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Texas rejected more than 2,300 personalized license plate requests in 2024 for being obscene or objectionable, including examples like “SKIBIDV” and “TXMAYOR.”
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The state reviews thousands of vanity plate submissions each year and can recall previously issued plates if they violate guidelines.
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While Texans can personalize specialty plates for a fee, creativity must stay within the bounds of public decency.
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Texas rejected more than 2,300 personalized license plate requests in 2024 for being obscene or objectionable, including examples like “SKIBIDV” and “TXMAYOR.”
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The state reviews thousands of vanity plate submissions each year and can recall previously issued plates if they violate guidelines.
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While Texans can personalize specialty plates for a fee, creativity must stay within the bounds of public decency.
DALLAS—Consider reading someone’s license plate when you’re following them at a red light and seeing the numbers “CKNBUTT,” “L8R LSER,” and “H4WKTUA.” They’re punny to some. Others enjoy taking road trips.
According to FOX 4 News, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles denied more than 2,300 unique license plates that Texans attempted to have printed in 2024.These are the rejects for 2023.
The annual list has evolved into a kind of humorous Christmas mainstay for news coverage at the end of the year. The majority of the contributions were too graphic to be featured in the article or on television. To find the best of the worst that we can safely disclose, FOX 4 has instead sifted through the list.
Many drivers were influenced to try to get a version of the “Hawk Tuah” on the rear of their car by the viral moment (we’ll let you Google that story). There were actually 82 attempts, some of which were rather ingenious, we might add. They were all turned down.
Other efforts include “M3NAC3,” “R3DNCK,” and “SHEDVL.”
PHOTOS: Texas rejected these license plate ideas
These are a few examples of custom license plates that Texans filed but that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles ultimately rejected. Photo courtesy of FOX 4 News.
What are the rules for personalized license plates?
Before your plates are made, TxDMV examines your customized plate design and takes into account how the customisation can be perceived. The subjective intent or declared meaning of the applicant is not always taken into account by the TxDMV when evaluating a personalized alphanumeric pattern.
TxDMV may reject a requested personalized alphanumeric pattern for a number of reasons.
1. The department’s present or planned regular license plate numbering scheme is in disagreement with the alphanumeric pattern.
2. The customized alphanumeric pattern may be deemed offensive by the director or the director’s designee. An undesirable trend could be seen as:
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Indecent (defined as including a direct reference or connotation to a sexual act, sexual body parts, excreta, or sexual bodily fluids or functions. Additionally, the alphanumeric pattern “69” is prohibited unless used with the full year (1969) or in combination with a reference to a vehicle);
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Vulgar, directly or indirectly (defined as profane, swear, or curse words);
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Derogatory, directly or indirectly (defined as an expression that is demeaning to, belittles, or disparages any person, group, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. “Derogatory” may also include a reference to an organization that advocates the expressions described in this subparagraph);
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A direct or indirect negative instruction or command directed to another individual related to the operation of a motor vehicle; 1/13/2023
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A direct or indirect reference to gangs, illegal activities, implied threats of harm, or expressions that describe, advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, glorify, or condone violence, crime, or unlawful conduct;
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A direct or indirect reference to controlled substances or the physiological state produced by such substances, intoxicated states, or a direct or indirect reference that may express, describe, advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, or glorify such substances or states;
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A direct representation of law enforcement or other governmental entities, including any reference to a public office or position exclusive to government; or
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A pattern that could be misread by law enforcement.
Check if your license plate idea is available
A customized license plate might cost anywhere between $50 and $570. To find out if your customized plate combination is available or if someone else obtained it first, visit the agency’s website and submit it.
How do you dispose of a license plate in Texas?
You can keep your Texas license plates. Cut your old Texas plates into pieces and put them in the recycling bin if you decide to recycle them. This will stop the plates from being used fraudulently.
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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is the article’s primary source.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is the article’s primary source.
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