Due to a recent DVLA problem, all new cars in the UK will be released with the brand-new 23 plates attached.
Certain plate combinations have, however, been outlawed. When they are thought to be rude or offensive, the DVLA frequently bans number plates with specific combinations of letters and numbers.
A meeting is held twice a year prior to a new number plate release so staff can search through all the potential registration plates to look for “combinations of numbers and letters where we consider that they may cause offence, embarrassment or are in poor taste”.
Wales Online reports that the list of “23” number plates, which was obtained by carwow through a freedom of information request, revealed plates that would always be rude as well as ones that could be unpleasant in the current situation.
GO23 Hel, EA23 POO, BA23 TRD, BO23 OKS and MU23 DER are some of the plates banned that are likely to cause offence. Some plates that may be offensive could be missed, however the DVLA is able to ban them at a later date.
DVLA highlights that “the vast majority of registration numbers are made available”, as most are unlikely to cause offence.
Carwow’s consumer editor, Hugo Griffiths, said: “Personalised number plates are a huge business, bringing in £2billion for the Treasury since the DVLA started selling them in 1989, with around 400,000 cherished plates sold each year.
“Despite this lucrative revenue stream, there are some plates that are simply too rude for the road.
“And while few would argue against the suppression of offensive number plates, the biannual meetings where DVLA staff sit down and deliberately come up with rude combinations must be one of the highlights of the organisation’s calendar.
“Even for those not interested in personalised registrations, changing your car during the March and September plate-change months can be a wise idea, both for people wanting to have the latest reg, and for bargain hunters who could get a good deal on a car with the previous registration.”
