DVLA release entire list of banned registration plates

Some are more subtle than others

Data from a Freedom of Information request shows that the DVLA are set to ban several new number plates next year.

The ‘25’ identifiers will be rolled out on March 1, 2025 with the ‘75’ identifier rolled out later in the year in September, as is tradition.

The DVLA are within their right to withhold a set of vehicle registration numbers that it considers to be potentially offensive, distressing or provocative.

It includes a combination of letters and numbers that represent swear words, references to terrorism, drugs or racist or sexist connotations.

Some of the banned plates include references to war like AR25 WAR, EU25 WAR, GB25 WAR and GO25 WAR.

Plates such as **25 RUS and **25 UKR have been banned in response to the ongoing Russian war with Ukraine, while plates referencing Hamas were banned in August ahead of the ‘74’ release.

CEO of Regtransfers, Mark Trimbee, said: "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.

"Personalised number plates are an excellent form of self-expression, but they shouldn’t be used to display genuinely harmful messages or views."

A number of ‘wildcard’ plates are also banned if they are deemed to contain a partial string of characters and numbers that could be considered offensive.

These include *25 HAG, **25 HAT, **25 LAG, **25 LUT, **25 PAS and **25 TAB.

Trimbee continued: "As well as the usual sex and violence references, there are those subtle combinations that don't seem to convey a clear meaning at first sight.

"With a little thought, however, we see how numbers such GB25 BAD, GB25 BOM, and GB25 SHT could seem to convey anti-British sentiments that might offend some. To ban or not to ban is obviously a bit of a balancing act."

Approximately once a month the DVLA hosts online auctions where drivers can get their hands on personalised number plates with unique and rare meanings.