Personalised number plates are a bit of fun, aren’t they? Whether you want to show off your nickname, a cheeky phrase, or just something that makes your car stand out in the Bunnings car park, it’s a little luxury many Aussies enjoy.

But for one mum, her dream of seeing her own name on her car was dashed by a decision that left her scratching her head—and it’s got us wondering, could this happen to any of us?


Indica, a proud Queenslander in her twenties, has always loved her unique first name.

So when she finally bought her first car and could afford a set of custom plates, she was over the moon.

‘Everyone’s got personalised plates,’ she said. ‘And because my name’s so unique, I thought, perfect, I can finally have my own.’


She placed her order with Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ), which is run by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, and waited excitedly for her new plates to arrive.

But weeks later, instead of a shiny new set of plates, she received a refund and a notice: her order had been cancelled because her name was deemed ‘inappropriate’.

Confused, Indica called PPQ for an explanation. That’s when she learned the surprising reason: her name, ‘Indica’, is also the name of a subspecies of the cannabis plant.


According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ‘indica’ refers to a type of marijuana, but Indica herself had no idea.

‘They told me over the phone that 'Indica' is a strand of marijuana, so that’s why they banned it,’ she said.

‘It’s my name. I didn’t even know that until they told me. I think most Aussies wouldn’t even know.’

It’s a classic case of bureaucracy gone bonkers, and it’s not the first time a number plate has been banned for a reason that’s left people scratching their heads.

Number plate bans have made headlines across the country for all sorts of reasons.

Take Mahmoud from Greenacre in Sydney’s southwest, for example. He was recently told by Transport for NSW that he’d have to surrender his ‘FU2IDF’ plates or risk having his car deregistered.

Mahmoud said he registered the controversial message as a ‘silent protest’ against the Gaza War, a conflict that’s deeply personal for his family.

But Transport for NSW has strict policies that prevent number plates with content that’s religious, discriminatory, political, promotes violence, has a sexual reference, promotes drug taking or drinking, or could be seen as controversial.

And it’s not just NSW and Queensland. In South Australia, more than 355 number plate applications have failed the ‘decency test’ since 2018.

Some of the banned combos? ‘ZEROFKS’, ‘OVADOSE’, ‘LUNATIK’, ‘MURDERD’, and ‘BIGARSE’.

The authorities seem to be on high alert for anything that could cause a stir—or even raise an eyebrow.

So, what’s the deal with these bans? The official line is that number plates are a public display, and the government wants to avoid anything that could be offensive, controversial, or promote illegal activity.

But as Indica’s story shows, sometimes the rules can catch out even the most innocent of intentions.

For many, it raises the question: where do we draw the line? Should someone be denied the right to use their own name just because it happens to have another meaning?

And how many of us would even know that ‘Indica’ is a type of cannabis, unless we’re particularly well-versed in botany or, ahem, other hobbies?

It’s a reminder that what seems harmless to you might raise a red flag for the powers that be when it comes to personalised plates.

If you’re thinking of getting your own custom plates, it might be worth doing a quick Google search to make sure your chosen word doesn’t have a hidden meaning you weren’t aware of!
Have you ever had a number plate application rejected, or do you know someone who has? Do you think the rules are too strict, or are they necessary to keep our roads family-friendly? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.

Read more: The Shocking Secret Behind Those Puzzling Aussie Number Plates Everyone's Talking About!