DVLA banned number plates are vehicle registrations rejected by the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency due to offensive, inappropriate, or misleading content. These include combinations with swear words, sexual references, discriminatory language, political messages, or anything deemed likely to cause offence or embarrassment on public roads.

Why the DVLA Banned Number Plates

The primary goal behind the DVLA’s banning policy is to maintain respectability and prevent offence on UK roads. They aim to balance drivers’ desire for self-expression with the need to avoid genuinely harmful messages.

Key reasons for the banning of number plates include:

• Offensive Language and Vulgarity – Plates that spell out rude words, racial slurs, sexual references, or crude puns are automatically rejected. For example, combinations like ‘BA25 ARD’, ‘AS25 HOL’, ‘EA75 POO’, ‘EU75 SHT’, ‘FA75 NNY’, ‘PE25 RVT’, and ‘VA25 GNA’ have been banned.
• Sensitive and Controversial Topics – Combinations referencing current affairs, international relations, crime, politics, or religion are filtered out. Examples include war-related plates like ‘WA25 WAR’, ‘EU25 WAR’, ‘GB25 WAR’, ‘GO25 WAR’, and ‘TE25 ROR’, as well as those alluding to COVID-19 (e.g., ‘CO23 ONA’), Brexit (e.g., ‘EU23 BAD’), or anti-low emission zone sentiments (e.g., ‘NO74 LEZ’).
• Discriminatory Connotations – Plates with sexist, LGBTQ+ connotations, or ableist slurs are also prohibited.
• Misleading Interpretations – Combinations that could be mistaken for official authorities, or those that attempt to make a vehicle appear newer than it is, are not allowed.
• Poor Taste or Embarrassment – The DVLA aims to remove any combinations that could cause general embarrassment or are considered in poor taste.

The agency employs special software in addition to human review to catch problematic plates that might otherwise slip through.

How DVLA Banned Number Plates are Identified

The DVLA’s review process occurs twice annually, before the March and September plate changes. This rigorous screening takes into account how numbers can be visually interpreted as letters, which often leads to unintended offensive combinations. For instance, the number ’25’ can resemble ‘SS’, ’75’ can look like ‘RS’, ‘4’ like ‘A’, ‘7’ like ‘T’, and ‘5’ like ‘S’.

The DVLA also bans “wildcard” plates, where an asterisk (*) represents any character that, when combined with other letters and numbers, forms an unsuitable phrase. Examples include ‘*25 HAG’ and ‘*25 RUS’.

Examples of DVLA Banned Number Plates (2025 and Recent Years)

The DVLA bans a significant number of plates each year; over 3,400 for 2025 alone. Here are some examples across different registration periods:

2025 ’25’ Plates:

• War-related: ‘WA25 WAR’, ‘EU25 WAR’, ‘TE25 ROR’, ‘YE25 WAR’, ‘MA25 WAR’, ‘GO25 WAR’. Also wildcard forms like ‘**25 RUS’ and ‘**25 UKR’.
• Offensive/Inappropriate: ‘BA25 ARD’, ‘AS25 HOL’, ‘BA25 TAD’, ‘BA25 TUD’, ‘TE25 ROR’, ‘AS25 STD’, ‘TO25 ERR’, ‘TO25 ERS’, ‘PU25 SYY’, ‘VA25 GNA’.
• Other combinations such as ‘GO25 HEL’, ‘UD25 UNK’, ‘ST25 ABB’.

2025 ’75’ Plates:

• Offensive/Inappropriate: ‘BA75 ARD’, ‘AR75 RSE’, ‘FA74 NNY’, ‘SH74 TDD’, ‘BL74 WJB’, ‘EA75 DCK’, ‘EA75 POO’, ‘AB74 STD’, ‘BO74 C**’, ‘CU75 MUF’, ‘GO75 FKT’, ‘HO75 FKS’, ‘PA75 PUS’.
• War/Political: ‘NO74 RUS’, ‘EU74 WAR’, ‘FK74 RUS’, ‘GO75 WAR’, ‘US75 WAR’.
• Other sensitive topics: ‘FA75 GUT’ (discriminatory), ‘AU75 WTZ’.

2024 ’24’ Plates:

• Offensive/Inappropriate: ‘BA24 TAD’, ‘GB24 FKT’, ‘GO24 HEL’, ‘HA24 SSS’, ‘SK24 NKY’, ‘TO24 ERS’, ‘AA24 OLE’, ‘CC24 PPY’, ‘FF24 RTD’.
• Political: ‘EU24 SHT’.

2023 ’23’ Plates:

• War-related: ‘WA23 RUS’, ‘WA23 UKR’, ‘YE23 WAR’.
• COVID-19 related: ‘CO23 ONA’, ‘CO23 RNA’.
• Brexit related: ‘EU23 BAD’, ‘EU23 OFF’.
• Other examples: ‘GA23 NJA’ (drugs), ‘AA23 HOL’, ‘GO23 SHT’.

Legal Requirements for Number Plates

Beyond avoiding DVLA banned number plates, all vehicle registration plates in the UK must adhere to strict display rules. Failure to comply can result in fines and MOT failure.

Mandatory requirements:

• Material: Must be made from a reflective material.
• Colours: Display black characters on a white background for the front plate, and black characters on a yellow background for the rear plate.
• Background: No background patterns are allowed.
• Markings: Must be marked to show who supplied the plate and include a British Standard number (‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021).
• Characters: Must be non-removable, non-reflective, and if fitted after 1 September 2021, must be a single shade of black. They must use the standard Charles Wright font with correct spacing, size, and style.

Permitted customisations:

• 3D/4D Characters: Raised characters (3D gel or 4D acrylic) are legal as long as they are solid black, reflective, and meet spacing/font specifications. Two-tone shading effects are banned.
• Flags and Identifiers: You can display certain flags (Union Jack, Cross of St George, etc.) and identifiers (UK/United Kingdom, GB/Great Britain, ENG/England, etc.). Since September 2021, UK-registered vehicles travelling abroad must display a ‘UK’ identifier instead of ‘GB’.
• Green Flash: Zero-emission vehicles can display a green flash.

Prohibited modifications:

• Alterations: You cannot rearrange or misrepresent numbers and letters (e.g., fixing bolts to change characters) to form words or names that are hard to read.
• Age Misrepresentation: A registration number cannot be used to make your vehicle appear younger than it actually is (e.g., putting a ’25’ plate on a 2003 vehicle).

Consequences of Using Banned or Illegal Number Plates

Driving with a DVLA banned number plate or one that does not meet legal display standards can lead to serious repercussions:

• Fines: You could face an on-the-spot fine of £100, which can increase to £1,000 if the matter goes to court.
• MOT Failure: Your car will fail its MOT test.
• Plate Withdrawal/Confiscation: The registration number may be permanently withdrawn by the DVLA, and the police can confiscate illegal plates. If a plate is withdrawn, you might not get a refund for the number or any associated costs.
• Retrospective Ban: In rare cases, the DVLA can revoke a number plate even after it has been issued if it later becomes problematic.

Tips for Choosing a Compliant Personalised Plate

If you’re considering a personalised plate, follow these tips to avoid issues with DVLA banned number plates and ensure compliance:

• Use a DVLA-Approved Seller: Purchase plates from reputable companies or directly from the DVLA to ensure they meet all legal standards.
• Double-Check Interpretation: Carefully consider how others might interpret your chosen combination. Even seemingly innocent plates can have offensive double meanings.
• Consider Alternatives: If your desired plate is on a banned list, try modifying it slightly to create a legal alternative that still reflects your personality.
• Consult Official Lists: Refer to the DVLA’s official lists of banned plates or consult authorised resellers before making a purchase.

Choosing a legal and appropriate personalised number plate allows you to add a unique touch to your vehicle while ensuring you stay compliant with regulations and contribute to a respectful driving environment.

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