The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has published its official list of prohibited vehicle registration marks for the coming year, banning 402 number plate combinations from being issued in 2026.
Why Are Number Plates Banned?
Each year, the DVLA reviews the new alphanumeric combinations that will become available with the latest age identifier. The agency has a long-standing policy of withholding any registration that it believes could cause offence, embarrassment, or be in poor taste.
A spokesperson for the DVLA explained the process, stating: "The vast majority of registration numbers are made available, but the DVLA withholds any combinations of numbers and letters where we consider that they may cause offence, embarrassment or are in poor taste."
This pre-emptive vetting stops plates with overtly rude, controversial, or inflammatory meanings from ever reaching the roads. The criteria cover a wide range of sensitivities, from profanity and sexual references to terms linked to conflict and discrimination.
What's New for 2026 Plates?
Two new age identifiers will be introduced in 2026. The '26' plate will launch on 1st March, followed by the '76' plate on 1st September. It is the combinations using these identifiers, particularly with the chosen two-letter prefixes, that have been scrutinised.
The latest banned list reflects contemporary sensitivities. Notably, it includes combinations that could be seen as references to global conflicts. Examples of these new additions are GA26 WAR, RU26 UKR, and BY26 UKR.
Other plates are barred for their potential to spell out swear words, derogatory terms, or references to sensitive historical events when read in a certain way.
The Full List of Banned 2026 Registrations
The DVLA's comprehensive list runs to hundreds of entries. Below is a selection of the prohibited combinations, demonstrating the breadth of the ban:
- AA26 LAH, AA26 NAL, AA26 RSE
- AS26 BOY, AS26 FKU, AS26 GAY
- BJ26 AGG, BJ26 ALL, BJ26 STD
- DO26 GER, DO26 GGR, DO26 GYN
- FA26 GER, FA26 GUT, FA26 HAG
- FK26 ANG, FK26 BRT, FK26 RUS
- FU26 ASH, FU26 GAY, FU26 KER
- GA26 BAD, GA26 BOM, GA26 WAR, GA26 NAZ
- GO26 ACK, GO26 JEU, GO26 PAK
- JE26 HAD, JU26 NAZ, JU26 OVN
- LE26 BOO, LE26 ZAZ, LE26 ZRR
- NO26 COP, NO26 FUZ, NO26 LEZ
- PU26 SAY, PU26 SEY, PU26 SYS
- SH26 GER, SH26 GGS, SH26 HAG
- WA26 GBR, WA26 RAB, WA26 UKR
- YE26 RUS, YE26 UKR
The full, unedited list includes many more permutations, with plates beginning with prefixes like BA, BL, EU, NE, OR, and US all featuring.
Impact for Drivers
For most motorists, this annual ban has no direct impact. It simply prevents a small subset of undesirable plates from entering the market. Anyone seeking a personalised registration for 2026 will still have tens of thousands of combinations to choose from through the DVLA's official sale channels.
The practice underscores the agency's role in maintaining public decency on the roads. By filtering out these combinations proactively, the DVLA avoids the administrative and public relations challenges of recalling plates after they have been issued.
The list for 2026 follows the same pattern as previous years, showing the DVLA's continued vigilance against registrations that could be deemed offensive or provocative.
