It’s that time of year again when the new license plate holder is replaced. And with that comes a new list of prohibited license plate combinations that are too dangerous for the road.
Ahead of the switch to the ’74’ plate on 1 September, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has announced which number plates are too naughty to make public. A list was drawn up including insinuations and statements aimed at the ULEZ.
We have listed all the prohibited license plates, from ‘BL74 WJB’ to ‘NO74 LEZ’. We have also listed a number of auction combinations that are for sale and whose value can increase considerably…
*SCROLL DOWN OF STORY FOR FULL LIST
Banned: Just some of the 365 number plates banned by the DVLA this year. Scroll to the bottom of this story to see the FULL list.
Twice a year, the DVLA faces the time-consuming task of searching through all potentially offensive number plates created using the new age identification system launched in March and September.
Senior members of the agency meet twice a year at their base in Swansea to determine which individuals should be removed from sale because they may have derogatory meanings and connotations.
The team of experts investigates all potentially offensive meanings that can be created using the latest registration number and tries carefully to prevent drivers from receiving information that could be considered offensive.
Incorrect number plates that slip through the DVLA’s net before the change can still be revoked later, but the agency says “the vast majority of registration numbers are available” because most are unlikely to cause offence.
The forthcoming announcement of the age-identifying registration number ’74’ in September proves that there are still many combinations to investigate, so the DVLA is busy.
Each time there is a new challenge for the DVLA team. This year it was the ‘4’ in ’74’, which caused problems due to its similarity to the letter ‘A’.
Carwow went through the full list of banned combinations and found some indecent examples, such as ‘FA74 NNY’ and ‘BL74 WJB’. These must have caused some laughter behind closed doors.
Others have been scrapped, including ’74 NAL’, ’74 NUS’ and ‘AN74 USA’.
In keeping with the no obscenity rule, ‘SH74 TDD’ will also never see the light of day. The more childish records such as ’74 RTS’ and ‘AB74 STD’ have also been removed from the list.
But it’s not just jibes and crude innuendos that the DVLA’s banned list prevents; there’s a serious side too, with anything that could anger, offend or embarrass people taken off the road.
Any references to the war in Ukraine, especially those with a Russian connotation, are strictly prohibited: ‘NO74 RUS’, ‘EU74 WAR’ and ‘FK74 RUS’ are not allowed due to their political nature.
Also ‘J74 HAD’ and ‘H74 MAS’ are banned due to the escalating situation between Israel and Hamas.
And drivers unhappy with Britain’s traffic policies will no longer be allowed to voice their opinions about a piece of plastic, after references to low-emission zones such as ‘NO74 LEZ’ have been removed.
In addition to a car that complies with the regulations, you must also have a license plate that complies with the regulations.
In addition to the banned number plates, the DVLA has also highlighted the number plates that new buyers are likely to pay extra for.
Because private number plates are a sought-after commodity, the DVLA auctions provide a carefully considered selection of registrations that can lead to serious bidding wars.
This September the DVLA reserved the following aircraft: ‘EL74 LEN’ (ELLEN), ‘BA74 LDY’ (BALDY), ‘PA74 RTY’ (PARTY) and ‘DA74 DDY’ (DADDY).
Because they form nicknames and initials, there is a good chance that they will increase in value. Someone could get their hands on a license plate in the near future that could be worth twice as much or more, thanks to the financial position that private license plates currently have.
What does a vehicle registration format actually mean, apart from the year?
How number plates are classified and what the different elements mean (Source: DVLA)
There is a format for DVLA registrations which contains information that allows the DVLA to track a vehicle within its systems.
The first few letters indicate the region in which the car is registered.
The registration number is then completed with a series of randomly generated letters. This is how the DVLA identifies the specific car, as these letters are completely unique to each vehicle.
Where is your car registered? The regional license plate identification tells you
The DVLA has a regional identification guide as shown below. I, Q or Z are not used in local tag identifications – Z is only used as a random letter.
Source: DVLA Vehicle Registration Numbers and Number Plates document INF104
What are the rules for displaying signs?
There are strict rules for manufacturers who make plates, including rules for fonts, font sizes, colors and placements.
An incorrectly displayed number plate can result in a failed MOT and could result in a fine of up to £1,000 if the driver is caught.
Illegal practices include license plates whose display has been modified to show a word or name. Police can and do arrest people for this.
The DVLA Guide to Number Plates explains: ‘You cannot rearrange or misrepresent the numbers and letters on a license plate to form names or words so that they become difficult to read.
‘For example, tightening bolts to alter any of the letters or numbers. You could be fined up to £1,000 and your car will fail its MOT if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.
‘In some cases, the registration number can be permanently revoked. If you misrepresent a vehicle registration number, you will not get any money back that you paid for the registration number, or any other fees that you may have to pay.
“You can’t use a license plate to make your vehicle appear younger than it actually is.”
Why buy a private license plate? Investment tips to know
The most expensive private plates of 2023: We previously revealed the personalised number plates sold by the DVLA that sold for the highest amounts last year – and we compared them to the most expensive ever
– Buyers turn over plates very quickly
– Unlike investments such as cars or art, there are no storage costs
– You can even drive your car with the license plate on it without it losing value
– License plate supplier Platehunter saw the number of appraisal requests per day increase by 100 compared to last year
– Companies operating in the sector estimate that the UK personalised number plate industry will be worth more than £2 billion by 2023
– The second-hand market has prices that are two to three times higher than the new market due to demand – huge resale value
– Boards can double in price in just 12 months – fast returns, minimal effort
Does a license plate change reduce the value of your car?
A new license plate obviously also means a newer car, which has consequences for the license plates with the previous license plates.
However, it won’t make a big difference to the value of the car, as other factors are more important, such as condition, history and mileage.
Darryl Bowman from car insurance app Cuvva said: ‘If you’re looking to sell your car soon and want to get the best possible price, it’s best to start selling before the new plates come into effect.
‘And if you want to get a bargain on a nearly new car, then it might be a good idea to buy a car that has one license plate back.
‘There are ways to reduce the depreciation of a car, such as regular servicing, MOTs, choosing a popular model and limiting your driving time to keep the mileage down.’
*SEE THE FULL LIST OF BANNED SEPTEMBER ’74’ LICENSE PLATES BELOW
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