Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the creativity behind personalized license plates — but not all ideas make the cut.
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles turned down 1,951 requests last year for crossing the line on decency rules, showcasing some inventive attempts to add personality to the roadways.
It’s a classic back-and-forth between drivers aiming for an edge and officials keeping things family-friendly. Many tried clever tricks like leetspeak or symbols to slip past the filters, but reviewers caught on.
The combo “DV” led the pack with 349 rejections. While official disabled veteran plates are available, some applicants mixed them with off-color words or skipped the standard format.
Modern lingo tripped up 116 plates featuring “AF,” that emphasis-boosting acronym often tied to profanity, attached to everything from professions to speed references.
References to anatomy drew 101 denials, and the number 69 showed up in exactly 100 failed bids.
Leetspeak was a go-to move, with numbers standing in for letters — think 5 for S or 4 for A — to hide rude terms. Symbols played a big role too, especially the Texas silhouette in 218 cases, as drivers used hearts, stars, and icons to interrupt offensive phrases.
Even messages aimed at fellow road users were flagged, like “FAFO” — a shorthand for a blunt warning about repercussions — which appeared 39 times. Tail-end taunts such as “1UR-SL0W” and “MOVEE MF” were meant for the mirror but didn’t pass muster.
Texas guidelines are straightforward: No indecent, vulgar, or derogatory content, no negative driving directives, and no nods to gangs or drugs.
Reviewers focus on how plates might come across publicly, not just the applicant’s spin.
With custom plates priced from $50 to $570, it’s clear Texans love pushing the envelope. The 2025 stats show the quest for plate personality is alive and kicking— even if many end up in the junkyard of bad ideas.