2025's Banned Number Plates: What You Can't Put on Your Car (And Why!)
Ever wondered why you can't have 'TE25 ROR' on your car? Turns out the DVLA has thoughts about that!
The list of banned number plates continues to grow in 2025, with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency carefully filtering out combinations that could be offensive, inappropriate, or cause a stir on British roads. From accidentally rude combinations created by the new '25' plates to deliberately cheeky attempts at wordplay, we're looking at what's not allowed on UK vehicles this year – and the fascinating reasons behind these restrictions.
Key Insights:
The DVLA has banned over 3,400 number plate combinations for 2025,
March 2025 introduces '25' plates, followed by '75' plates in September,
War-related combinations like 'WA25 WAR' and politically sensitive plates are automatically banned,
Personalised plates generally don't increase a car's value, with factors like make, model and environmental credentials being more important.
The Numbers Game
This year, the DVLA has been particularly busy, reviewing and banning over 3,400 number plate combinations that could prove problematic on UK roads. Among the more surprising entries on the banned list are 'BA25 ARD' and 'AS25 HOL' - seemingly innocent combinations that could be interpreted in less-than-polite ways when displayed on vehicles.
The '25' plates are especially noteworthy this year, as they've created a unique challenge for the DVLA's filtering system. When combined with certain letters, these numbers can create unintended words or phrases that might raise eyebrows on the motorway. In March 2025, all new vehicles will feature the '25' registration mark, followed by another round in September with '75' plates - making this year's review process particularly crucial for maintaining road-appropriate registrations.
The DVLA's dedicated team meticulously reviews thousands of potential combinations twice yearly, ensuring that no offensive, discriminatory, or politically sensitive plates make their way onto British roads. They even use special software to catch plates that might slip through traditional filters - proving that when it comes to number plates, even the smallest details matter.
Why These Got The Boot
Let's have a closer look at some of the more interesting plates that didn't make the cut this year. War-related combinations like 'WA25 WAR' and 'EU25 WAR' were quickly flagged and banned, with the DVLA taking particular care to avoid any conflict-related references on British roads.
Creative wordplay attempts haven't escaped notice either - with various combinations using '25' to spell out cheeky phrases getting swiftly rejected. Other submissions tried subtler approaches by using number and letter combinations that could be read as suggestive or inappropriate when viewed in a rear-view mirror.
The DVLA has also been vigilant about plates that could be interpreted as social commentary or politically charged messages. Any combinations that might reference current affairs or international relations have been carefully filtered out, ensuring number plates stick to their primary purpose of vehicle identification.
Examples Of Banned 25 Plates
Here are some examples of banned 25 plates:
WA25 TED
JU25 NAS
BA25 TUD
MA25 WAR
GO25 WAR
EU25 WAR
TE25 ROR
YE25 WAR
How Does The Number Plate Affect The Value Of Your Car?
Number plates can have a surprising impact on your vehicle's value, especially if you're considering making the switch to an electric car. While personalised plates might add appeal for some buyers, they're not always a guaranteed value-booster. For car valuations, what really matters are:
The car's make and model,
Its age and mileage,
Overall condition,
Service History,
Battery health (for electric vehicles),
Environmental credentials.
A personalised plate is essentially a separate asset from the car itself. While some rare number plates might have their value as collectables, they don't add to the vehicle's worth. With salary sacrifice schemes, keeping the original registration is usually simpler and more practical. In fact, when it comes to car schemes like salary sacrifice, keeping the original registration is often the simpler choice. What really affects your car's value are factors like its model, condition, and - increasingly important in 2025 - its environmental credentials.
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Last updated: 05.02.25
