CLEVELAND — For many, license plates on their cars are pretty plain. But some Ohioans go all out when it comes to personalized plates.

Then there are folks who go a bit too far with their requests and end up being denied.

The Ohio BMV said it denied more than 700 requests for personalized plates last year because those plate ideas were just too inappropriate.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio BMV said they denied more than 700 requests for personalized license plates last year because those plate ideas were just too inappropriate
  • The bureau said plate ideas are denied if they are profane, obscene or sexually explicit

  • Many of the denied requests included the letter “F"

  • Those denied a certain personalized plate can appeal by heading to the Ohio BMV website

“People are clever; things are backwards,” said Charlie Norman, registrar for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. “I would be embarrassed pulling into my grandmother’s driveway with some of these things on these license plates.”

Norman said plate ideas are denied if they are profane, obscene or sexually explicit.

Speaking of which, many of the denied requests included the letter “F.”

“I wonder sometimes what people are thinking, why they would want some of their stuff on their plates,” Norman jokes.

So who decides what can and can’t go on a plate?

“There’s a committee of five individuals here at the BMV who go over those requests,” he said laughing, noting that the group has seen it all and are very well versed with the Urban Dictionary.

If you’ve applied for a personalized plate and were among those denied, you can appeal by clicking here.