Idaho turned down more than 600 custom license plates in 2025. See the rejects

If you’ve ever noticed a custom license plate while driving in Idaho, you might have felt inspired.

Seeing a particularly creative plate can leave you itching to order your own.

The Gem State gives drivers the option to personalize their license plates with custom messages and special designs.

However, there are certain rules restricting what those personalized plates can say.

So far this year, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Motor Vehicles has issued more than 590,000 license plates — including 65,524 customized plates.

Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 21, the DMV rejected more than 600 requests for customized license plates, according to the state agency.

Here’s how to request a custom license plate in Idaho and why it could get denied:

Who can get a custom license plate in Idaho?

A standard Idaho license plate features seven characters over a backdrop of a dark blue forest of trees with light blue mountains towering behind them. The words “Scenic Idaho” appear on a band of red.

Anyone can request a custom license plate with one to seven characters, including spaces, according to the Idaho Department of Transportation’s Division of Motor Vehicles.

According to the Idaho Administrative Code, custom plates cannot contain punctuation, special characters or the letter O.

You can get a standard license plate or choose from several special designs.

Options include license plates promoting the timber industry, snowmobiles, native wildlife and college pride.

There’s even a special license plate design advertising Idaho’s “World Famous Potatoes.”

You can check to see if the license plate message you want is available using the DMV website.

Custom plates are available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the state code.

If someone else already has the plate you request, you won’t be able to get it.

How do I apply for a customized license plate in Idaho?

You can apply for a customized Idaho license plate online via the DMV’s website.

Or you can fill out this form and email it to specialplates@itd.idaho.gov or take it into your local county DMV office.

How much do custom license plates cost in Idaho?

It costs $25 to apply for a custom license plate, then $15 to renew it each year. Fees are not refundable, according to the Idaho Administrative Code.

Regular license plates cost the same as personalized plates in Idaho, making them an affordable option compared to other states.

If your registration expires, and you do not renew your plate, you will lose the customization and another vehicle may receive the same character combination.

Why do personalized plates get rejected in Idaho?

The Idaho Transportation Department reviews all customization requests and has final say in which are approved.

All license plates must be “tasteful in language,” according to the Idaho Administrative Code.

According to state code, the following language is considered unacceptable:

• Language with a sexual connotation
• Language considered obscene, contemptible, prejudiced, hostile or insulting, or profanity
• Language considered racially or ethnically degrading

References to the following things are also considered inappropriate:

• Bodily functions or fluids
• Intimate body parts
• Sexual preference or orientation
• Acts of violence
• Illegal substances

Idaho’s Administrative Code also profits using language that’s representative of a group “commonly known to promote violence, illegal substances or illegal acts.”

Resources for defining terms include “common internet and dictionary resources,” according to the code.

What can I do if my license plate request is denied?

If your request for a particular license plate message is denied by the DMV, you will be able to submit an alternate option.

You can submit up to three text requests on one application. If approved and available, the first option will be used.

Other requests may also be denied based on information from law enforcement, past requests, other states and more.

According to the Idaho Administrative Code, requests are first reviewed by technical staff. Supervisors and management staff follow up with a secondary review.

Applicants have the right to a hearing on final decisions.

Can I use swear words on my Idaho license plate?

Even if you leave out letters or replace them with numbers, Idaho rejects requests for customized license plates including swear words.

You also can’t use acronyms or rhymes for curse words in your custom design.

In 2025, Idaho rejected a dozen requests for custom license plates based on the common state-based joke, “Idaho? No, you da hoe.” They included:

• 1DA H0E
• N0TDAH0
• YUTHAH0

The following license plate requests were denied for including or referencing profanity:

• 0F0XGVN
• 0MGFNG0
• 5HIT5HW
• 1BDBTCH
• BDASM0M
• CVNT
• DUCK0FF
• FTHMKDS
• EFFGAS
• 1FA2F0
• F B G M
• L8 ASF

What about dirty jokes or sexual innuendo?

Customized Idaho license plates cannot have a sexual connotation or reference intimate body parts, per the Idaho Administrative Code.

These proposed license plates were rejected for referencing intimate body parts in 2025:

• 0GWANG
• 2INCHPP
• 0MYBALZ
• 4DZNUTS
• B00BIEZ
• 2HUNG
• D33ZNTS
• G SPOT
• PSYWGN

The DMV also rejected personalized plates with sexual connotations, including:

• 8HER0UT
• BCKSHTZ
• BJ69R
• BI0WME
• BJ4GAS
• HRNY
• IEATA33
• MSTRBTR

You’re also not allowed to get an Idaho license plate referencing a dirty joke or meme such as the so-called “Hawk Tuah Girl.”

Idaho has denied more than a dozen variations of customized plates referencing Hawk Tuah so far in 2025, including HAWK 2A, H0KTUAH and HWK2AH.

Can I make a fart joke on my Idaho license plate?

Idaho denied multiple customized license plates requests in 2025 for referencing bodily functions.

Some examples include:

• 1FARTD
• 0LEFART
• B00GIE1
• G2P00P
• UFARTD
• HUF4RTD

Are drug references OK on Idaho license plates?

So far in 2025, the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles has denied several requests for personalized license plates referencing drug use or being under the influence of intoxicants.

They include:

• 0PIATE
• 2FADED
• 42020
• 7THC
• BAK3D
• EGHTBAL
• GRAMZZZ
• LSDREAM
• PERC30
• WASTED

Are insults allowed on Idaho license plates?

The DMV won’t approve license plates that include insults and hostile terms.

So far this year, the following requests for custom Idaho license plates have been rejected:

• ATFSUX
• NFASUX
• FYIUSUC
• GBCK2CA
• IDJ1TS
• UR UGLY

You’re not allowed to reference acts of violence under state code, resulting in the denial of personalized license plates with these messages:

• FIGHTME
• CRDKLR
• HTNRUN
• KLMALL
• RUN0VRU
• VI0LENT

Can I reference my sexuality on my Idaho license plate?

The Idaho Administrative Code says references to sexual preference and sexual orientation are not allowed on license plates.

These requests were denied in 2025:

• IMSTR8
• SAPPIC
• PLYAM
• SPRLSBN

Can I reference politics on my Idaho license plate?

In 2025, Idaho rejected several requests for custom license plates that violated multiple rules. For example, the state denied two plate messages referenced profanity and sex: 208DTF and A55M4N.

The DMV also turned down requests for several custom license plates that referenced politics with insults or “prejudicial terms,” as well as swear words.

These included FCKMAGA and FDTFDT.