Vanity license plates

December 5th, 2010 at 8:00 am (Art, Society)

Vanity license plates can be an interesting form of constrained art, like the sonnet or haiku, but much, much shorter. In California, they can contain up to 7 characters, which are letters, numbers, and a few special symbols (like ♥ and a handprint). To while away the tedium of my commute to work, I enjoy spotting new and interesting plates. This being California, I always have plenty of plates to consider.

On July 28, I started recording the vanity plates I’d seen. As of today, I’ve collected 167 distinct plates. It surprises me that I’m able to find at least one new one practically every day I drive to work. There must be just enough variability in my (or everyone else’s) travel time that I get a slightly different sample of cars each day.

Some of the plates are funny, some are clever, and some are cryptic (probably in-jokes that don’t make sense unless you know the person). Here are some of my favorites:

  • 1 HOBBIT
  • BK WERM
  • BMRNATR (on a BMW)
  • C ATROX: a good puzzle — hint (rot13): fanxr
  • CAKE 4 U: it’s not a lie?
  • DTH STR
  • ESC2PCH: local reference
  • FTDHTR: really?
  • GODZLLA
  • HAUNT3D
  • HTLIKME
  • HYR N U (on a jacked-up SUV)
  • IDIG K9Z
  • IFYTE4U (the vehicle was emblazoned with lawyer ads)
  • KNEADY (the vehicle had massage therapist ads)
  • KRPT2NT
  • LYSDXIC
  • MI♥ZTKN
  • MJSSAYN
  • RMAGETN
  • SASSIQT
  • TUF CKY
  • UKARYOT: go science!
  • ULIV1NS
  • WB OUIVR: a French geek?

Another cool one, which I didn’t spot but a friend did, is “TWS BRLG”.

Some are just a bit weird, or too obscure for me to “get” them:

  • 1MADHUN
  • 7THSONN
  • AE6KO: ham radio call sign?
  • BYE BTZ
  • EOEOEO
  • IOWE GOD
  • KHAL8
  • LMN DROP
  • MY2CATZ
  • MY MUZIK
  • NOR DO I
  • OWL BAIT
  • YYYYYY2
  • Z DAWGZ

What’s your favorite vanity plate?

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6 Comments
5 of 6 people learned something from this entry.

  1. Vincent said,

    December 5, 2010 at 8:38 am

    (Learned something new!)

    I recall hearing somewhere that CA had the largest percentage of vanity plates, but when I went to Google to confirm it says that VA actually currently holds that distinction.

    AE6KO is a ham license. His address is listed in Covina, CA.
    7THSONN – Could refer to a book series by JC Hutchins.
    KHAL8 – Khalate is common last name in India?

  2. Terran said,

    December 5, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    (Learned something new!)

    I seem to recall Tim reporting in the late ’90s, seeing a purple VW bug with the license plate “EVA 01” (anime reference). Also in California, I think. ;-)

  3. Tyestin said,

    December 6, 2010 at 9:38 am

    (Knew it already.)

    When I was a kid I had a friend from a large family whose parents drove a big van. Their license plate was RACTARB. :)

  4. Douglas said,

    December 6, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    (Learned something new!)

    Was LMN DROP a yellow car? Maybe lemon drop?

  5. Jon S said,

    December 27, 2010 at 9:52 am

    (Learned something new!)

    Lemon Drop is a “chick drink” with vodka, lemon juice, and tons of sugar.

    What is the solution to “C ATROX?” I don’t get that one!

    P.S. – My aunt saw this plate: FUQUEUE : ) Surprising they got it past the DMV!

  6. Anon said,

    February 8, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    (Learned something new!)

    @Terran, I can assure you that car doesn’t have the EVA01 license plate in CA anymore…

    … because I have it now :D

    And EVA00… and EVA02… you can hate me now.

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