# Custom Licence Plates — Seen in the Wild **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965 "2023-11-11T02:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 110
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2181 "2025-12-12T00:50:11Z")
Was stuck in traffic behind someone with their left turn signal on for no apparent reason and **MONI77** plates. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2182 "2025-12-12T01:07:40Z")
I had an amazing haul this morning and this evening for just driving around town. As to quantity at least; if not quality. - **UM1WY** on a 5-character University of Miami booster plate. “UM one way”? “UM; the one way”? Actually since I cited a UM plate with **UM1US** last month, I suspect these are just ordinary series plates being issued locally. I just got lucky & saw two that might plausibly be something more interesting. - **FISION** on a standard plate on a generic sedan. Either an angler, a physicist, or a USN nuclear veteran. Or ??? - **SHCC** on a Rhode Island standard plate. Google is no help, seemingly wanting to give me every anagram of SHCC except the one I want. “CC” might be country club or community college. - **PKBL1** on a 5-character USAF veteran plate with a Viet Nam veteran window decal. Since it was parked at the pickle ball courts I bet that’s “Pickle Ball 1”. The war ended when I was 16-1/2. The youngest plausible VN veteran is 70 now. Keep movin’ Dad. - **GO⎵IMOS** on a standard plate on a Jaguar F-1. Means nothing to me. - **ADELE⎵G** on a standard plate on a Tesla. Hi Adele! - **MWXMW** on a 5-character breast cancer booster plate on a Porsche Macan. No clue. I can read the “X” as standing for “by”. So “day by day” or “step by step” or ???. But I can’t come up with anything MW could stand for. - **LAKRS** on a 5-character Miami Heat NBA booster plate on a pickup truck. Wicked burn there duuude! - This one _almost_ counts. A Mini Clubman with a standard series FL plate on the back. Ho hum. But on the front was one of those long narrow Euro-style plates with the narrow vertical blue stripe on the left with a UK flag and the word “UK” below, then a white background across the rest of the plate that read **BOLLOCKS**. Nicely done, Sir. - **SALM⎵139** on a standard plate on a SUV. Seems a pleasant enough bit of witnessing; certainly less offensive than many. - **KIK⎵BOL** on a standard plate on a BMW X6. “A perfect Soccer Mom wagon for around here; I bet she’s cute” I thought as I approached and passed. The couple driving were easily in their 80s. An odd juxtaposition of plate and driver. - **GAIL⎵WHO** on a NY standard plate on a Mercedes coupe. I didn’t get a look at Gail before she turned, but I like her sense of humor. - **NTKB** on a 5-character surfing booster plate on a Porsche Boxster / 917. No clue. A company name maybe? - **BFREBU** on a standard plate on a off-road hopped-up Jeep. I’d reported it a few months ago. “Be Free; Be You” is the best suggestion from last time. - **THE⎵DANE** on a standard plate on a Lucid sedan. They also had a small bumper sticker in the style of an EU license plate with the Danish flag and the word DENMARK as the plate body. In all not bad for two forays out on a single day. I probably won’t see any for a week now to make up for this bounty. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2183 "2025-12-12T19:35:07Z")
Mistakenly posted in the wrong thread a few hours ago, reposting here: **DEZIBBB**. I guess “Dezi” is a nickname, but BBB? Does Dezi work for the Better Business Bureau? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2184 "2025-12-12T19:44:08Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > **DEZIBBB**. I guess “Dezi” is a nickname, but BBB? Does Dezi work for the Better Business Bureau? BBB is also an acronym for various other things, including “Big Black Beautiful” (used in reference to rubenesque black women). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2185 "2025-12-12T19:50:20Z")
Friends just got **ELN SUX** for their Tesla. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2186 "2025-12-12T19:56:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@WildaBeast](#): > > > > **DEZIBBB**. I guess “Dezi” is a nickname, but BBB? Does Dezi work for the Better Business Bureau? > > BBB is also an acronym for various other things, including “Big Black Beautiful.” There’s also the off-chance that the plate is from a location which allows partial vanity plates and **BBB** just happens to be random. I have relatives in Illinois whose son’s nickname is (was?) the first half of their plate and random numbers the second half. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2187 "2025-12-12T22:34:39Z")
Not a license plate as such, but I stumbled more or less at random on this wiki article and thought the folks in this thread might get a chuckle. > **[Bumper Stumpers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_Stumpers)** > > Bumper Stumpers is a Canadian game show. Two teams of two players competed to decipher letter puzzles presented as fictional vanity licence plates. > The show was a joint production of Canada's Global Television Network and the United States' USA Network, in association with Barry & Enright Productions and Wink Martindale Enterprises. This was one of three original series that USA and Global co-produced in the 1980s, with a 1985 revival of Jackpot and 1986's The New Chain Reaction preceding it;... The article is written in the present tense, but the show was produced only from 1987 to 1990, so coming up on 40 years ago. And here we are playing it again. With a Canadian OP. Coincidence? **UBDJUJ** 😁 🤪 You be the judge ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2188 "2025-12-12T22:53:59Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > There’s also the off-chance that the plate is from a location which allows partial vanity plates and **BBB** just happens to be random. > > I have relatives in Illinois whose son’s nickname is (was?) the first half of their plate and random numbers the second half. As someone who lives in Illinois, and has a personalized license plate: Illinois has two types of customized plate: - “Personalized,” which is always in the format of either (a) one to five letters, followed by a number from 1-99, or (b) one to six letters, followed by a number from 1-9 - “Vanity,” which can only be in the format of (a) one to seven letters, with no numbers, or (b) one to three numbers, with no letters Personalized plates are less expensive than vanity plates, which is likely why the personalized ones are more common here. What I recall, from when I first got my plates, is that you have an option of picking what you want for the letters, and then not specifying a particular number, but getting the next-highest available number to complete the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2189 "2025-12-13T00:27:10Z")
Two seen today, but I only remember one: **FENWAY15**. That might not be remarkable somewhere else, but this was a NY plate on Long Island, not far from NYC. There were a couple of university stickers, including one from Harvard, so likely did spend time at the park. But why the 15? Could there already be 14 other NY plates with FENWAY? ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2190 "2025-12-14T22:36:28Z")
How do you remember all these? Do you write them down while you drive? I often see many but don’t remember most. Anyway. I wonder if **REDACT** works for the government and is quite busy right now. If they need a break they can probably **D4NCE**. I do not know how many Kilowatts a tesla consumes, is it really **75␣KW** as the license plate claims? I guess **COACH4L** can help with the pick up basketball team. Me, I don’t think I am **THE␣JUAN** you want to call for any kind of sports advice. Yes, that last one could be because that is their surname, but I think, they would have use EL instead of THE if that was the case. Of course it could be both. I also saw a license plate issued to vets that had **DSSRET** I did not see any Army, Marines, or other logo or reference, and it does seem like DSS was the name of an agency of the Department of Defense before it was renamed. It could be that veteran status and the plate are unrelated though. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2191 "2025-12-14T22:40:00Z")
> [@icon](#): > > How do you remember all these? Do you write them down while you drive? I have the same questions. I see one or two when I drive, and I repeat them to myself a couple of times, but have totally forgotten them when I get somewhere where I can write them down. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2192 "2025-12-14T23:09:47Z")
> [@icon](#): > > How do you remember all these? Do you write them down while you drive? Some I shoot w my phone cam. Most I write down in my phone notes app at the next traffic light. Some I see in parking lots so writing or piccing is easy. > [@icon](#): > > I often see many but don’t remember most I lose a few that way too. Frustrates me greatly & makes me question advancing senility. A strong memory for a short list of arbitrary facts for a few minutes followed by expunging them for the next set is an occupational aptitude from my former career. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2193 "2025-12-15T01:53:59Z")
On a quick drive to the ski area today I saw **IAM4PSU** , which actually is the handle of someone in Pennsylvania but these were NH plates. In the ski area parking lot there are plenty of ski related plates, including **-SKI-** , **SKIRCR** , **P PEAK** (the ski area we were at), and several others I can’t remember. And one I’ll dual post to the most interesting car thread, a Smart Fortwo outfitted with a roof box, snow tires, and an aggressive outlook on life. The plate was **WEE TWO**. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2194 "2025-12-15T02:27:35Z")
I’ll post it here also (in the car thread, the plate you mentioned here reminded me of one I forgot to post). [![](https://i.imgur.com/yFFeJyD.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/yFFeJyD.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2195 "2025-12-15T02:29:38Z")
The last 2 days’ haul: - **A⎵REGER** on a standard plate on an Audi sedan. Means nothing to me. Ref @icon, spotted in a restaurant parking lot while walking in. Noted down in my phone once seated. - **XY⎵XY⎵XY** on a standard plate on a different Audi sedan. I assume the owners have 3 sons. Spotted at a red light in an adjacent lane. Noted down while waiting for the green. - **DANIMAL** on a standard plate on a pickup. “Dan the animal” I bet. And no great feat of deduction that. Also seen at a red light and promptly noted down. - **STR⎵SWPR** on a standard plate on a hopped up Mustang w loud pipes. Presumably bragging of his street racing cred. Seen dribbling through a parking lot and noted at the next stop sign. - **BEMYSTIC** on a standard plate on an SUV. The decoding is clear even if the intent is mystically magically mysterious. - **EPIBAH** on a standard plate on an Escalade. Perhaps a last name? Or a Hebrew or other regional language word? The folks getting out looked eastern Mediterranean or similar ethnicity. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2196 "2025-12-17T00:19:30Z")
Had an 90 minute round trip for a doctor’s appointment today and I was hoping I’d get to see at least some interesting plates. Not so much. **FRYS TOY** on a small black SUV **WAC** on a Army veteran plate on the car who cut me off in a construction zone. I don’t care if you are a veteran, you drive like an idiot… ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2197 "2025-12-17T01:52:10Z")
This afternoon at a light I was behind a big black SUV with **DOM8RIX**. I was turning, so I didn’t get to find out if the driver was leather-clad. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2198 "2025-12-17T02:29:35Z")
Stare too long and you’d’ve gotten the lash. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2199 "2025-12-17T11:24:03Z")
I think given all the electronics **WATTAP** is an appropriate name for a Tesla. Of course **MIZ␣BRITT** might think that is not spelled correctly, though she could not complain too much given her on License Plate. I don’t think **CLUNK13** was really in that bad shape, but who knows what other car they might be driving. If you really like the outdoors you might really get a **4WBUZZ** while driving around in your jeep. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2200 "2025-12-18T00:00:41Z")
Maybe custom? Tennessee plate going into Indiana from Illinois, 009\_BOGS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=109) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=111)