Cheeky registration plate considered rude
The registratiom plate in question is BO11 LUX.
It is a bit of a cheeky number plate, but the DVLA have deemed it ‘offensive’ – and asked its owner to remove it. And have issued him with a standard registration number instead, as well as offering a full refund.
For every new release, the DVLA do try to remove registration numbers they believe could cause offence. There’s a concerted effort to spot them, but unfortunately they can’t catch every single permutation of numbers and letters that our human brains can conceive, to make up rude words. We previously blogged about a similar rude number plate snapped up by another eagle-eyed buyer.
The 11 series number plates became available in December 2010, and Alan Clarke of Chesterfield (pictured above) picked up the chance to grab this slightly rude number plate, for a bit of fun. On picking up his new car in March, he had the registration number assigned straightaway. And that was that… or so he thought. The DVLA wrote to him just a few weeks later, asking him to remove the registration number.
Naturally, Mr Clarke is a little bit miffed about this. And is refusing to remove it. After all, the DVLA are reponsible for making it available, and now wish to withdraw it. And I can see his point of view.
Unfortunately, though, it’s likely Mr Clarke will win this one. The DVLA have already assigned another registration number to the vehicle, which means he is driving illegally if he continues to display the apparently rude registration plate.
Added to that, by buying the registration plate, Mr Clarke has agreed to the terms of the sale.
What many buyers don’t realise is that, when you purchase any registration plate, what you’re actually buying is the right to use it. Regardless of whether the registration number cost £300 or £300,000. And the DVLA reserve the right to withdraw it at any time. Though in reality, this rarely happens.
So, although I can see Mr Clarke’s point of view… and even empathise, it may be a losing battle.
