DVLA bans 155 number plates because they have become 'offensive'

A new list of banned number and licence plates have been revealed by the DVLA. The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency has revealed a list of banned number plates ahead of the launch of brand-new plates later this year, in a second newly released fresh batch.

RegTransfers has secured a list of banned plates and it includes BE74 END, BL74 WJB, BO74 CCK and BU74 SHT as well as ST74 BER, TT74 WAT and WW74 NKZ. UB74 TCH, AN74 USA and AT74 CKU are also banned, the website has revealed.

RegTransfers added: “The DVLA faces a tough, ongoing battle to find a balance between people's right to free speech and their duty to keep the public area polite. As society evolves, so does the language and symbols considered offensive, and while there may be disagreements about some decisions about what is offensive or censorship, the goal is to apply standards without violating people's rights.

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“People will definitely keep talking about these kinds of rules, which are a reflection of bigger issues like morality, freedom, and respect in our constantly changing society.” Others banned include 74 NAL, 74 NUS, 74 RSE and 74 WAT.

S74 ABU, S74 BBR, W74 NKR and W74 NKS have also been banned. "DVLA's removal of number plates from scheduled releases is nothing new: they do it every time a new series is issued, and we report on it regularly," RegTransfers has said.

As many as 74 have been banned ahead of September, RegTransfers found. It said: "As we have seen, some character combinations that we expect to be blocked do, in fact, get issued. Conversely, there have been many instances of innocent-looking numbers being withheld.

"In some cases, numbers are kept back for later sale in auction where competition can mean that they may command better prices."