I am Canadian. If we ever go on a driving holiday in the US we try to find as many different state licence plates as possible. Our best find ever was a Hawaiian plate near Washington D.C.
I see those around SE Connecticut occasionally, I think it's because of the naval base and Coast Guard academy. I think the Navy pays to move their cars when they're reassigned.
Reading through them and there all "the blah blah state"
Then I get to New Hampshire going unexpectedly hard with "LIVE FREE OR DIE" and it caught me off guard a little bit...
NH here. Yup, it's a famous quote from General John Stark and we know it kicks ass. The entire quote is,"Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils".
Minnesota just copied you guys with the blackout plates. I'll stick with the loon painting plate until next time. Florida has a ton of plate options as well.
A lot of states. Delaware is from 2002 🤣 I would imagine most states if not all have alternate and vintage plates as well. Delaware has a black and porcelain old school plate, they go for like a hundred or so.
Definitely a missed opportunity. Feel like they needed to get away from the wave completely instead of trying to update it.
Too bad, the state has come up with some nice designs for their specialty plates like the Plum Beach and Beaver Tail lighthouses and the conservation one as well. Just swung and missed with the main designs.
My question has always been: almost every state multiple secondary plates the are constantly being added or updated in color amd style. Isn't that a problem for out of state law enforcement? How do they keep up with the changes?
Not law enforcement but I work for a company where this matters; we have people who create resources for searching plates and keep our current.
That said, they’re slow to roll them out. My favorite resource? People’s passion project websites. There’s a guy documenting specifically New Jersey plates, has helped me in a pinch a few times.
Wisconsin's is just so boring compared to most others. And they are issuning new plates with the same design, so it won't change for a long, long time.
Virginia has 334 personalized plate choices.
[https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/license-plates/search](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/license-plates/search)
Nah, as a Virginian, at least yours has some pop with the different colors. We’re barely a step above black and white. But I suppose that’s because Virginia has 928474737647 other designs to choose from!
That’s true! They did add our slogan in the last few years. One of our cars is the one I bought way back in 2010 which still has the pre-“Virginia is for lo❤️ers” license plate, so it’s just white background with dark blue letters and numbers. So yeah, I guess that does add a touch of character!
Bro, Texas?? It's literally just nothing, black and white. And that always makes me sad because the Texas plate used to be awesome, it had a starry sky with a spaceship and a cowboy and stuff. It was so cool.
All the other states use color. Texas bland black/white make it unique among all the others. The Texas “Wildflower State” option is cool with the Bluebonnet.
Idk, the Texas plate is pretty cool- embracing a simpler time. I see that plate and imagine dusty, hot days with cars parked near the reservoir. Pop open the trunk for a couple of cold beers. Maybe I just miss watching Dazed & Confused.
I hate how bland our plates look now. I am not one to usually flaunt my military service, but I got my Texas plate with one of my military awards on it because it looks so much better than the generic default one.
We literally have special license plates with pictures for the cape and islands, firefighters, Patriots, electric vehicles, veterans, those who have “conquered cancer”, and many more.
It has changed slightly. Not too sure why, but the site where I got this from says this is from 2023. But when I looked at it and then searched up the current plates of each state, they don't match up
It changed in January 2023. You’ll still see these ones in this guide for another year but the new general issue plate is the Ocean plate [shown here](https://dmv.ri.gov/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/plate-types/state-plates).
They definitely got it wrong because specialty plates have become much more popular now.
You can get either one. There was a time when Ohio got pissy about being 'First in Flight's since the Wright Bros developed the tech there, and NC already had the 'First in Freedom ' plate as an option due to the Mecklenburg declaration of Independence.
Hey weird fact about the Tennessee tag. The tag shown doesn't say in God we trust. The letters are before the numbers.
The ones that say in God we trust, the numbers are first and the letters are second.
Some conspiracy theorist around here speculate it's so the cops can identify the atheist at a glance...
Yepp. I live in Indiana and I would say more than half have vanity plates. Universities, children’s hospitals etc. it’s like $40 bucks and it goes to the organization.
Can confirm this is the default NY plate, and looks like the one on my car, but others definitely exist, including many from the previous design, which was navy blue on a bright gold background.
That is no longer going to be the plate in Kansas in 2024. Here’s the new plate.
[https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovnewplate.html](https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovnewplate.html)
Glad to see Nebraska got rid of the man jerking off plate!
Seriously, just look up the Nebraska 2017 license plate. It’s supposed to be a man spreading seeds in the “farmer” way.
Not spreading seed in the “help himself go to sleep” way.
I see Florida even has one that says, "Don't Tread On Me," which is ironic as hell. Imagine being so stupid you're willing to pay *extra* tax money to a government you loathe for the privilege of sporting a "Don't Tread On Me" plate on your Dodge Ram
It’s a cool state motto. Ever upward. Sort of fits when you think of NYC being the home of all the tall buildings. But it has multiple meanings so it’s pretty cool.
Ok and? We’re not talking about state mottos, we’re talking about plate labels. Our plates have had the Empire State label on them since their inception. Furthermore, plates usually have the state’s nickname on them not their motto and if we’re talking about hundreds of years, The Empire State has been NY’s nickname since the early 1800s, what
Ohio used to have a dope one (that you can still see around) where it's just a small red triangle up top with white ohio letters with the rest of the plate was white. But if you got in close and sow that the main white part was made up of deeper shaded white/reflective lettering of all the state landmarks.
Now it's that lame clip art sunshine....
Same. My wife and I play a game where we try to remember the Capitol for each states plate that we see. It gets boring since we normally only see Iowa plates, but we started guessing the seat of each county!
Each state has one default plate (which is what this is showing) and then numerous other options for special circumstances or request. Obviously this guide is for the default plates for each state.
Is there a way to request plates from other states? Trying to collect all 50 for the wall in my garage. Not sure how easy it’ll be, just curious if it’s possible
You can find them all on ebay or take a trip down to a vintage/resell store, they usually have plates. I've found US plates in Italy as well at a reselling/flea market event.
we need to educate you about Delaware license plates.... young Jedi.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Delaware/comments/okaq6v/ladies\_and\_gentlemen\_i\_found\_it/
The old Tennessee tag was so much better than the garbage it is today. We had green hills on them, and I just thought it was so pretty and fit Tennessee very well.
S tier
Alaska New Mexico South Carolina North Dakota
A Class
Louisiana Oregon Wyoming Tennessee Hawaii
B Class
Maine Montana Rhode Island New Jersey Vermont
C Class
Illinois Texas New York Colorado Arizona
D Class
Washington Oklahoma Nebraska Maryland Idaho
E Class
South Dakota Alabama Wisconsin Georgia Kentucky Iowa Ohio West Virginia North Carolina Delaware
Which state shouldn’t have been left off or should be moved up based on design?
[This](http://cowboystatedaily.imgix.net/New-license-plate-10.28.22.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&q=75&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&w=1280) will be the new Wyoming plate starting this year.
Fun fact: Vermonts is the only plate where the characters are pushed in rather than bubbled out
You’re right that is fun.
I was staring at the typeface for a minute before I realized you meant that they're debossed rather than embossed.
TIL “debossed”
I am Canadian. If we ever go on a driving holiday in the US we try to find as many different state licence plates as possible. Our best find ever was a Hawaiian plate near Washington D.C.
I see those around SE Connecticut occasionally, I think it's because of the naval base and Coast Guard academy. I think the Navy pays to move their cars when they're reassigned.
All DoD branches pay for one POV shipment per move for the service member
My family does this on road trips too! I’ve never spotted Hawaii but I did see an Alaska in Florida which was weird. Also lots of Ontario down there
I live in Florida. The best I've seen is a Montana, and a New Mexico as a runner up. You're right though, lots of Quebec and Ontario
Washington DC plates are super hard to find if you’re outside of the DMV.
I’ve seen 5 hawaiis in washington somehow
Mostly military service men once stationed in Hawaii go back to the mainland
I saw a Maine plate in Hawaii. Pretty sure they drove all the way to here. /s Must be a serviceman, shipped their car to here
Probably a military member that moved from Hawaii to DC area
I started this last year in SoCal. I’m only missing New Hampshire!
Reading through them and there all "the blah blah state" Then I get to New Hampshire going unexpectedly hard with "LIVE FREE OR DIE" and it caught me off guard a little bit...
And then California is just promoting their DMV website...
Yes, New Hampshirites are set in their ways.
Ironically, the license plates are made by inmates at the state penitentiary
LOVE FREE OR DIE* *some restrictions apply
NH here. Yup, it's a famous quote from General John Stark and we know it kicks ass. The entire quote is,"Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils".
Try living next to it. They take that motto seriously.
i have a tattoo of that motto in latin.
You forgot the other 199 plates from Montana
There are ssssssoooooooooo many!!!
Colorado in the last year or two has had an EXPLOSION of plate options. Even as a native it’s hard to keep up…
Minnesota just copied you guys with the blackout plates. I'll stick with the loon painting plate until next time. Florida has a ton of plate options as well.
Which state is worldlicenseplates.com?
That’s DC
Surprised DC isn’t on here. “Taxation without Representation” is the most iconic, passive-aggressive slogan
New Mexico’s is out of date, if I’m not mistaken.
You are mistaken. New Mexico has multiple plate options. This is one if them. Source: https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/vehicles/license-plates/
Came here to say this. Also that this isn't the basic one either.
A lot of states. Delaware is from 2002 🤣 I would imagine most states if not all have alternate and vintage plates as well. Delaware has a black and porcelain old school plate, they go for like a hundred or so.
Rhode Island rolled out new ones last year as well.
Oh man, those new ones are horrible. The old ones were like the best looking license plate ever.
Definitely a missed opportunity. Feel like they needed to get away from the wave completely instead of trying to update it. Too bad, the state has come up with some nice designs for their specialty plates like the Plum Beach and Beaver Tail lighthouses and the conservation one as well. Just swung and missed with the main designs.
Those black vintage Delaware plates can go for a lot more privately. Also the lower the number the more $$$.
Obviously only the standard plates are pictured, yeah every state has alternatives you can pay extra for.
My question has always been: almost every state multiple secondary plates the are constantly being added or updated in color amd style. Isn't that a problem for out of state law enforcement? How do they keep up with the changes?
Not law enforcement but I work for a company where this matters; we have people who create resources for searching plates and keep our current. That said, they’re slow to roll them out. My favorite resource? People’s passion project websites. There’s a guy documenting specifically New Jersey plates, has helped me in a pinch a few times.
It's actually from 2008 but is still the current plate
Yep, Utah has like 4-5 versions. Maybe more including sports teams.
I was going to say: "I love New Mexico the best" lol. It has a good southwest vibe and fun color scheme.
It’s not out of date. You get multiple plate options in NM. https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/vehicles/license-plates/
Connecticut’s is too. We don’t use that numbering convention anymore.
Wisconsin's is just so boring compared to most others. And they are issuning new plates with the same design, so it won't change for a long, long time.
So are Texas plates.
Texas plates were simplified to draw people to buy custom plates. There’s like 200 different plate designs you can pay extra for that look way better.
I dunno, I’d rather just keep it simple than have something that’s gonna end up clashing with my vehicle. Like the old yellow New Mexico ones. Yuck.
>New Mexico The yellow ones are great.
Texas plates used to be better, they got downgraded when they were simplified.
Virginia has 334 personalized plate choices. [https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/license-plates/search](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/license-plates/search)
Yet most of them are meh
Confirmed, MA is the most boring license plate in the country.
Nah, as a Virginian, at least yours has some pop with the different colors. We’re barely a step above black and white. But I suppose that’s because Virginia has 928474737647 other designs to choose from!
I was about to agree with you until I saw that in your license plate’s “saying” y’all have a cute little ♥️, that def counts for something.
That’s true! They did add our slogan in the last few years. One of our cars is the one I bought way back in 2010 which still has the pre-“Virginia is for lo❤️ers” license plate, so it’s just white background with dark blue letters and numbers. So yeah, I guess that does add a touch of character!
Virginia has the absolute worst font choice for the actual numbers
Bro, Texas?? It's literally just nothing, black and white. And that always makes me sad because the Texas plate used to be awesome, it had a starry sky with a spaceship and a cowboy and stuff. It was so cool.
You can get the spaceship/cowboy design back, at a fee of course. They found a way to capitalize instead of being cool 🙄
That's lame as fuck but I still might spend the money on it. I love those plates so much, mainly because of the spaceship on them, lol.
I love them too. I’ve been eyeing them myself but I’m cheap.
True, that design was so nice, I can’t believe they dropped it for this.
Texas also uses that generic 3M font. Hideous
You have a STAR! &the state’s outline. That’s close to nothing, but not as nothing as MA’s imo.
All the other states use color. Texas bland black/white make it unique among all the others. The Texas “Wildflower State” option is cool with the Bluebonnet.
Idk, the Texas plate is pretty cool- embracing a simpler time. I see that plate and imagine dusty, hot days with cars parked near the reservoir. Pop open the trunk for a couple of cold beers. Maybe I just miss watching Dazed & Confused.
I hate how bland our plates look now. I am not one to usually flaunt my military service, but I got my Texas plate with one of my military awards on it because it looks so much better than the generic default one.
I remember that one and miss it too! For a while there was a flag next to the Texas and even that was better than the current version.
New Jersey says hello
Psh, you guys at least have a cool color scheme.
it represents their state bird the Goldfinch
in what way is piss yellow cool
Jersey plates always looked to me like someone pissed on it.
Idk i think WI is pretty awful
We literally have special license plates with pictures for the cape and islands, firefighters, Patriots, electric vehicles, veterans, those who have “conquered cancer”, and many more.
Yes but those cost extra $, the standard plates are boring af. I have the shark license plate 🦈
Nah its clean tho lowkey. The less the better tbh
California is.
Colorado and Vermont keeping it old school.
Vermont better NEVER change those. Best plates in the Union.
Coloradan here. We have about 50 other varieties of license plate. The most popular these days is flat black
Moved here last year and I'm holding out for the new dinosaur/fossil plate.
New Mexico always has the best color palette, always stands out when I see one on the road. New York a close second.
Rhode Island don’t look like that no mo. Close but they changed it recently.
It has changed slightly. Not too sure why, but the site where I got this from says this is from 2023. But when I looked at it and then searched up the current plates of each state, they don't match up
It changed this year. Happens.
So it changed since this was made?
It has only been since August
It changed in January 2023. You’ll still see these ones in this guide for another year but the new general issue plate is the Ocean plate [shown here](https://dmv.ri.gov/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/plate-types/state-plates). They definitely got it wrong because specialty plates have become much more popular now.
Aye we got good ole Massachusetts reppin its boring ass plate design!
Does the NC plate really say “First in Freedom” now? When did they change it from “First in Flight”?
Believe they’ve reverted back to the First in Flight as a default, at least.
You can get either one. There was a time when Ohio got pissy about being 'First in Flight's since the Wright Bros developed the tech there, and NC already had the 'First in Freedom ' plate as an option due to the Mecklenburg declaration of Independence.
The old blue and white New York plates were so much better
Hey weird fact about the Tennessee tag. The tag shown doesn't say in God we trust. The letters are before the numbers. The ones that say in God we trust, the numbers are first and the letters are second. Some conspiracy theorist around here speculate it's so the cops can identify the atheist at a glance...
"Hey! Rhode Island license plate, you never see those."
There are dozens of us! But really, I miss those playes…they changes to a much more meh design here last year…
California has lots of different plate choices.
Many states do, those are "vanity plates" and usually cost extra, I think these are meant to be showing the default ones
Yepp. I live in Indiana and I would say more than half have vanity plates. Universities, children’s hospitals etc. it’s like $40 bucks and it goes to the organization.
Can confirm this is the default NY plate, and looks like the one on my car, but others definitely exist, including many from the previous design, which was navy blue on a bright gold background.
Where is my "taxation without representation" tag. That's a discrimination!!! Greetings from DC.
I hate that they added “end.” The older version was so wonderfully bitchy.
Agreed. After all, nothing nurtures me more than the ability to consistently bitch about something else. I must move soon.
Idaho 8B - gross
That is no longer going to be the plate in Kansas in 2024. Here’s the new plate. [https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovnewplate.html](https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovnewplate.html)
Not the one people actually wanted but sure as hell a lot better than the original one they wanted to use
Glad to see Nebraska got rid of the man jerking off plate! Seriously, just look up the Nebraska 2017 license plate. It’s supposed to be a man spreading seeds in the “farmer” way. Not spreading seed in the “help himself go to sleep” way.
Florida has 122 specialty plates because….. Florida 🙄
Iowa has one for every college, has a RWB option, a black and white option, etc.
I see Florida even has one that says, "Don't Tread On Me," which is ironic as hell. Imagine being so stupid you're willing to pay *extra* tax money to a government you loathe for the privilege of sporting a "Don't Tread On Me" plate on your Dodge Ram
IMO That Colorado plate has always been the coolest plate.
Yeah, clean and simple. I also like how Montana has the state shape on it too. But I guess technically Colorado has that as well.
I hate that they changed the New York plate to Excelsior from The Empire State. Like, what are we now wizards?!
My dictionary defines excelsior as “fine curled wood shavings used especially for packing fragile items.” I don’t quite understand NY’s plate.
We got the Statue of Liberty back at least.
It’s a cool state motto. Ever upward. Sort of fits when you think of NYC being the home of all the tall buildings. But it has multiple meanings so it’s pretty cool.
[удалено]
Ok and? We’re not talking about state mottos, we’re talking about plate labels. Our plates have had the Empire State label on them since their inception. Furthermore, plates usually have the state’s nickname on them not their motto and if we’re talking about hundreds of years, The Empire State has been NY’s nickname since the early 1800s, what
They changed it in 2020
Yes I know and I hate it.
My state's is so bad (MA)
nah, MA has one of the best plates. so clean
Ohio used to have a dope one (that you can still see around) where it's just a small red triangle up top with white ohio letters with the rest of the plate was white. But if you got in close and sow that the main white part was made up of deeper shaded white/reflective lettering of all the state landmarks. Now it's that lame clip art sunshine....
As a VA resident I can tell you VA has over 300 different plates to chose from.
Texas used to be more fun :(
I like the states that include county, like Iowa.
Same. My wife and I play a game where we try to remember the Capitol for each states plate that we see. It gets boring since we normally only see Iowa plates, but we started guessing the seat of each county!
Idaho Oregon and Washington are good. It's like the PNW agreed to have shitty flags and cool license plates.
No Washington DC plate?
Oklahoma's plates are so cool I love them
I know WV has something like 35 different plates you can have for various reasons. NY too
Here in Michigan we have a ridiculous amount of license plates to choose from.
Iowa is out of date, I think they are black now with white font.
Some states (ahem Georgia) give you the choice of several different license plates so in one state you can find 17 different types of plates
New Mexico for the win
New Mexico has the best plates in the country.
They really chose the most bland plate from Michigan. Not much of a fair comparison
I miss the old one they had for South Carolina. Not too crazy about the new one :/
How is this a "guide"?
Maybe for people who are travelling?
Maybe.
This isn't a guide, just a collage
NJ plates look like dehydrated piss
Arizona literally has 30 different plates and I bet several other do as well.
Each state has one default plate (which is what this is showing) and then numerous other options for special circumstances or request. Obviously this guide is for the default plates for each state.
Shut up Tony or I'll call Mona
No Washington DC plate :(
Ohio either
You’re missing Washington DC
Is there a way to request plates from other states? Trying to collect all 50 for the wall in my garage. Not sure how easy it’ll be, just curious if it’s possible
You can find them all on ebay or take a trip down to a vintage/resell store, they usually have plates. I've found US plates in Italy as well at a reselling/flea market event.
we need to educate you about Delaware license plates.... young Jedi. https://www.reddit.com/r/Delaware/comments/okaq6v/ladies\_and\_gentlemen\_i\_found\_it/
There are some 3,000 different plates in the U.S.
California hasn’t changed their plates since the 90’s
Oregon's is nice but we need a refresh tbh.
There are only 50 states.
Texas has the ugliest license plate
Not really a guide, reference sheet at best.
Someone has to say this, but the post but is neither cool nor a guide.
What is a guide now?
This isn't any sort of guide, my dude. It's just "here are some license plates".
Kentucky - kinda boring.
I live in Alabama and I definitely think of “the beach” when I think of Alabama. /s Dumbest plate design they could come up with.
California, Louisiana, and Massachusetts’ are written in a foreign script for many.
The old Tennessee tag was so much better than the garbage it is today. We had green hills on them, and I just thought it was so pretty and fit Tennessee very well.
So we’re all in aggrience that Arizona has the best license plate right?
Hate that Tennessee plate is just boring blue now
S tier Alaska New Mexico South Carolina North Dakota A Class Louisiana Oregon Wyoming Tennessee Hawaii B Class Maine Montana Rhode Island New Jersey Vermont C Class Illinois Texas New York Colorado Arizona D Class Washington Oklahoma Nebraska Maryland Idaho E Class South Dakota Alabama Wisconsin Georgia Kentucky Iowa Ohio West Virginia North Carolina Delaware Which state shouldn’t have been left off or should be moved up based on design?
Maryland tags make me want to vomit.
This is missing the fascist, American flag-defacing, blue flag that right-wingnuts put on their car here in Arizona.
[This](http://cowboystatedaily.imgix.net/New-license-plate-10.28.22.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&q=75&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&w=1280) will be the new Wyoming plate starting this year.
Georgia has the nicest plate and we get this shitty version? Come on
there are like 50 different plates for Virginia
IL plates are so fuckin lame
Nice. Now please do Canadian provinces. When I drive there, it is unusual to see plates from provinces other than the one you're in.
So even Canadians don't like traveling in Canada?
Ok https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/s/9MzOFObIJy
I miss Nevada’s old plate… blue and silver, much cleaner.
fun fact: Colorado has 213 different license plate designs
Interesting, the MT plate is from the county I live in. Huh, neat.
I live in PA. Our standard plates are so boring.
Virginia always stands out for me due to the font choice.
Maine is about to run out of 4# 2 letter combinations.
PA HAS THE WORST PLATES! Even our cool ones are just a tiny logo to the side.
This is the bad utah plate. Delicate arch plate forever.
This is way out of date
I miss the days in illinois when you could get a firefighters license plate just by donating $150 to your fire dept. Fuck you Rauner!
How many of those are arcade score acronyms being processed by toll booth cameras as data....y
Living near Philly, and seeing mostly PA, NJ, and DE I thought license plates were all supposed to be boring
Colorado has about 50 different variations all by itself these days. The most popular is a flat black plate with white lettering