Customizing license plates is almost a natural act in the State of Texas, every driver wants to add a personal touch. But what many do not know is that this year, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has tightened its rules and now rejects more requests than ever, we are talking about 200 plates already rejected in 2024 because they did not comply with the new regulations they had proposed.
And the thing is, many users take advantage of this freedom to hide meanings in their plates (which are a bit controversial, as you can imagine) or messages that are harmless but have a double meaning… Could your plate be the next to be rejected? We tell you everything so you can show off your plate proudly on the roads.
Why are so many plates being banned in Texas?
The Texas DMV has intensified the review of customized plates to prevent messages they consider offensive, ambiguous, or inappropriate from slipping through. Although in the past only openly vulgar expressions or those inciting violence or discrimination were banned, now they also prohibit:
- Abbreviations and acronyms that could have double meanings.
- Alternative spellings that hide bad words or innuendos.
- Messages that could be interpreted as provocative or disrespectful.
With this, they have a clear intention: to maintain a road environment that is respectful and as neutral as possible (already too much with the polarity we are living in politics). These new measures are in line with the goal of projecting a more appropriate public image.
How is it decided if a plate is inappropriate?
Each personalized plate request goes through two filters:
- Automatic detection software that analyses abbreviations, numbers, and suspicious letter combinations.
- A specialized committee that manually reviews requests to identify hidden messages the system might not detect.
- This way, they ensure that no plate that could be offensive reaches the roads of Texas.
Examples of plates that were rejected Some of the plates that did not make it through in 2024 show how strict the review is. Among them we find:
- “PLZZZ GO”
- “DRG LORD”
- “CAT L4DY”
- “NAWTE”
- “QWKLICK”
- “FREEYSL”
- “GO AHRND”
- “CHKNBTT”
All rejected for provocative interpretations, we are not going to explain what each one refers to but you can imagine these and others that the DMV decides cannot circulate.
The 10 plates banned in April 2024 In April 2024, these plates were specifically banned by the DMV, imagine the creativity of some users:
- BUBLBUT
- MILFJK
- TOP1ESS
- NCE RACK
- BDAS69
- TIPSY
- KRZYMAN
- FUKELON
- NASTE
- XERO*FX
Some played with abbreviations and double meanings that, despite their apparent innocence, were detected by the software and the review committee.
What is the DMV seeking with this policy?
The main goal of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is to standardize the tone on public roads. They want to avoid:
- Messages that could be offensive to other drivers.
- Plates that generate confusion or misunderstandings.
- Content that gives a bad image of the state or its citizens.
The regulation also seeks to adapt to an environment where digital surveillance is stricter and where any mistake can quickly go viral.
What should you do if you want a customized plate?
If you are thinking of requesting a personalized plate in Texas, make sure to:
- Choose clear and easy-to-interpret combinations.
- Avoid abbreviations that could have double meanings.
- Think about how your plate could be interpreted out of context.
It is good to want to stand out with originality on the roads, but remember that respect goes one step ahead of freedoms! Think twice before proposing any message that might be offensive to other users. Remember: what may seem like an innocent joke to you, may not seem so to the DMV.
