The DVLA is restricting offensive number plates with the new ’75’ registration series starting September 1, 2025. The DVLA has barred hundreds of ’75’ plate combinations due to their potential to embarrass, offend, or otherwise provoke the bearer while driving in the UK. The agency has strict policies regarding number plates, warning that noncompliance could result in fines of up to £1,000, an MOT failure, or both.
Order of the Plates and Reasons of the Bans
The registration mark ‘75’, allocated for vehicles registered from September 2025 to February 2026, has certain combinations preemptively banned due to their potential for misinterpretation as offensive. The numbers ’75’ could resemble the letters ‘RS’ and ‘7’ could also be interpreted as ‘T’, transforming some plates to vile words. DVLA has flagged hundreds of other combinations for profanity, war references, discrimination, and overall bad taste, some examples being ‘AU75 WTZ’, ‘GO75 WAR’, and ‘EA75 DCK’.
Enforcement and Compliance
The DVLA privately meets with high-ranking employees and specialized consultants twice a year to go over potential number plate combinations and to eliminate any that may be deemed embarrassing or offensive. Apart from blacklisting particular number plates, the DVLA also ensures compliance with font, color, reflectiveness, and layout. Moreover, Driv ers are cautioned that if plates are modified to be difficult to read, they risk fines, losing the MOT, and having the insurance rendered void.
DVLA ’75’ Number Plates Restriction — Key Points
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Effective Date | September 1, 2025 |
| Reason for Restriction | Offensive, embarrassing, or provocative plate combinations |
| Examples of Banned Plates | ‘AU75 WTZ’, ‘GO75 WAR’, ‘EA75 DCK’ |
| Potential Consequences | Fines up to £1,000, MOT failure, insurance invalidation |
| Enforcement | Biannual reviews by DVLA and consultants to flag offensive plates |
| Compliance Checks | Font, color, reflectiveness, layout, readability |
| Auctioned Plates | Positive ’75’ registrations like ‘GR75 AMG’, ‘MU75 CLE’ available starting at £250 |
| Objective | Balance creativity with public safety and acceptability |
Legal and Enjoyable Number Plates
The DVLA often puts certain number plates for auction, with some starting at £250. Among the most sought after are the ’75’ series, which include positive registrations. ‘GR75 AMG’ and ‘MU75 CLE’ are examples for enthusiasts of cars and muscle cars, respectively. As a priority, universal creativity and public safety needs to be maintained, which at times can be tricky.
