The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has prohibited 210 combinations of number plates deemed offensive or inappropriate ahead of the highly anticipated release of the ’25’ registration plates this March.
The twice-yearly plate launches in March and September often spur a surge in car sales, with many Britons timing their purchases to coincide with these updates.
As motorists prepare to select vehicles featuring the upcoming ’25’ plates, the DVLA has taken steps to block plates that could cause offense. According to Mark Trimbee, CEO of the private number plate company Regtransfers, this move is part of the agency’s commitment to maintaining standards on UK roads.
“It’s always entertaining to see some of the plates deemed inappropriate by the DVLA, but there are also those that remind us why this is a necessary process,” Trimbee explained. He added that while personalised plates are a popular form of self-expression, they should not be used to convey harmful or offensive messages.
Among the blacklisted plates are explicit combinations that rely on creative use of numbers to mimic letters. Examples include ’25LUT’, ’25HAG’, and ’25HAT’. Other barred plates spell out inappropriate words or phrases, such as ‘AA25HOL’, ‘BA25TAD’, and ‘FA25NNY’.
The DVLA has also targeted plates with threatening connotations, including ’25TAB’ and ‘GB25KLL’. Additionally, registrations referencing global conflicts, such as ’25RUS’ and ’25UKR’, have been excluded, alongside terms linked to tensions in the Middle East, such as ‘GA25ZAA’. Broader references to war, including ‘YS25WAR’ and ‘EU25BOM’, have also been removed.
This rigorous approach extends beyond new registrations. Drivers seeking to personalise existing vehicles must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure number plates are visible to other road users and ANPR cameras. To meet legal requirements, plates must be made from reflective material, feature a white background at the front and yellow at the rear, and avoid patterns that obscure the lettering.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in serious consequences, including fines of up to £1,000, MOT failures, and penalty points on the driver’s licence.
The DVLA’s action underscores its role in balancing drivers’ desire for personalised plates with the need to uphold public decency and road safety as the rollout of ’25’-plate cars approaches.
(EXPRESS)
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
UK: Why citizens are facing snowstorms, -16°C temperatures, flooding this week
and then