Major DVLA crackdown as 210 number plates banned from UK roads
March and September is believed to be the most popular times for people to buy cars as this is when the new number plates launch.
Whilst many people spend time picking which car they would like to own to show off the latest upcoming plates, others don't bother because they plan to transfer to their private registrations.
However the DVLA have now announced they have banned 210 plates from UK roads.
READ MORE: Homeowners warned they must clear snow from driveway or risk being sued
READ MORE: Three Spanish tourist traps on 'no go' list for Scots 2025 holidays
Mark Trimbee, CEO of the private number plate company Regtransfers, highlighted that some combinations of letters and numbers get banned so motorists aren't driving around with offensive plates.
Get the latest traffic and travel updates across Scotland with our widget
He 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."
Many plates spelling out explicit words that use the 5 as an S have now been removed, reports the Express.
These include '**25LUT', '**25HAG', and '**25HAT', in addition to some words that are spelled out around the numbers, such as 'AA25HOL', 'BA25TAD', and 'FA25NNY'.
Some terms that could be considered as threatening have also been removed, including '**25TAB' and 'GB25KLL'.
The DVLA has also prevented motorists buying a number plate that makes reference to a number of ongoing conflicts elsewhere in the world.
These include plates that refer to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including '**25RUS' and '**25UKR'.
Other registrations that reflect tensions within the Middle East, such as 'GA25ZAA', alongside more general combinations that reflect war, like 'YS25WAR' and 'EU25BOM', have also been removed.
The restrictions enforced by the DVLA also apply to drivers thinking about adding a private number plate for their current model, with other regulations ensuring that the new registration is visible to all road users and ANPR cameras.
In order to comply, the plates must be made from a reflective material, white on the front and yellow on the rear, and not have a pattern that could obscure the letters and numbers.
If a number plate is considered to be not road legal, the vehicle's owner could face fines of up to £1,000 alongside other complications such as MOT failure and three licence points.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.