DVLA banned number plates
DVLA banned number plates are registrations that DVLA keeps back from sale, because they could cause offence, seem inappropriate, or touch on sensitive topics. Dealers never receive them, so our price check does not list any of them.
Why DVLA holds back some combinations
Each time a new age identifier comes out, DVLA reviews every letter and number combination, holding back any it considers offensive, in poor taste, or connected to sensitive topics. The list of 76 plates withheld by DVLA is what motoring site carwow reported. Dealer New Reg counts over 400 entries in the restricted list for the 26 release and the 76 release.
Those lists are not reproduced here. The rule is simple: a combination that reads as rude or offensive is one DVLA is unlikely to release, and you cannot buy it from any dealer or from DVLA.
Funny private plates that are allowed
Plenty of funny private plates clear the check. Across dealers, funny reg plates for sale turn up with puns, jobs, hobbies and in-jokes, all of them common themes. A plate on sale has already been issued by DVLA, so the wording itself is allowed. For the words people buy, see private number plate ideas. You can also try one out in the Number Plate Maker.
When a plate is misrepresented
Some people buy plates and then make them look rude: they change the spacing, use a different font, or fix bolts so a letter reads differently. That counts as misrepresentation, and it breaks the display rules on GOV.UK. Rearranging letters or numbers is not allowed, and you must not make them hard to read.
A fine of up to £1,000 is possible, and the vehicle will fail its MOT. DVLA can, in some cases, withdraw the registration permanently, and the money you paid is not refunded. Check the private number plate rules before ordering any plates.
Common questions
Which number plates does the DVLA ban in the UK?
DVLA checks each new release and withholds the combinations it judges to be offensive or inappropriate, or that it links to sensitive topics. DVLA does not sell those plates, and no dealer can offer them either.
What does a 76 plate mean?
The age identifier 76 applies to new cars registered in the half of the year beginning in September, in the year after the 26 plate. A September identifier is the year plus 50, and DVLA held back some 76 combinations.
Which letters are not allowed on a plate?
Current plates leave the letters I, Q and Z out of their local memory tags. Q numbers are set aside for vehicles with an age or identity in doubt, and private numbers starting with Q or QNI cannot be assigned.
Is it allowed to space a plate so that it reads as a word?
Not allowed. The registration must look exactly as it was issued, using standard spacing and font. You can be fined up to £1,000 for misrepresenting it, and the number may be withdrawn permanently.
Where can I find funny reg plates for sale?
Every funny plate on sale has already passed DVLA's check. Look up a word with number plate search to see each seller's all-in price.