DVLA forced to ban new 2023 number plates for being too rude or offensive

06 March 2023 , 22:26

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Some plates were deemed just too offensive

The DVLA has been forced to ban more rude personalised number plates for the launch of the '23 plate.

The Treasury has brought in a whopping £2billion from the business of personalised number plates since they were brought in, but that doesn't mean those wishing to put a personal stamp on their pride and joy can choose anything.

Some number plates such as 'TO23 ERR' and 'AA23 OLE' were, perhaps sadly, reportedly banned by the DVLA in case they caused offense on the road.

The agency meets twice a year at its base in Swansea to decide which number plates are in... and which ones are out.

Number plates have brought in a lot of money for the treasury (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

More rude plates include BL23 JOB, EA23 VAJ and FA23 NNY, and Carwow.co.uk revealed some of the more extreme examples.

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Carwow.co.uk said: "Few drivers are likely to want to be told to GO23 HEL or EA23 POO by the car in front, for example, while nobody wants to share the road with a BA23 TRD, a PS23 CHO, a TO23 ERR or an AA23 OLE. BO23 OKS and MU23 DER are also likely to cause perennial offence."

Plates like BL23 JOB and EA23 VAJ were ruled out (Getty Images)

It added: "More recent events have led to plates such as RU23 UKR, NO23 RUS and YE23 WAR being suppressed, however, alongside CO23 ONA and EU23 BAD."

Famous number plates have arisen over the years, including the late Queen's MYT 1, MYT 2 and MYT 3 plates on her Range Rovers.

'AMS 1' also sits proudly on the Rolls Royce of The Apprentice millionaire Lord Alan Sugar.

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."

Benjamin Lynch