It started with what seemed like an ordinary Kia Sportage in a Perth shopping centre car park. At first glance, its number plate looked completely innocent: 370HSSV.

But when a sharp-eyed passerby flipped the image upside down, the “random” sequence revealed a cheeky hidden word — and social media went wild.

The snap, shared by Jeffrey on The Bell Tower Times 2.0 Facebook page, spread quickly as thousands of people joined in on the joke. Many praised the driver’s creativity, while others wondered how on earth it slipped past the authorities.

Western Australia’s transport department rejects close to 1,000 number plate applications each year for being offensive — with examples like RAMP4GE and SAUC3D knocked back. But somehow, this one passed inspection without a hitch.

Whether the driver planned it or just got lucky, the plate has now cemented itself as a perfect example of Aussie humour — and a reminder that the internet loves a good hidden message.