Why are the letters I and O not used in license plates?
2 Answers
License plate numbers do not include the letters I and O to prevent confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. In China, the letters O and I are not allowed when applying for a license plate, so only 1 and 0 are seen. Additionally, in some regions, the letter O is reserved for special number segments, such as government vehicles (e.g., Yue OB is used for government vehicles). Below are some important points to note when registering a license plate: 1. Vehicle certification is required for registration: When registering a vehicle at the DMV, the vehicle's certification must be submitted to the DMV staff for archiving. 2. Purchase invoice is required for registration: Whether buying a car from a 4S store or an auto trader, the owner will receive a purchase invoice after the purchase. This invoice must be kept safe, as without it, the vehicle cannot be registered. During the registration process, the purchase invoice must be presented to the DMV staff, and it will also be archived.
Having driven for over 20 years, I completely understand why license plates avoid using the letters I and O—it's to prevent misreading or identification errors. The letter I looks too much like the number 1, and O is identical to 0. If these letters were allowed, a plate like 'AB I 123' could easily be mistaken for 'AB1 123,' leading to traffic tickets being sent to the wrong person—innocent drivers getting penalized or actual violators slipping away. Government agencies have standardized the exclusion of these letters globally; for example, both U.S. and Chinese license plates ban I and O to avoid database confusion. As a seasoned driver, I believe this policy upholds fairness and saves a lot of hassle. While some may feel restricted when personalizing plates, safety and simplicity should always come first.
