this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2025
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Hey there, I just ordered a new car but the biggest problem turns out to be finding an available license plate number. Literally everything I could think of seems to be taken already. The only one I did find that was free was the VF-25 from Macross Frontier.

The pattern I need is one or two letters followed by one or two digits: X(X) - #(#). It also has an E after that since it's an plugin hybrid but I don't even try to find something that incorporates the E (would be cool though).

So, I need your help. Maybe you know any anime (or LN, Manga, Otaku culture, etc. ) references that would fit into that pattern? Single letter or digit combinations are very rare but I'll try them anyway for availability.

Thanks in advance!

PS: I can't keep my old license plate number (Model number of the Millennium Falcon) because the E at the end of the new plate takes away from the maximal length allowed.

PPS.: No leading zeros in the digits. I.e. 01, 02, etc. aren't allowed.

PPPS.: It seems like one letter and 3 digits works as well.

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[–] Mercuri@ani.social 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Alright, I did some Googling and asked ChatGPT for some help (this is really what stuff like ChatGPT is good for, not stealing art and writing bad novels). And even though ChatGPT was a f*cking moron initially suggesting things like NCC-1701 even though I specifically said it had to be XX-##, it finally came up with a decent list:

MC-75 : The Mon Calimari Cruiser from Star Wars (There are also other MC cruisers like MC30, MC40, MC80, MC85, and MC95)

EF76 : Nebulon-B Escort Frigate, also from Star Wars

YF-19 : Prototype Macross fighter

YF-21 : Macross Plus fighter

VF-25 : Macross Frontier fighter

A somewhat unique (albeit wrong) suggestion ChatGPT gave was BT-7274 from Titanfall 2... you could shorten it to BT-72. Following on the idea of droids I got:

HK-47 : The loveable and homicidal assassination droid from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

IG-11 : Another Assassin droid, tasked with killing Grogu in Mandalorian.

Finally, one silly recommendation ChatGPT gave me was "SG-88" as a reference to Stargate and Back to the Future. I don't hate it.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nah man! The MC-75 is a trap. ;)

HK-47 and IG-11 were in my initial search. I didn't search for the Nebulon B, but who wants to be in a medial ship. Seems almost as bad an omen as the Mon Cal Corvette.

So far I think I'll stay with the VF-25 from Macross and blast Diamond Crevasse on full blast as the first song. I'll have to look up a replica of Sheryl's earring to have it dangling from the rearview mirror. Just to keep in theme.

[–] Mercuri@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago

I’ll have to look up a replica of Sheryl’s earring to have it dangling from the rearview mirror. Just to keep in theme.

This is the way

[–] celeste@kbin.earth 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm kind of assuming you already went through the entire gundam wiki, since that would be my first attempt after Eva. Escaflowne's mechs are like designed to not work for your format.

Are there non-mech anime series you're fond of?

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago

Not especially. I watch mostly SoL and fantasy and there isn't much in those genres that I could use. Everything that I'm especially fond of I've already tested. My favorite ship is the Swordfish II for example, but that doesn't fit the pattern. :(

[–] jupdown@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Have you seen 16bit Sensation: Another Layer? It's not the most Anime Otaku thing but if you're into Tech Otaku stuff then what about PC-98?

Also just out of curiosity, where in the world has four digit license plates? Is it for a car or motorcycle or some other kind of vehicle?

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Thanks for the suggestion! PC-98 isn't available anymore. I assume every IT company in the county has PC 1-99 covered ;). Same goes for IT. I tried IT-65 for the Incom T-65 (X-Wing) but no such luck.

Also just out of curiosity, where in the world has four digit license plates?

In Germany we have a maximum of 8 numbers and letters. But due to a series of circumstances I would just have XX-## available. The first part of our license plates is an acronym of the city you live in. And I have the misfortune to live in one that has 3 letters on the license plate instead of the usual one or two. So that takes away from the remaining space already. Then there is the E at the end for all Electric Vehicles; necessary in Europe so first responders can take the proper actions for EVs even if they don't know the specific model and make of the car. It's a good rule but it takes away another space from the maximum 8. So what I'm left with are up to two letters followed by two digits. To make up for it they introduced different city acronyms of the surrounding smaller towns, but they're all 3 letters as well and I don't want the one from another town anyway, even though they have a lot more combinations available.

[–] Mercuri@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Damn that was a good anime and a good suggestion if it hadn't been taken already.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

That also gave me the idea to check C-64 as that was my fist own computer, but that was probably to common well. Especially with he single letter.

I-386 and I-486 would be free. But I don't have any particular fond memories for those other than having owned them.

[–] CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

OV-99 might fit, and while not anime related, might be sufficiently nerdy as it's the serial number for the space shuttle Challenger (unfortunately, Challenger is the only one with two digits).

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 4 points 1 day ago

Bad Omen. I'm planning on driving it longer than 73 seconds.

[–] Endmaker@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)
[–] NineSwords@ani.social 2 points 2 days ago

Sadly no leading zeros. I'll update the post with that information. Thank you.

[–] RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

There is also the Macross Plus designations YF-19 and VF-11.

I don't know if you can use pattern XXX-##, but if you can then that opens up EVA-00, EVA-01, or EVA-02 from Neon Genesis Evangelion. This also opens up ARX-08 as the Arbalest from Full Metal Panic! and ATM-09 from Armored Trooper VOTOMS.

There is also the MS-12 Mobile Weapon Gigan from Gundam Unicorn. RX-78 is most likely to be taken, nbut you can check it as the eponymous Gundam featured on the cover art of the original Mobile Suit Gundam (well, specifically RX-78-2, but lopping off the 2 isnt a huge issue). Chars Gundam at one point is the RX-93.

You could get a little cheeky for Re:Zero and go with RE-00.

AV-98 is the designation of the Ingram mech from Patlabor.

Outside of mecha designations, its going to be pretty hard to get a reference with such little character and number count.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

RX-78 and RX-93 are taken. Would have been an iconic number though, so I'm not surprised. And I never watched Patlabor but that one is taken as well.

Only one or two letters in the middle sadly. And there can be no leading zero in the numbers. My car's red so having Asuka's EVA-02 would be a dream if it were possible.

Outside of mecha designations, its going to be pretty hard to get a reference with such little character and number count.

Don't tell me. I'm searching for 2 weeks now for something my anime addled brain can accept and that isn't taken. I wasn't kidding when I said that the hardest part if finding a free license plate combination. I didn't spent as much time on selecting the car.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[–] RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you like Asuka's Unit 02, what about EU-02, for Evangelion Unit 02? Or EV-02, since you have an EV?

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

EV-2 and EU-2 are taken. There can't be a leading 0 and the single digit combinations are usually all taken since forever.

[–] RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thats some really unfortunate heavy restrictions on your number plate. I don't know how youre going to get anything anime related with only 2 letters and 2 numbers outside of what I mentioned.

Honestly, it might be better to get whatever they issue you and then just get a window decal for whatever anime you like instead for the rear window.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have never seen a decal yet that didn't look cheap or gaudy. That's why I like to customize my license plate. It has to be there anyway, so I might as well sneak a reference in there.

But you're right. In my current situation, I don't have many options.

I had this one on my rear window for a while, but after a few years the California sun cooked it and it blew away in the wind. I bought it on Etsy, but it is not longer for sale. Maybe something similar for any anime you really like can pop up in your search results soon.

[–] I2jgwh0hYtxrCZQ@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Myne (Ascendance of a bookworm)

MY-11E


Mile (Average Abilities)

MI-1E

MI-13E


Class 3E (Assasination classroom)

CL-33

CL-53E

CL-3E


Tanks (Girls Und Panzar)

BT-42

FT-17

ETC


Honourifics

ON-33

ON-11

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 2 points 1 day ago

MY-11E

I love that!