Best and Worst U.S. License Plates

[Android]

That Colorado plate is NOT the standard issue. They call it a Designer plate and you gotta pay an extra 50 bucks to get one, then I think it's like 25 a year after that to keep using it. (Oh, and it's not the one that the insurance company used in that poll either.)

[renegade]

My fave:



This coming from a Coloradoan, of course. 

That. plate. is. AWESOME! 

[PHLBOS]

Anyone catch this recent license plate poll?

http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/favorite-license-plates.aspx

I love how the pic. of the PA plate shows the registration sticker placed on the upper right corner of the plate rather than the upper left corner where the blank deboss/depression is clearly shown (for said-plate stickers).

[Buck87]

Havne't seen it mentioned on this thread, so, here's the new Ohio plate (released April 2013)






I like it a lot better than the "Beautiful Ohio" monstrosities. Not a huge fan of all the wording though, but at least it's subdued and the plate looks pretty clean cut from a distance.

[agentsteel53]

who managed to put the sample plate on their car?

also: embossed good; weird new font bad.

[formulanone]

When you see an exotic car, you don't want a tacky license plate to devalue that look. 

Ironically, it seems many exotic cars I've come across in the field use standard issue (non-vanity/specialized) plates. Most folks do not want the added attention, I presume.

[6a]

I think our standard white-on-blue is boring and I don't care for the look of the state name on the present design (I preferred the design they used in the 1980s).

I liked the all-numeric one with the state seal in the middle, it had that old school feel to it.

Haven't seen it mentioned on this thread, so, here's the new Ohio plate (released April 2013)


I like it a lot better than the "Beautiful Ohio" monstrosities. Not a huge fan of all the wording though, but at least it's subdued and the plate looks pretty clean cut from a distance.

Real life version. I was not a fan of the farm one we had just prior, and Ohio had been pretty boring until then. I like this one, it's a nice balance between plain and overly gaudy with graphics, and embossed to boot.

[myosh_tino]

I like California's default plate the most.  Simple, clean & professional.  I always thought states with colorful license plates are tacky and detract from the visuals of the car. 

When you see an exotic car, you don't want a tacky license plate to devalue that look.

I'll agree with you for the most part but the California plates need to lose the URL (dmv.ca.gov or something like that) located at the bottom of the plate.  It's tacky IMO.

[Doctor Whom]

I'll agree with you for the most part but the California plates need to lose the URL (dmv.ca.gov or something like that) located at the bottom of the plate.  It's tacky IMO.

Having the URL for the state's office of tourism or of the general state government is silly enough, but the DMV?  Why?

[myosh_tino]

I'll agree with you for the most part but the California plates need to lose the URL (dmv.ca.gov or something like that) located at the bottom of the plate.  It's tacky IMO.

Having the URL for the state's office of tourism or of the general state government is silly enough, but the DMV?  Why?

IIRC, the state's explanation was to get more Californians to use services offered on the DMV website instead of going to the office in person.  I'll admit, it's a silly excuse.

[1995hoo]

I'll agree with you for the most part but the California plates need to lose the URL (dmv.ca.gov or something like that) located at the bottom of the plate.  It's tacky IMO.

Having the URL for the state's office of tourism or of the general state government is silly enough, but the DMV?  Why?

IIRC, the state's explanation was to get more Californians to use services offered on the DMV website instead of going to the office in person.  I'll admit, it's a silly excuse.

Virginia solved that by charging more for going to the DMV except when you are required to do so. (Example of the latter: This past year I had to renew my driver's license in person since I'd done it online five years earlier. So there is no surcharge. If I renew my car registration in person, they charge more....technically I think it's a "discount" for doing it online.)

[signalman]

Virginia solved that by charging more for going to the DMV except when you are required to do so. (Example of the latter: This past year I had to renew my driver's license in person since I'd done it online five years earlier. So there is no surcharge. If I renew my car registration in person, they charge more....technically I think it's a "discount" for doing it online.)

Better than what New Jersey does.  They charge you a $2.00 "convenience fee" to renew your registration online.  I think they're passing on the credit card processing fee to the registrant, but one can renew by mail with a check or money order or in person for just the amount of registration.  As an added kick in the crotch, one can use a credit card to pay in person, but they aren't charged the credit card processing fee.

[Scott5114]

Virginia solved that by charging more for going to the DMV except when you are required to do so. (Example of the latter: This past year I had to renew my driver's license in person since I'd done it online five years earlier. So there is no surcharge. If I renew my car registration in person, they charge more....technically I think it's a "discount" for doing it online.)

Better than what New Jersey does.  They charge you a $2.00 "convenience fee" to renew your registration online.  I think they're passing on the credit card processing fee to the registrant, but one can renew by mail with a check or money order or in person for just the amount of registration.  As an added kick in the crotch, one can use a credit card to pay in person, but they aren't charged the credit card processing fee.

This may be because the credit card processor charges different rates for online versus a physical-swipe transaction. PayPal, for instance, charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, but if you swipe a card on one of their "PayPal Here" card readers, it's a flat 2.7%. (On a $100 transaction this is $3.20 vs. $2.70).

[signalman]

Virginia solved that by charging more for going to the DMV except when you are required to do so. (Example of the latter: This past year I had to renew my driver's license in person since I'd done it online five years earlier. So there is no surcharge. If I renew my car registration in person, they charge more....technically I think it's a "discount" for doing it online.)

Better than what New Jersey does.  They charge you a $2.00 "convenience fee" to renew your registration online.  I think they're passing on the credit card processing fee to the registrant, but one can renew by mail with a check or money order or in person for just the amount of registration.  As an added kick in the crotch, one can use a credit card to pay in person, but they aren't charged the credit card processing fee.

This may be because the credit card processor charges different rates for online versus a physical-swipe transaction. PayPal, for instance, charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, but if you swipe a card on one of their "PayPal Here" card readers, it's a flat 2.7%. (On a $100 transaction this is $3.20 vs. $2.70).

Could be.  I hadn't considered that.  I just find it irksome, but it doesn't stop me from renewing my registration online.  It's more convenient for me, so I eat the $2 and move on with life.

[PHLBOS]

I'll agree with you for the most part but the California plates need to lose the URL (dmv.ca.gov or something like that) located at the bottom of the plate.  It's tacky IMO.

I hate to break the news to you but CA isn't the only state that places their URL on their plates and the practice isn't going away anytime soon.  PA's been doing such since 2000.

Those seem to be here to stay unfortunately IMHO.

[PurdueBill]

A generic state web site like PA started using in 2000 or a tourism one (callWVA.com for example) is one thing, but the DMV web site?  Bleah!

[Big John]

GA got rid of its web site last year with their new plates

[agentsteel53]

A generic state web site like PA started using in 2000 or a tourism one (callWVA.com for example) is one thing, but the DMV web site?  Bleah!

I actually prefer the dmv one.

"crap, my plates are expiring and it looks like the renewal is lost in the mail.  hmm, how can I renew my registration?"

as opposed to:

"oh boy, the plate on the car in front of me has a website!  well lemme just pull out my phone while driving and end up in a ditch!"

(on a similar note, I've always thought websites on roadside billboards were highly suspect.)

notwithstanding the previous argument... if I ever remember to do so, I will tape some white scotchlite over the website on my truck's new plates.  I just happen to prefer the one-generation-older California plates.

[vdeane]

I think the idea is your desire to visit the website will be so strong that you memorize it and visit when you're done driving.  Though these days you could have a passenger do it.

[oscar]

Not sure this fits here, but an article on Slate discusses the history of U.S. license plates, and comes down firmly on the best plates being the old ones:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/06/24/license_plate_design_when_did_u_s_license_plates_get_so_ugly.html

The article includes many photos of old license plates, some weird like the one touting South Carolina as the "iodine products state".

[wphiii]

I must be the only person who actually likes the Ohio "farm" plates (there's also the silhouette of a city skyline, for the record). I find the new ones to be quite boring.

[SteveG1988]

When NJ moved to flat plates in April 2014 they missed a chance to change the design, it retains all the blandness of the 1993 base, without the embossed numbers/letters.

[RG407]

Anyone catch this recent license plate poll?

http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/favorite-license-plates.aspx

8   Florida

Florida 8th?!  Maybe the 8th worst.  Thank goodness we have a large array of specialty plates to choose from so I don't have to have that horrible standard plate.

[roadman65]

When NJ moved to flat plates in April 2014 they missed a chance to change the design, it retains all the blandness of the 1993 base, without the embossed numbers/letters.

Does NJ still grandfather the old plates after changes?  I found it annoying that even in the 1990s you would still find the old 1960-70s era plates still in use long after those plates were replaced with the yellow on blue that then were replaced again with the black on yellow.

In New Jersey, like most places, you can move your old plate onto your new vehicle.  However, the first year inspection waiver is not valid so you must have your vehicle inspected twice in the first year.  Once at time of purchase, and at time of your one year anniversary, but normally a new plate will allow you to wait two years before you go for inspection.  The exception is buying a car out of state, where the waiver is only to those who buy in New Jersey.  I bought my 1989 Beretta in Reedman of Langhorne, PA and I was told that New Jersey would not let me wait two years for inspection because I am not purchasing there, so I said screw it and just moved my old tag onto my new car.

[Pete from Boston]

When NJ moved to flat plates in April 2014 they missed a chance to change the design, it retains all the blandness of the 1993 base, without the embossed numbers/letters.

I always think of this design as "smog alert day."