The Newshound

DVLA bans more than 500 offensive '76' number plates before they reach Britain's roads

A specialist panel convened in August screens thousands of combinations twice a year, also blocking plates referencing war, religion, race, and homophobic or misogynistic slurs.
A specialist panel convened in August screens thousands of combinations twice a year, also blocking plates referencing war, religion, race, and homophobic or misogynistic slurs.

The DVLA has blocked more than 523 combinations ahead of the new '76' registration, which goes on sale Tuesday, September 1. A specialist panel meets every six months, working through thousands of possible combinations to filter out anything crude, inflammatory or politically sensitive. The '76' series created particular difficulties because the 7 resembles an 'I', 'T' or 'A', while the 6 can double as a 'B' or 'A', creating scope for offensive words and phrases.

Among the banned plates are SH76 TTY, GO76 WAR, BJ76 OOB, HH76 OMO and AS76 FKU, with hundreds more covering slurs, sexual innuendo, and war references.

Plates referencing Gaza, Yemen, and racial slurs were also removed, following the precedent set last year when combinations using '25 RUS and '25 UKR were likewise axed.

Any driver found displaying a non-compliant plate risks a fine of up to £1,000, potential MOT failure, and seizure of the offending registration by police.

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