Number plate scrabble: here’s how to play

Driving interstate, or any road trip that requires a McDonald’s stop, is a trip that needs entertainment to pass the time. Once you’ve listened to a podcast episode or two, discussed your plans for when you arrive at the destination, sung enough car karaoke and played ‘eye spy’ the awkward (and boring) silence starts to creep in. Number plate scrabble is a fun game you can easily play on the road, provided you’re on a highway with other cars and not a deserted dirt road. It’s easy to play, and all you need is your notes app on your phone to keep score.

The rules of number plate scrabble are simple. Each player must find letters from the licence plates of passing cars to form words. The first person to reach a certain score wins the game. If you’re as competitive as me, you’ll find this game can get heated in the nick of time.

To begin, each player needs a pen and paper or your phone notes app open. Players can decide if they want to play number plate scrabble individually or as a team. If playing as a team, players can share a sheet of paper. The objective of the game is to create words using the letters on the licence plates of passing vehicles. The longer the word, the higher the score. Easy, right?

Game rules

Players can only use the letters found on licence plates of passing cars to create words. The words can be read from left to right, right to left, or vertically, as long as they are spelled correctly. Proper nouns, abbreviations, and acronyms are not allowed – sorry!

The game can be played in rounds, with each round lasting a set amount of time or until a predetermined number of points is reached. Players can agree on a point system based on the length of the words. For example, three-letter words can be worth one point, four-letter words can be worth two points, and so on.

Number plate scrabble players can also agree on bonus points for using certain letters or creating specific types of words. For example, players can award bonus points for using the letters Z or Q, or for creating words related to travel, or any other theme.

Tips and tricks

To make the game more challenging, you can set additional rules. For example, players can decide to use only the letters from the first two or three licence plates they see. Alternatively, players can choose to use only the letters from specific types of vehicles, such as trucks or motorbikes.

Players can also use their surroundings to inspire their word choices. For example, they can create words related to the scenery they pass, such as mountains or rivers, or to the towns they drive through. This definitely adds a level of challenge to the game!

Number plate scrabble can make long road trips more enjoyable and keep your brain engaged the whole trip. It’s easy-to-learn, even if you’re someone who’s brain switches off when game rules are explained to them. Next time you’re on a road trip, give number plate scrabble a try and see who can come up with the most creative words! If you win, don’t be surprised if you get the cold shoulder from the other players at your next rest stop.