# 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:** 99
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1961 "2025-10-30T13:19:44Z")
Two easy ones on the drive in this morning. **MARVEL** on an otherwise unadorned Subaru Forrester, and **WARVET** on a pickup with MIA/POW, Wounded Warrior, and other similar stickers. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1962 "2025-10-31T23:32:40Z")
Saw **BIG ATE** on the way home. Not sure if “Big 8” was already taken or what that was supposed to mean. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1963 "2025-11-01T13:30:15Z")
Over the last two days I covered about 650 miles on the interstate, a few dozen miles of minor highways & surface streets and a few parking lots. Found a couple of good ones and a bunch of what’re probably just derived from folks’ names. - **TRINI 02** - **FASTALK** on a newish M-B coupe w a fancy 50ish businesswoman driving. Lawyer? Slick salesperson? - **FLOR1DA** on a Montana plate seen in Florida. - **TYP-L** on the FL USAF veteran plate. That’s not a term I recall from my ancient USAF days. No clue what it means. - **ISNEK** on a jacked up pickup truck with the FL Gadsden “Don’t tread on me” plate. Guy also had the same coiled snake logo-thing as a sticker on his back window. Evidently a real libertarian gub’mint-hatin’ tax protester. Why the FL state government issues a tax protester booster plate is a mystery to me. The fact they charge extra for it makes me wonder if maybe the joke’s on the people who get the plates. 🙂 - **COLTSPM** - **J17LADY**. 17 letters is a very long last name, but not too long if it’s meant to be first + last. - **VAMS** - **CATE 1** - **AQUA TYS** on a muddy pickup towing a trailer with one of those off-road high performance mud-buggy things. Truth in advertising. - **YEEHAAW** on an Oklahoma plate. Good bet the one-“A” version was already taken. - **ODOM1** ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1964 "2025-11-01T23:13:37Z")
Well, it is Halloween so no surprise to see a (w) **00K1EE.** The w came from the Washington Nationals logo, so it took me a moment to get it. I guess some people like their brands because I saw **XFINITY** and **AOL** (.com) on what did not look like company cars. And it is probably wise to stay away from **MRSPMS**. At least certain times of the month. `//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:** [November 2, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1965 "2025-11-02T00:35:08Z")
> [@icon](#): > > And it is probably wise to stay away from **MRSPMS**. For a moment I thought that was **MPSIMS**. It’d be fun to get that plate then see who & where somebody honks or stops to chat. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1966 "2025-11-02T18:10:44Z")
Had a three-fer today while out and about: **BUZYBEE** on a yellow and black SUV **SKYVUE** on a sky-blue Cadillac **MOO OVER** - that’s the name of a new dairy and gluten free bakery/ice cream shop in the area. I need to get my lactose-intolerant self over there to check it out. I’m assuming this car was the owner. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1967 "2025-11-02T20:44:47Z")
Spotted a **DOC WHO** today. Any guesses on this one? **VRTDFRK** I took a picture to make sure I got the letters right. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1968 "2025-11-02T20:53:19Z")
Three this Sunday while out and about on the North Shore of Long Island: **SWISBANK** on a Ferrari sports car. **TAKETIME** on a Porsche that, while parked, didn’t look like it would take much time to do anything. **YOURMOMM**. Not sure if that was meant as a tribute, a dis, a warning… ---
**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:** [November 2, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1969 "2025-11-02T21:09:34Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Any guesses on this one? **VRTDFRK** I took a picture to make sure I got the letters right. I’d pronounce that “virt-de-firk?”. Which is close enough to “What the f\*\*k?” that I beleive that’s the intended translation. I’d call that a clever defeat of the state’s censors if so. 😁 IMO YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1970 "2025-11-02T21:12:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’d pronounce that “virt-de-firk?” Isn’t that what the Swedish Chef used to say on the Muppet Show? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1971 "2025-11-02T21:41:37Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Isn’t that what the Swedish Chef used to say on the Muppet Show? If it wasn’t, it should have been! ---
**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:** [November 3, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1972 "2025-11-03T05:56:45Z")
Not a personalized plates but it’s a nice coincidence. US Army Ranger: Airborne! [![](https://i.imgur.com/gxrAZUw.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/gxrAZUw.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1973 "2025-11-03T13:06:28Z")
If you are in need of therapy services maybe you should see **TALKDOC**. No stickers or anything to indicate that they are a therapist, but with such a license plate that is the most likely conclusion. Perhaps **SKIRCR** and **SKIA** might meet at one day at a ski resort. SKIA may be because they drive a KIA, but I could not tell the type of car it was as it was going down a side street as I saw the plate. I am fairly certain I can guess the age of the person who registered the tesla with **MCMCXII** though, `//i\\` ---
**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:** [November 3, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1974 "2025-11-03T14:22:19Z")
**OOH BUCK** on a BMW 430i [![](https://i.imgur.com/7uB0Jgs.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/7uB0Jgs.jpeg) ---
**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:** [November 3, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1975 "2025-11-03T15:18:27Z")
Yesterday I spotted a Ford F-150 with license plates **E5THRPY** — E-5 Therapy. A retired USMC E-5 (Sergeant) was our guest speaker at a luncheon celebrating the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday. His company helps combat Marines to cope with combat-related mental illness. He supports all veterans of all branches of service. His website: ➜ [https://e5therapy.org](https://e5therapy.org) ■ [[Album] “E5 THRPY” (E5 THERAPY) on a Ford F-150 ![](https://i.imgur.com/auBeATZ.jpeg?fb "“E5 THRPY” (E5 THERAPY) on a Ford F-150") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/Uhfpj4A) ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1976 "2025-11-03T17:43:14Z")
It’s possible it was originally a personalized plate if it predated the current format for license plates in California. ISTR a story about a Porsche driver sporting a plate that said, “1BAD914” (or perhaps it was “1BAD911”), and when the current format of plate came out, he tried to get a refund of the personalized plate surcharge. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1977 "2025-11-03T18:59:31Z")
Possibly, but highly unlikely. If that were the case his plate would have been yellow writing on blue background, and then also he would have had to change it to blue on white when those came out. So I think it’s just a coincidence. But if it were like you said, I wonder what the leading 5, and the trailing 317 mean? (rhetorical question) ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1978 "2025-11-03T19:04:55Z")
I don’t know, maybe unit numbers or something? I have very little knowledge of the military that I didn’t get from movies or TV - notoriously _reliable sources_ - so it could be anything and I’d believe it. Or a great coincidence like you said. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1979 "2025-11-03T21:24:18Z")
**DDYWGN** on an Audi allroad. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/1980 "2025-11-04T02:59:01Z")
I’m gonna guess that’s **MCMXCII,** yes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=98) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=100)