ILSOS Reveals 2025 Rejected License Plate Requests

"We appreciate the creativity of Illinoisians who want customized license plates, but they must meet certain standards of good taste and decency," said IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias
IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias Photo credit IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

The Illinois Secretary of State's Office received some questionable license plate requests this year.

In a video posted to his YouTube, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said his office received 55,690 vanity and personalized plate applications in 2025.

More than 550 were denied because the combinations were deemed inflammatory, profane, offensive or too difficult to read – all grounds for rejection under state law.

"Some of the rejected plates included BBL," said Giannoulias with a chuckle, "Which apparently stands for Brazilian Butt Lift, which had to be explained to me."

Other plates – such as MWMWMWM or OOQQOO – were rejected not for content, but legibility.

"There are lots more that we had to deny that are far raunchier and inappropriate that I cannot read on camera," said the secretary of state, "Go ahead and get creative, but please keep it clean to avoid ending up on the naughty list."

Visit ILsos.gov to apply for a vanity or personalized plate.

Featured Image Photo Credit: IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias