Full Breakdown
New York DMV Rejects Over 2,000 Personalized License Plate Requests in 2025
1/10/2026, 11:04:18 PM
Overview of the Rejections
In 2025, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) rejected more than 2,000 requests for personalized license plates, citing adherence to strict guidelines. The DMV publicly shared a list of these rejected submissions, which included a range of humorous, strange, and vulgar options. Notable rejections included plates like “5HITSHOW,” “METH,” and “MILFGUY,” as well as exclamatory phrases such as “DAMMMMMN” and “LMAOOOOO.”
DMV Guidelines for Personalized Plates
The DMV has established specific criteria for approving personalized license plates. According to their regulations, plates must not be considered obscene, derogatory, or offensive. Additionally, they cannot resemble official plates or special registration configurations, such as “POLICE” or “NYS.” The guidelines also prohibit plates that consist of only one letter, contain six numbers followed by one letter, or use the numbers zero or one between letters to form words.
Official Statements & Responses
The New York DMV emphasized its commitment to maintaining standards for personalized plates, stating, “NYS DMV has a rigorous screening protocol for personalized license plate requests, rejecting any that are not in compliance with our regulations.” The DMV encourages applicants to check their proposed plate on its website to ensure it is not already in use.
Financial Aspects of Personalized Plates
The cost for obtaining a personalized license plate in New York is $60, with an additional yearly renewal fee of $31.25. This financial structure is designed to support the administrative costs associated with processing these requests.
Criticism & Opposition
While the DMV's regulations aim to uphold public decency, some critics argue that the rejection of humorous or creative plates stifles personal expression. Detractors suggest that the guidelines could be overly restrictive, limiting the ability of individuals to showcase their personalities through their vehicle registrations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
There are no conflicting reports regarding the number of rejected plates or the reasons for their rejection. However, the DMV has not disclosed the total number of personalized plate requests received in 2025, leaving a gap in understanding the overall acceptance rate.
What's Next
As the DMV continues to enforce its guidelines, applicants may need to adapt their submissions to align with the established criteria. The ongoing scrutiny of personalized plate requests highlights the balance between individual expression and regulatory standards in vehicle registration.
