By Oge Nwaozuzu·Published May 14, 2026
Funny Vanity Plates That Actually Got Approved
Some vanity plates walk the fine line between clever and rejected, and somehow make it through DMV review. Here's a collection of genuinely funny plates that real people are driving around with right now.
Clever Wordplay Winners
The Puns That Passed
These plates rely on wordplay that apparently didn't raise red flags:
| Plate | The Joke |
|---|---|
| LOLGAS | On a Tesla, laughing at gas stations |
| NOTACAR | On a motorcycle |
| MTWALET | "Empty wallet" (after buying the car) |
| WASGAS | On an electric vehicle |
| LOLIDGT | "LOL, I dig it" |
| NOSPARK | On an electric vehicle |
| YNOTME | "Why not me?" |
| NVRMND | Nirvana fan or dismissive, you decide |
Vehicle-Specific Humor
Plates that only work on certain vehicles:
NOGAS (Tesla, Rivian, any EV)
2FAST4U (sports cars)
SLOAF (old trucks, "slow as f...")
NOTACOP (debated authenticity, but hilarious)
ITSA JEEP (on a Jeep, obviously)
MOMSTAXI (minivans)
DADSATM (any family vehicle)
Self-Deprecating Humor
Plates That Laugh at the Driver
Some drivers turn the joke on themselves:
| Plate | The Self-Burn |
|---|---|
| POORYET | After expensive car purchase |
| NOTRICH | On a luxury vehicle (ironic) |
| MIDLIFE | On a sports car |
| BALD1 | Owning it |
| SHORTGUY | In a lifted truck |
| DIVORCE | Celebrating (?) freedom |
| ALIMONY | On a nice car ("this is where it went") |
| RETIRED | Living the dream |
Pop Culture References
Nerdy and Proud
Plates referencing movies, shows, and games:
DARTHV8 (Star Wars + V8 engine)
GANDLF (Lord of the Rings wizard)
HODOR (Game of Thrones, holds doors)
NCC1701 (Star Trek Enterprise registry)
THX1138 (George Lucas film)
AZKALBN (Azkaban, Harry Potter)
IMGRUT (Guardians of the Galaxy)
OGILVL (Gamer: "Original Level")
Music References
BIELIEBR (Questionable choice, but approved)
SWIFTIE (Taylor Swift fan)
DEFTONE (The band)
ACDC4EVR (Rock on)
The "How Did This Pass?" Category
Plates That Somehow Made It
These plates seem like they shouldn't have been approved, but here they are:
| Plate | Why It's Surprising |
|---|---|
| ILVTOFU | Vegetarians rejoice (or is it?) |
| MPEACHD | Political but approved |
| COVFEFE | The infamous typo, immortalized |
| H8WORK | Relatable honesty |
| GETOUT | Home security company? Escape room? |
| RUNFUNN | Questionable spacing interpretation |
| HOOCHIE | Somehow slipped through |
Disclaimer: Approval varies by state and timing. What passes in one state may be rejected in another.
Context-Dependent Comedy
Plates That Need Their Vehicle
Some plates are only funny in context:
On a Prius:
NOTFAST
HUGTRZ
SMUG
On a Pickup Truck:
LGBTQ (Let's Get Beer, Tacos, Quesadillas)
COMPENSN (Self-aware big truck owner)
MURICA
On a Hearse:
LASTRID
BYEBYE
LATE4U
On a Police Officer's Personal Car:
OFFDUTY
NOTACOP (The irony)
Regional Humor
Plates That Work Best Locally
| Region | Plate | Local Joke |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | BIGR | Everything's bigger |
| California | TRAFF1C | The eternal struggle |
| Florida | FLORIDM | Florida Man reference |
| New York | FUGGDABT | "Forget about it" |
| Minnesota | YABTCHA | "Yeah, you betcha" |
Plates That Became Internet Famous
Viral Plate Moments
Some plates gained fame online:
- NULL – Allegedly caused database issues for traffic systems
- NOTGUILTY – Spotted leaving courthouse (perfect timing)
- NO PLATE – Attempts to confuse traffic cameras
- XXXXXXX – System default or intentional mystery?
Creating Your Own Funny Plate
Tips for Humor That Passes
- Wordplay over shock: Clever beats offensive
- Self-deprecation works: DMVs approve humble humor
- Pop culture is safe: References are rarely rejected
- Context matters: Consider your vehicle
- Test with friends: If they groan, you're on track
What to Avoid
- Anything that requires "reading between the lines" inappropriately
- Shock value humor (will be rejected)
- Jokes at others' expense
- Anything you'd be embarrassed explaining to your grandmother