You’re sitting at a red light in Austin, staring at the bumper in front of you. You start playing the "vanity plate game." Most are boring—initials, birth years, or maybe a "TEXS-GRIT." But then you wonder: how far could I actually push this? Well, if you were one of the thousands of Texans who tried to get "HAWK TUAH" or "FAFO" on your ride lately, you already know the answer. You got a big, fat rejection letter.
The world of Texas license plate bans is a weird mix of strict government oversight, hilarious "leetspeak" attempts, and a massive legal shift that just hit our roads in mid-2025. Honestly, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is basically the world's most caffeinated group of censors. They don't just look for the obvious F-bombs anymore. They are hunting for everything from "anatomical references" to subtle digs at Oklahoma.
The 2025 Shift: Paper Tags are Dead
Before we even get into the "dirty words" side of things, we have to talk about the biggest ban of all. As of July 1, 2025, the "paper tag" is officially history in Texas. If you've lived here for more than five minutes, you know why. Those flimsy white pieces of paper were the Wild West of Texas roads. People were printing them at home, selling them on Facebook Marketplace, and using them to bypass tolls and insurance.
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House Bill 718 changed everything. Now, when you buy a car from a dealer, you don't get a paper tag. You get a real metal plate immediately. This was a massive win for law enforcement because, frankly, those paper tags were impossible to track during hit-and-runs. Basically, if it’s paper and it was issued after June 2025, it’s probably a fake.
Why Your "Creative" Idea Got Rejected
Every year, the TxDMV releases a "hall of shame" list of rejected plates. In 2025 alone, nearly 2,000 custom plate requests were tossed into the bin. It’s not just about being polite; it’s about a very specific set of rules that most people don't read.
TxDMV staff members review these every single day. They have a five-day window to decide if your plate is "objectionable." And "objectionable" is a huge umbrella.
The "Objectionable" Hit List:
- Sexual & Indecent: This is the big one. If it mentions body parts or fluids, forget it. They even ban the number "69" unless it's on a 1969 vehicle or clearly part of a VIN-related sequence.
- Derogatory Remarks: Anything belittling a group based on race, gender, or orientation is an automatic no.
- Driving Commands: This one surprises people. You can't tell other drivers what to do. Plates like "MOVE-MF" or "1UR-SL0W" are banned because they encourage road rage.
- Law Enforcement Lookalikes: You can't pretend to be the cops. "POLICEE" or "NOT-CIA" won't fly.
- Substance References: Anything glorifying drugs or being "lit" is gone.
What’s wild is how people try to cheat. They use the Texas silhouette symbol or a heart to break up words. The DMV caught 218 people trying to use the Texas map as a "placeholder" for profanity last year. Nice try, but the censors are onto you.
The Supreme Court Battle You Probably Forgot
You might think, "Wait, isn't this a free speech thing?"
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Well, it went all the way to the top. Back in 2015, the case Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans settled the debate. The group wanted a specialty plate with the Confederate battle flag. Texas said no. The Supreme Court eventually ruled 5-4 that Texas license plates are government speech, not private speech.
Because the plate has "TEXAS" stamped across the top, the state has the right to decide what it says. If they don't want to "speak" your message, they don't have to. It's why they can ban everything from political insults to spicy acronyms.
The "Leetspeak" Cat-and-Mouse Game
The DMV's biggest headache right now isn't the guy trying to print a swear word; it's the "leetspeak" experts. These are the folks using 3s for Es and 1s for Is.
For instance, "FAFO" (Fuck Around and Find Out) was rejected nearly 40 times in the last year. The DMV keeps a database of these acronyms. They also watch for mirror-image plates—words that look like insults when you see them in your rearview mirror.
What to Do if You Get Banned
So, you spent $50 or more on a specialty plate through MyPlates or the DMV, and you got the dreaded rejection letter. What now?
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- Don't panic about the money: Usually, you’ll get a refund or the chance to pick a new (cleaner) slogan.
- The Appeal Process: You can technically appeal to the TxDMV Board. There are public hearings (the next major one is February 12, 2026). However, honestly? Your chances of winning an appeal for a "spicy" plate are nearly zero because of that Supreme Court ruling we talked about.
- Check the "Regular" List: Sometimes a plate is rejected just because it conflicts with the standard numbering system (the three letters, four numbers format). If your custom plate looks too much like a standard one, it’s a no-go for law enforcement clarity.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Run a Pre-Check: Before you pay, use the TxDMV’s online availability tool. It won’t catch everything, but it’ll tell you if the sequence is already taken or blocked.
- Avoid Acronyms: If you have to explain it to your grandma, the DMV is probably going to flag it as "potentially offensive."
- Stick to Hobbies: Plates about sports, colleges, or "I Love My Dog" almost never get rejected.
- Watch the Symbols: If you use the Texas star or heart, make sure it’s for decoration, not to hide a letter in a bad word. They check the "phonetic" version of the plate every time.
The "metal plate" era is here to stay, and the censors aren't getting any lazier. If you want to express yourself, maybe just stick to a bumper sticker. The DMV can't touch those—at least not yet.