# 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:** 47
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/921 "2024-12-13T04:23:20Z")
Since some of us are sharing our own plates… I’ve had California plates that say UPWIND since the mid '70s. Leftovers from my days sailing little sailboats and flying little airplanes. Originally, I had yellow on blue ones, now they’re blue on white. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/922 "2024-12-13T16:43:15Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > ABE RUTH > > Is there a ‘B’ somewhere on the bumper to the left of the plate? ‘BABERUTH’? I didn’t see any. And there’s none in the picture showing the entire back end. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/923 "2024-12-13T17:45:21Z")
Just today I saw **PHO REAL**. Do they really like Vietnamese food, or something? 😜 Also saw, though not for the first time, **HER-5TORY** on my drive this morning. `//i\\` ---
**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 13, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/924 "2024-12-13T19:17:00Z")
Been a busy time for plates for me. Here’s a couple from the last few days. Mercedes convertible coupe with **THE⎵BENZ**. Ref @Raza’s thoughts upthread. The FL surfer-themed plate only has room for 5 characters. Saw one a couple days ago with **INFNT**. Which I interpreted as “infant” and was baffled. Just now as I’m typing I had a lightbulb moment and maybe it’s “infinite”. Today I saw all these: **INS** ⎵ **LIFE** on a raggedy car with an “AMERILIFE” license plate frame. Amerilife’s website seems like a legit insurance and investment advice firm, but there’s a creepy almost MLM-like vibe to it. Judging from the car the owner has not in fact made a killing as an advisor / insurance salesman. Yet. Another surfer plate saying **IMUNE** on a Volvo SUV with a smug-looking 50-ish couple driving. An SUV with Quebec plates reading **GOLF**. 3 others I’ve already forgotten but might recall later. And the day’s winner: A Ford F-450 monster crew-cab pickup truck with the dual rear wheels. In the top of the line “Platinum” trim level. Plus custom wheels and tires. And a lift kit, but not a huge one. And some other customizations. Overall effect is “looks pimped”, not “looks coal-rolling MAGA”. Truck is shiny & clean, no work-box or construction stuff in the bed, etc. The plate: **WRYT⎵OFF**. And in a sad note I found out about a plate I didn’t actually see. On the electronic message signs along the freeway they were advertising a “silver alert”. If those aren’t familiar to you, they’re an alert to look for a senile person driving while lost and to call the highway patrol if you see them. We have several of these every day around here. Usually with a vehicle make, model, and plate. The plate they were asking us all to look for was **LT⎵COLS**. Even the mightiest of warriors is eventually drooling in their oatmeal. Poor bastard; hope they find him / her / them both. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/925 "2024-12-13T21:02:08Z")
I just saw **IM ALPHA** on a white Nissan Rogue. I’m not sure if they feel they are the Alpha in the room, but if so I hope they don’t run into **B1GCHEF** who I saw on the road a few minutes later. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/926 "2024-12-13T22:25:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you really want the Olde Tyme-y ASCII vibe, **CHR⎵27** would probably be better if available. CHR\_27 was actually my first preference, from way back in olden times1 . It seems more modern languages use the CHAR function; I leaned to the more common modern use (obviously varies by language), if only because it makes it more obvious that the letters aren’t a person’s initials. Now I gotta get off my ass, get the emissions tested, and visit the tag office in time for my birthday in January (in GA, for the initial custom vanity plate submission, you have to hand the completed form to a human). 1BASIC on the IMSAI 8080 was my first exposure ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/927 "2024-12-14T00:01:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And, for that matter, it’s a Road America commemorative license plate. FYI, I have a couple of neighbors who have those plates. They don’t care about racing, let alone a particular track. They’re paying an extra $25 to get a black license plate. No white background, no barns or geese or sailboats… the black does look [a lot cleaner.](https://fox11online.com/resources/media2/16x9/full/1024/center/80/ec02a6a7-3328-4b99-8473-fecbbfc8caed-large16x9_RoadAmerica.jpg) People in Iowa can get a plain black one, Wisconsinites have to cope with a white squiggle on theirs. But the standard one IS [pretty damn busy…](https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/vehicle-licence-plates-marking-wisconsin-united-2048190743) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/928 "2024-12-14T05:28:41Z")
**WRGLR JK** — not very imaginative, for a 3d-generation Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep JK Wrangler was produced 2007-2018. In my ‘24 OBW today, I parked right next to it. [![](https://i.imgur.com/YNggww5.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/YNggww5.jpeg) • [![](https://i.imgur.com/uoWsLYv.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/uoWsLYv.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/929 "2024-12-15T19:08:58Z")
**S733H 09** In NC. (Read it upside down!) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/930 "2024-12-15T20:10:29Z")
Clever! ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/931 "2024-12-15T20:20:25Z")
Yesterday, I saw someone that figures they eventually will do more than just try: **JEDI⎵2B**. At first I thought that JEDI 1 through 27 were taken until realized what it really read. And then a few minutes later I saw **RIP⎵GAS** on a Tesla of course. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/932 "2024-12-15T20:29:04Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > **S733H 09** In NC. > > (Read it upside down!) 60 Heels? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/933 "2024-12-15T20:30:25Z")
Go Hells? ---
**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 15, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/934 "2024-12-15T20:31:35Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > 60 Heels? Or “Go Heels”: North Carolina is the “Tarheel State,” and the University of North Carolina’s sports teams are nicknamed the “Tarheels” (or, for short, just the “Heels”). ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/935 "2024-12-15T20:33:00Z")
Ah. Thanks for info. I figured it was some reference I wasn’t getting. – thorny who doesn’t follow sports ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/936 "2024-12-15T21:05:08Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > – thorny who doesn’t follow sports You do now! LOL ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/937 "2024-12-15T21:14:48Z")
I pick up a reference now and then to use in crossword puzzles. I don’t think that counts as following sports. I’m sure I’ve occasionally followed a sports car in traffic; but only until one of us turns off for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/938 "2024-12-16T13:46:28Z")
I don’t think I will be sharing any personal information with whoever was driving **MAGGPIE** , but if I want someone to tell me the truth the Tesla driver of **ENSERIO** \* would be a good one. I would guess nothing phases the Mercedes driver who has **BENZ⎵THR** and probably got the t-shirt too. I definitely do not want anything to do with the white audi that had **WPI⎵88** `//i\\` \* En serio is spanish for seriously (not in the sarcastic way). If someone where to tell you si, en serio, they would saying yes, truthfully. ---
**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 16, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/939 "2024-12-16T14:27:47Z")
Thanks for the Spanish language reminder. Yesterday I saw **CHEEKA‑1**. Indeed she was. 😉 A few days before that I saw **AUTISM**. ---
**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 16, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/940 "2024-12-16T17:14:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A few days before that I saw **AUTISM**. I suppose that’s better than BLIND ![](https://c.tenor.com/YwxGh7gIm5oAAAAC/tenor.gif) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=48)