they'd looked at doing number plate recognition, so that in the common case the booking would get looked up as the car approached with no need for the customer to give the booking reference. I mentioned a campsite in oxfordshire where the entrance gate will open for any vehicle where the reg was added to the booking. So such systems seem widespread and easy these days. 

Their comment: sounds like it would be too expensive for us.

New idea: the person could just key in the reg to try and look up the booking. They are currently keying in the booking ref, given orally, and number plate is shorter, so less typing.

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