ICBC declined 2,565 of 9,500 applications for personalized licence plates in 2023. Applications are rejected if they don't meet guidelines and criteria or if they're deemed objectionable. For instance, if they're discriminatory, sexually suggestive, abusive or derogatory in any language.
“A personalized licence plate can be a creative way to express yourself, and we encourage drivers to review the criteria and guidelines on icbc.com prior to applying,” said Sandy-Anne Dodig, ICBC’s manager of Insurance Operations Support.
Top 10 Rejects
The top 10 most commonly rejected slogan requests were:
- YSO SLO
- 2FAS4U
- OMG MOV
- FRBALL
- SO-HIGH
- UNSAFE
- DNT HIT
- IXLR8
- FAST
- ROCK1T
Rejection Criteria
Requests for personalized licence plates are rejected if, in ICBC's opinion, they are objectionable. The following criteria are considered:
- Human rights discrimination
- Sexually suggestive
- Abusive, obscene, or derogatory language
- Driving risks
- Drugs/alcohol related
- Violence/criminal activity/bullying
- Intellectual property
- Religion, politics, public figures, dignitaries and law enforcement officials
- Possibility of confusion with a plate already issued
Rejections included words like FROGGY for being not in good taste, INDIAN for being a "Trademark" and THEBEST for being speed and racing related. SAUCE and ICEMAN were both refused for being alcohol or drug-related.
If there is a complaint about a plate that has already been issued that is found to be justified, ICBC can recall it. Remember that all licence plates are ICBC property, just like your driver's licence card.
If the plate is refused or recalled, the $100 application fee may be returned.
Checking Availability
There is no on line tool to check if your choice is acceptable or available. E-mail to pnp@icbc.com is likely the simplest way to find out.
Complete List of Rejected Personalized Licence Plates
ICBC has published a list of all the requests that were rejected, along with the caution that some are offensive.
Learn More
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The recent news item outlining several rejected personalized plates may give the false impression that there are only a few rejected plates.
In the course of my employment, on many occasions I visited the ICBC department that administered number plates. Along with other duties, they are assigned to inspect each request to determine if the combination of digits are appropriate to be displayed on a BC number plate. The exercise, somewhat reminiscent of solving a puzzle. Staff spell the request backwards, look at it upside down, examine the image created by the letters and numbers with mirrors, looking for a hidden messages, just in case. They actually had a computer generated list of all the previously generated plate number/letter requests. 20 years ago there were thousands on the list and I'm sure added to by dozens each year. Even looking at the list, I'd see some that looked innocuous, no reason I could see to reject until I reflected on it and the light would go on. "Oh, ya,,,, I get it". Even then I have seen the odd one on the street that has gotten through. They do have the authority reject a plate after the fact.
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Rejected Personalized Plates - Lots