These shocking number plates have just been banned by the DVLA

Twice a year, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) weeds out any number and letter combinations it deems too rude, offensive, or downright dodgy for UK roads. And now, with the new ‘75’ plates rolling out this September, the list has had a fresh update.

While most of the UK’s new plates get the green light, some get the chop for good reason. This time around, the number 75 has caused particular problems. Why? It can look a lot like ‘RS’, leading to entries such as ‘AR75 RSE’ – you see the issue.

Then there’s the ‘7’ that looks like a ‘T’ – which turns ‘EA75 DCK’ into something you wouldn’t want stuck on your bumper.

Iain Reid, head of editorial at Carwow, said: “Personalised plates are always a source of creativity – and sometimes controversy. Every release brings a wave of cheeky, clever, and occasionally questionable suggestions that the DVLA has to sift through.

“While most are light-hearted, it’s important the system filters out anything that could cause genuine offence. With each new series, it’s fascinating to see where the line is drawn.”

Behind the scenes, there’s actually a serious process at work. Twice a year, senior DVLA staff and a team of experts sit down to carefully sift through thousands of potential registrations.

It’s not just about avoiding crude jokes. The DVLA also keeps an eye out for anything that could cause genuine offence, including references to war, religion, politics, racism, and crime. This year, that’s led to bans on plates such as ‘AU75 WTZ,’ ‘GO75 WAR,’ ‘US75 WAR,’ and ‘FA75 GUT’ – all flagged for obvious reasons.

“The vast majority of registration numbers are made available, but we withhold any combinations we believe could cause offence, embarrassment or are in poor taste,” a DVLA spokesperson said.

Still, some drivers will no doubt be gutted they can’t nab cheeky picks such as ‘EA75 POO’ or ‘EU75 OUT’. But as always, it’s a balance between a bit of fun and making sure what’s on our roads doesn’t cross the line.

And if you’re thinking of trying your luck with a banned plate such as ‘AA75 RSE’? Don’t. Police can confiscate it – and you could face fines of up to £1,000 for not meeting standards… Consider yourself warned.

Your car can also automatically fail its MOT test if the number plates are non-compliant, and your car insurance coverage could be invalidated too.

As always, though, not all personalised plates are problematic. The DVLA also auctions sought-after combinations of numbers and letters that form nicknames, phrases or initials — with bidding starting from £250.

Some of the more amusing or valuable ‘good’ plates from the 75 batch include:

• ‘GR75 AMG’ – for performance car lovers
• ‘MU75 CLE’ – for muscle car fans (or gym buffs)
• ‘RO75 COE’ – a match for motorsport fans who’ll know that Lewis Hamilton’s bulldog is called Roscoe

To comply with UK regulations, you must make sure your plates are correctly coloured: white at the front and yellow at the rear. Using non-compliant colours can result in a fine.

Incorrect font, spacing, or character sizing is also a violation. All plates must feature the Charles Wright font, with strict guidelines for height, width, thickness, and spacing of characters.

Here’s the full list of the barred plates:

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