What states won't put on a license plate - from the words each DMV's lookup blocks today, plus the rejection records states have released under public records laws.
| State | What we have |
|---|---|
| ArizonaAZ | 26,063 on released records (2012) |
| ArkansasAR | 9,390 on released records (2012) |
| CaliforniaCA | 18,757 on released records (2015-2016) |
| ColoradoCO | 2,650 on released records (2012) · 1,000+ rejected in 2023 |
| GeorgiaGA | 9,704 on released records (2012) |
| IdahoID | 852 rejected in 2025 |
| IllinoisIL | 550+ rejected in 2025 |
| IowaIA | 2,643 on released records (2012) |
| KansasKS | 1,049 on released records (2012) |
| LouisianaLA | 33 words blocked by today's DMV lookup |
| MaineME | 6,064 on released records (2012) |
| MinnesotaMN | 79 words blocked by today's DMV lookup |
| MissouriMO | 262 rejected in 2025 |
| New JerseyNJ | 1,014 on released records (2012) |
| New YorkNY | 2,122 on released records (2012) · 2025 rejected list |
| OhioOH | 681 on released records (2012) |
| OklahomaOK | 879 on released records (2012) · 42 rejected in 2025 |
| TennesseeTN | 1,382 words blocked by today's DMV lookup |
| TexasTX | 1,951 rejected in 2025 |
| UtahUT | 1,352 on released records (2012) |
| VermontVT | 21,649 on released records (2012) |
| WashingtonWA | 242 words blocked by today's DMV lookup |
| Washington DCDC | 25,747 on released records (2012) |
| WisconsinWI | 8,411 on released records (2012) |
| WyomingWY | 45 words blocked by today's DMV lookup |
Real decisions from California's DMV review committee (2015-2016, released under a public records request). The applicant explains the plate; the reviewer explains the refusal. See more California decisions.
Applicant: No quickweb
DMV reviewer: Strike her?
Applicant: Intails n my coast guard surfman number
DMV reviewer: Is this a look a like to sequential legacy?
Applicant: Cannabis
DMV reviewer: Marijuana reference
Applicant: I turned 50 and i'm loving it
DMV reviewer: 5o, police reference
Applicant: Inside jokes among friends
DMV reviewer: Anti state, some could find it offensive or hostile
Applicant: Vin number
DMV reviewer: All digits
Applicant: Unfaithful
DMV reviewer: Bad taste
Applicant: Water polo
DMV reviewer: Water or wet, balling
Applicant: Harley owner group dead on arrival
DMV reviewer: Doa can stand for dead on arrival, hostile
Applicant: Favorite numbers
DMV reviewer: Look a like
Applicant: Area of vehicle personal plates
DMV reviewer: 559 fresno area code
Applicant: I was a door gunner in the u.s. army
DMV reviewer: Door gunner, weapon reference
Applicant: My silverado plate number
DMV reviewer: Looks like a commercial
Applicant: Type of corvette
DMV reviewer: Look alike
Applicant: Bruno out
DMV reviewer: Burnout; stoner
Applicant: Awesome super bee
DMV reviewer: 187=homicide, dodge is a 2013
Applicant: I.m a usaf fighter pilot. we fly to fight bad guys.
DMV reviewer: Fight, hostile
Applicant: Danger619
DMV reviewer: Ca area code
Applicant: Snack racket
DMV reviewer: Snot rocket
Applicant: Roi olympic on brazil
DMV reviewer: Look alike
Applicant: Old saying
DMV reviewer: Who hit you? hostile
Applicant: Uber chap
DMV reviewer: Chp california highway patrol
Applicant: Tail number of small airplane i used to fly
DMV reviewer: 747 area code
Applicant: The meaning is elk grove and the area code of elk grove is 916.
DMV reviewer: Area code
Sources: California DMV review records via Noah Veltman; state banned-plate lists via governmentattic.org and Dan Nguyen; New York rejections via WNYC Data News; recent counts from the newsrooms linked on each state's page; live flags from our own checks of official DMV sites.