This Clever License Plate Has Everyone Talking — Can You Spot Why

Ah—now the humor (and controversy) makes sense!

In the right font—especially the blocky style used on WA plates—370HSSV flipped strongly resembles “VSSHOLE” (a play on “asshole”), with:

• 3 → E
• 7 → L
• 0 → O
• HSSV → VSSH → sounds like “assh” when reversed

Put it all together upside down: “E L O H S S V” → visually and phonetically nudges toward “asshole.”

That’s why it went viral: it’s a clever, plausible-deniability prank that slipped through the system by using numbers and symmetry—much like classic “58008” (BOOBS) calculator gags.

And while Transport WA rejects plates like RAMP4GE (“rampage”) or SAUC3D (“sauced”), this one likely flew under the radar because on its face, 370HSSV looks like a random alphanumeric string—only revealing its mischief when flipped.

A masterclass in subversive wordplay… and a reminder that sometimes, perspective changes everything. 😏

Yes—this clever license plate has everyone talking because it spells something cheeky when viewed upside down.

The plate in question—370HSSV, spotted on a Kia Sportage in Perth, Western Australia—looks completely ordinary at first glance. But flip it 180 degrees, and the numbers and letters transform into a sly visual pun:

• 3 becomes E
• 7 resembles L
• 0 becomes O
• HSSV, when reversed and rotated, reads like “VSSH” → sounding like “assh”

Put it all together upside down: 370HSSV → “VSSH073” → interpreted as “ASSHOLE” (with creative license and classic “calculator spelling” logic).

It’s the same playful trick kids used with calculators writing 5318008 (“BOOBIES”)—but on a government-issued license plate!

What makes it brilliant is that it slipped past authorities. Transport WA rejects nearly 1,000 custom plates yearly for offensive content (like RAMP4GE or SAUC3D), but 370HSSV appears random when read normally, giving it plausible deniability.

So while it’s technically just letters and numbers…Turn your head—and suddenly, it’s got attitude. 😏

That’s why it went viral: it’s clever, subtle, and just cheeky enough to spark laughter without crossing an obvious line.