The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has announced a new list of personalised number plate combinations that will be banned from release in 2026. Motorists caught displaying an illegal registration could face fines of up to £1,000.
Which 2026 Number Plates Are Banned?
The agency, which manages nearly 53 million driver records and over 47 million vehicle records, regularly reviews new registrations. It withholds combinations considered offensive or inappropriate before they go on sale via its website.
For the 2026 series, the banned plates include references deemed unacceptable. The assessment covers potential insults, swear words, sexual references, and allusions to drugs. It also blocks plates with racist, sexist, or discriminatory connotations towards the LGBTQ+ community, alongside certain political and religious references.
The newly withheld list for 2026 includes combinations such as:
- GA26 AZA
- RU26 RUS
- YE26 MEN
- BA26 OMB
- AN26 USA
These examples are seen to reference contemporary conflict zones like Gaza, Russia, and Yemen. Other prohibited plates feature words like 'bomb' and 'mugger', alongside explicit sexual references.
The Strict Rules for Legal Number Plates
This ban coincides with ongoing enforcement of strict rules governing how number plates must be displayed. The RAC has highlighted the regulations, noting that police stopped 13,720 drivers for illegal plates in 2020 alone.
All number plates must use the official Charles Wright 2001 font. Any modification to the font's style, thickness, or spacing is illegal. Drivers are prohibited from altering the spacing between characters to create words or names.
Plates must also conform to the correct size and layout, which varies for cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles. They need to be rectangular and positioned correctly on the vehicle; custom shapes or arrangements are not permitted.
Consequences for Motorists
The DVLA's biannual review is a preventative measure, stopping offensive plates from ever reaching the roads. However, drivers who modify plates or acquire them through unofficial channels risk significant penalties.
Beyond the potential £1,000 fine, having an illegal registration can cause a vehicle to fail its MOT test. Police can also issue fixed penalty notices. The message from authorities is clear: ensuring your number plate complies with DVLA standards is a crucial legal responsibility for every motorist.
