Number plates spelling out ‘GA26 AZA’ and ‘RU26 RUS’ – resembling the words Gaza and Russia – have been banned by the Government’s motoring body.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has set out a number of different license plates which will never see the light of day as they are considered offensive or inappropriate.
As part of a biannual review of plates, those that appear to relate to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will not be available from 2026.
Similarly, references on plates to the Russia-Ukraine war are also banned, such as ‘RU26 RUS’ and ‘RU26 UKR’,
‘YE26 MEN’ will also not be allowed. Furthermore, aggressive licence plates such as ‘MU26GER’, ‘BA26OMB’ and ‘JE26HAD’ which spell out mugger, bomb, and Jihad, respectively have been put on the list of banned plates.
Plates that are considered profane or inappropriate such as ‘AN26US’ or ‘AN26HOL’ are also strictly not allowed.
The latest list of banned number plates that have been deemed too rude for Britain’s roads have been released by the DVLA
What one driver may consider a humorous reference or a chance to make a political and social statement, another driver could find upsetting or offensive.
The DVLA goes through a rigorous process to reduce the risk of this happening.
There is also an extensive list of plates with sexual connotations that have been banned including ‘BJ26 BALS’, ‘BJ26 AGG’ and ‘BJ26 STD’.
There have been an extensive number of combinations banned because they are racist, antisemitic and homophobic.
Driving with a non-compliant licence plate can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and your car could fail its MOT, according to the Royal Automobile Association (RAC).
Recent data showed that 13,720 drivers were stopped by police for having illegal number plates the RAC has also said.
