Every year in March, car enthusiasts look forward to getting a new car with the latest number plates. However, we always want one of them plates we can’t have. Every new plate registration, the DVLA release a list of number plates that you won’t find in any car. The reason is – they are too rude or offensive for the general public.
With the 1st March only around the corner, the list has been released and my word there are some corkers on there.
According to AutoExpress, DVLA, based in Swansea, hold a biannual event to bash out some of these rude and offensive letter combinations. Employees are invited to come up with letter combinations that could appear to be offensive. This method is used in conjunction with a computer algorithm. Whatever the algorithm doesn’t pick up then hopefully the humans will. Has there been any to slip through the net?
What plates are likely to be banned in March 2019?
The DVLA have a list of pre determined plate combinations that will never go on sale. We have listed a few: B** UMS, CR** APS and FA** RTY, and any plates that include “ASS” or “SEX”.
Adding to the list exclusively for 2019 is:
- EA19 POO
- BO19 OCK
- BU19 SHT
- AS19 OLE
- SH19 HOT
- EA19 DKS
- DO19 POO
- HU19 DCK
- LV19 NAL
- CR19 MES
These are just a few – you get the picture.
Every year the list gets bigger and bigger, some of the most recent number plates to be banned include:
- PU15 SSY
- BU62 GER
- PR15 SON
Now the system that the DVLA use is not necessarily fail proof. Back in 2017 in South Wales the number plate JH11 HAD was spotted.
The number plate variation 19 will come into circulation on the 1st March and any new car that is brought up until the 31st August 2019 will have this prefix.
What is a Vehicle Number Plate?
A vehicle number plate is a unique identifier for any vehicle on the UK’s roads. Having a number plate is a legal requirement in the UK and they must meet a set of standards:
- Each character must be 79mm high and 50mm wide (except the number 1 or the letter I)
- The width of each character stroke must be 14mm
- There must be a space of 11mm between characters within the same group
- Character groups must be 33mm apart.
- You need a white front number plate
- You need a yellow rear number plate
- The registration number of the bearer vehicle in the mandatory font
If your number plate does not follow these standards, you could face a fine up to £1,000 and fail your cars MOT.
The next number plate will be 69 – I wonder what the DVLA will ban that time around.