Flo Rida banned by Bugatti for a crime 1.5 million people commit each year
Imagine cruising Miami Beach in a $1.7 million Bugatti Veyron. Now imagine flashing lights in your rearview mirror, a breathalyzer reading more than twice the legal limit, and a suspended license. That’s exactly what happened to rapper Flo Rida in 2011.
The DUI may have cost him more than just legal fees. According to multiple sources, it also landed him on Bugatti’s notorious blacklist. But is that the whole story—or just another celebrity car myth?
2011: Flo Rida’s DUI arrest
Flo Rida—real name Tramar Dillard—was pulled over in the early hours of June 9, 2011. Police observed his red-and-black Bugatti Veyron “swerving in his lane” and suspected he’d been drinking (Source: TMZ).
When asked to walk a straight line, the rapper allegedly told officers, “Officer I can’t do this. I don’t feel I can walk a straight line. I had a few drinks.”
His blood alcohol content came in at 0.185—over twice the legal limit—and officers arrested him on the spot (AutoEvolution). To make matters worse, a quick records check revealed his license was already suspended for an unpaid fine.
Bystanders reportedly tried to help, offering to drive Flo Rida home, but police refused. Instead, they took him to jail, where he was booked for DUI and driving on a suspended license (TMZ).
Rumors of the Bugatti ban begin
Reports quickly spread that Bugatti didn’t take kindly to the bad press. After all, the Veyron was a $1.7 million hypercar with a 255-mph top speed—a symbol of engineering perfection. Being linked to a DUI wasn’t a good look for the brand.
According to FirstCuriosity, Bugatti blacklisted Flo Rida from ever buying another car, citing damage to its reputation. “A prestigious brand like Bugatti could not handle a dent like that on their name,” the outlet wrote.
Unilad echoed the claim, adding that Bugatti’s decision was based on “incredibly bad PR.”
Blacklists: Fact or Fiction?
So, was Flo Rida really banned? Bugatti hasn’t confirmed it, which isn’t surprising. Automakers rarely acknowledge these so-called blacklists publicly—unless they’re Ferrari, which is famous for its petty “no-buy” lists.
Still, the rumors persist. Bugatti does have a history of vetting buyers for exclusivity and brand image. Just ask Floyd Mayweather, who was reportedly blacklisted for flipping Bugattis too quickly.
But here’s the catch: Flo Rida’s Bugatti wasn’t confiscated, and there’s no proof he was denied access to future models. In fact, he’s been spotted driving other exotics since the incident, suggesting the “ban” may have been more of a PR move than an official policy. Would Bugatti risk its reputation again? Or does Flo Rida’s star power outweigh the bad press? If you were Bugatti, would you give him another shot?
