The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has published details of the suppressed registrations from the upcoming 76 plate series, which will apply to new vehicles registered from 1 September 2026 until 28 February 2027.
The UK registration system receives updates twice a year, in March and September. According to AutoTrader, September plates add 50 to the year number, meaning vehicles registered during this period will receive the 76 identifier. The DVLA said it reviews registration combinations before they are made available to motorists, removing those that could create problems because of their wording or interpretation.
Why Hundreds of Registrations Were Removed
The DVLA has blocked more than 500 combinations from the 76 series before the new plates become available. The list includes sequences that could be interpreted as offensive, inappropriate or misleading when letters and numbers are read together. According to the DVLA, “the vast majority of registration numbers are made available”, but some are withheld when they may cause “offence, embarrassment, or are in poor taste”.
The suppressed list contains a wide range of combinations across different letter groups. Some include sequences that resemble sensitive words, insults or references that the agency considers unsuitable for public registration.
The list includes examples such as 76 OOK, F76 GOT, N76 ERR, AS76 FKU, CU76 JAP, EA76 LSD, GO76 WAR, and UK76 UKR, among many others. The DVLA does not release every decision behind individual removals, but the agency’s stated policy is to prevent registrations that could create concern for vehicle owners or other road users. The number plate system is designed to provide unique identifiers for vehicles, while allowing the DVLA to control combinations that may have unintended meanings.
The Full Release of the 76 Plate Series
The 76 plate will become available for new vehicles from September 2026, continuing the current registration format used across Great Britain. According to AutoTrader, the September registration change follows the standard system where the final two digits indicate the year period with an additional 50 added to the number.
While most possible combinations remain available, the DVLA carries out checks before plates enter circulation. This process applies to each new registration series, with certain combinations removed before they can be assigned.
The agency’s latest release follows previous years in which registrations have been withdrawn because of their possible meanings. The complete list of banned 76 series plates contains more than 500 entries, covering combinations from across the alphabet.
The full list provided by the DVLA shows the scale of the screening process before a new registration cycle begins. Motorists receiving new vehicles after September 2026 will be allocated from the available pool of registrations, excluding those that have been withheld. The new 76 plates will remain in use for vehicles registered until the end of February 2027, when the March registration update will introduce the next series.
