Best and Worst U.S. License Plates

[papaT10932]

For decades, travelers have played the "License Plate Game," especially on those longer than usual roadtrips. Sound off! Which ones do you like? Which ones can't you stand to look at?? 

My top 5 are:
1. Maine (best)
2. Colorado
3. Minnesota
4. Rhode Island
5. Alaska

My bottom 5 are:
1. Pennsylvania (worst)
2. Indiana
3. Michigan
4. Georgia
5. Ohio

[Brandon]

For decades, travelers have played the "License Plate Game," especially on those longer than usual roadtrips. Sound off! Which ones do you like? Which ones can't you stand to look at?? 

My top 5 are:
1. Maine (best)
2. Colorado
3. Minnesota
4. Rhode Island
5. Alaska

My bottom 5 are:
1. Pennsylvania (worst)
2. Indiana
3. Michigan
4. Georgia
5. Ohio

The basic Michigan isn't quite so great, IMHO, but the one with the Great Lakes on it is excellent (IIRC, it's a couple of bucks more).

My top 5 (no order):
Arizona (nice desert scene)
Florida (what California should aspire to)
Hawai'i (simple, elegant, pretty, unique)
Iowa (easy to read, nice background)
Utah (Delicate Arch is always a nice touch)

My bottom 5 (again, no order):
California (can it be more bland?) (maybe the worst plate out there, IMHO)
Delaware (again, bland, but at least it has color)
Massachusetts (almost as bad as California)
Pennsylvania (could be worse - see California)
West Virginia (again, bland, but could be worse - see California)

[shoptb1]

The new Ohio plate is butt ugly in my opinion.  Not only does it not incorporate the Red, White, and Blue colors from the distinctive Ohio burgee-shaped flag, but it's nearly impossible to determine that it's actually FROM Ohio on the road.  PLATE FAIL!

[papaT10932]

Two things, in my opinion, make for a TERRIBLE looking plate. First, 3M flat plate technology. Second, a state website. Keep them embossed and lets stick with state nicknames!!

In the case of Ohio's new plate, I agree. There is too much going on in that scene. Newer plate technologies are making it possible to create more elaborate background designs, but some of them are becoming too elaborate. I say, keep them simple... and keep those websites off!!!!

[Alex]

The new Ohio plate is butt ugly in my opinion.  Not only does it not incorporate the Red, White, and Blue colors from the distinctive Ohio burgee-shaped flag, but it's nearly impossible to determine that it's actually FROM Ohio on the road.  PLATE FAIL!

Well at least its not a general reissue. They decided to make it an optional issue. From http://www.licenseplates.cc/highs.php?where=OH

A new general issue base plate for Ohio that was tentatively proposed for release in April 2009 was scrapped, at least in that form, due to the recession. At least one million of the graphic sheeting blanks were produced. These plates became available on an optional basis for an additional $7.50 beginning November 23, 2009. They were produced from ERA 1000 through EUH 7299. Only regular issue plates are available. Initial and Personalized plates will not be available on the "Beautiful Ohio" plates, although that could change

Montana has a new general issue that looks very 1970's.

My picks:

Top 5:
Wyoming (best)
Minnesota
Alabama
Idaho
Colorado

Bottom 5:
Delaware (worst)
Indiana
Massachusetts
Virginia
West Virginia

[corco]

Idaho had great plates until they switched to the direct print- rather than embossing blue dyes they're directly printing black, which looks retarded.

It's been a rough year for license plates- the new Montana, Nebraska, New York, and Ohio plates are all butt ugly.

As far as ranking goes

Best:
1. Wyoming (I especially like the new plates without the Devil's Tower)
2. Utah arches
3. California- it's simple, but it's a classic design and very legible
4. Colorado standard issue
5. Rhode Island

Worst (going off soon to be issued designs) (edited because the new NY plate isn't bottom 5 worthy):
1. Delaware
2. Nebraska
3. Montana
4. Arkansas
5. District of Columbia

[Alex]

Idaho had great plates until they switched to the direct print- rather than embossing blue dyes they're directly printing black, which looks retarded.

It's been a rough year for license plates- the new Montana, Nebraska, New York, and Ohio plates are all butt ugly.

As far as ranking goes

I don't think there are many of the flat screened license plates that look decent. The fonts often look too generic IMO and it makes the plates "fake looking"...

Just looked up the Nebraska reissue, and found a good read on how the online survey was compromised to push plate design #2 (which is terrible). Images of both tag designs (I agree with Corco, the one selected is unappealing as well) can be found here.

[corco]

I think that's a large part of what makes the Wyoming plate so nifty- it's really one of the only decent looking direct print plates (Iowa isn't so bad either).

That said, the pre-2011 Nebraska plate wasn't so bad either; I was disappointed to see them take a step back.

[cu2010]

It's been a rough year for license plates- the new Montana, Nebraska, New York, and Ohio plates are all butt ugly.

Fortunately, the new NY plates aren't going to be seen, since Paterson killed that stupid proposal thanks to massive public opposition...

I'm just thankful nobody's tried to put Clearview numbers on plates yet!  

[papaT10932]

What I don't understand concerning the NY plates was that their main plug for needing new plates was safety. They commented on how the old plates lose their luster and visibility over time and how these new ones were primarily for safety purposes.
I don't think the outcry was because of the new plates... it was for the mandatory cost attached to them. If the issuing of new plates was indeed for safety, why not issue them for free without the added $25??

[Duke87]

Best license plates?
I'm partial to Connecticut, personally. What can I say? I like blue. Besides, it's what I'm most used to....

Worse license plates?
Any vanity plate. Especially ones whose meaning is indecipherable to anyone outside of your circle of buddies.

[signalman]

I don't think the outcry was because of the new plates... it was for the mandatory cost attached to them. If the issuing of new plates was indeed for safety, why not issue them for free without the added $25??

That cost would have only been incurred if the owner wanted to keep his/her plate number.  Remakes of previously issued series are quite common in NY.  General replating was to be free.

As for my top and bottom 5...
Top:
1. Wyoming, the state that got me started collecting license plates
2. Utah Arch
3. Minnesota
4. Vermont (I like how they deboss)
5. Oregon
Bottom:
1. Current Pennsylvania base (I really don't like the bold color changes, I prefered the former fading colors.  The web addresses don't bother me personally)
2. Nebraska's new issue
3. Michigan standard issue
4. New Jersey (It's my home state, but we've always had drab color schemes.  I have an extensive Jersey plate collection, but not for aesthetic reasons)
5. Delaware (Like Jersey, I collect them, but not for their appearance)

[papaT10932]

I don't think the outcry was because of the new plates... it was for the mandatory cost attached to them. If the issuing of new plates was indeed for safety, why not issue them for free without the added $25??

That cost would have only been incurred if the owner wanted to keep his/her plate number.  Remakes of previously issued series are quite common in NY.  General replating was free.

It was my understanding that the $25 fee applied to everyone in the state. An additional $20 would be charged on top of that if a motorist reused a plate number. That was my impression, but I could be wrong.

[wandering drive]

Top 5:
Minnesota has a fine default image but also a series of gorgeous conservation plates.  
Wyoming
Hawaii
Washington
North Dakota sesquicentennial

OK, so it's been a while since I saw a lot of them.

Worst:
Any plate where I can't tell what state it's from by looking at it (Kansas comes to mind).  
Any plate with a url.  Just, no.

I also love local plates for kitsch value, like the Green Bay Packers plates.  This photo was taken on a camera phone in 2007, because it sure doesn't make sense in January 2010.

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma did a general reissue over the past year. The new design is a flat plate but it isn't so bad.



It replaced this one.

[Bickendan]

I see that California makes the best and worst list for some of you. You'll love/hate Louisiana's for the exact same reason: You can't tell the two plates apart.

My top 5:
Oregon
Minnesota
Northwest Territories (have yet to see one in the wild, though...)
Utah
Idaho

Kill-it-with-fire-list:
California
Louisiana. Seriously. If these plates weren't stylistically identical, I wouldn't care.
Meh to any others, though I'm not a fan of Oregon's new share-the-road plates for its lack luster design.

[agentsteel53]

I am quite partial to the early '60s California: black background, yellow legend.

[SP Cook]

IMHO.

BEST:

Oklahoma.  Interesting, relatated to the unique history of the state, pretty.
Hawaii.  Pretty.  Related to a state feature.
Washington. 
New Mexico.
Puerto Rico. 

WORST:
District of Columbia.  Keep your politics off my plate.   Insulting, inaccurate, childish, wrong, disloyal.
Ohio.  Cannot read "Ohio" on the darn thing from more than 5 feet away.
North Carolina.  Same basic plate since 1981?  Give it up and do something new.  "First In Flight" is OK, but this is one of the major states, with lots of things to be proud of.  Move on.
South Carolina.  Has been a great plate state, but just misses with the current one.  No websites on plates.
Arkansas.  "The Natural State".  WTF does that even mean?

[papaT10932]

I'm surprised to see that I'm the only one throughout this entire thread so far to mention Maine's plate. I think its the best one. Attractive, easy to read, its simple and at the same time creative. EMBOSSED AND NO WEB ADDRESS!! I just thought someone else would like it too. Hmmm...

[realjd]

I'm surprised to see the hate for California's plate. I've always like it, as well as Louisiana's almost identical design. It's simple and easy to read, but not ugly like the old blue Michigan plates were, or the hideous brown Missouri "Show Me State" plates.

The older Texas plates were the flag were cool, but I'm not as big fan of the new ones with the blue cowboy at the bottom and the stars at the top. The newest ones seem much better:




North Carolina just changed theirs to use all red writing. I like them better when they had the blue writing.

Florida's would be good if it weren't for the fact that the state name was replaced by the URL. Instead of saying Florida on top and a URL at the bottom (which I don't mind as much), it just says myFLORIDA.com on top. I also wish more people in Florida would choose the plates with their county name rather than "Sunshine State" or "In God We Trust".


We do have a great selection of specialty plates though. I particularly like the one with the shark:


And the new design for the manatee plates:


The complete list of specialty plates is here and has some more really interesting designs:
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/specialtytags/

I'll leave you with this hilarious plate which is probably the reason they switched to a pair of oranges on the newer Florida plates:

[agentsteel53]

all we need is for someone in Florida to get the vanity plate "B  BS"! 

[Alex]

North Carolina just changed theirs to use all red writing. I like them better when they had the blue writing.

North Carolina switched back to all blue.

http://www.ricksplates.com/northcarolina/ncnews.htm

October 23, 2009  —  Yesterday, for the first time since April 2007, I saw a newly-issued North Carolina standard passenger car plate with blue serial characters.  I couldn't get a photo, but the plate number was ZNR-1146, and it had an October 2010 expiration, indicating that it was registered some time this month.  As reported here earlier, the state has now discontinued making red-numbered plates, and has gone back to blue, mainly because the red characters are harder to read at a distance.  However, any remaining red plates will continue to be issued until inventories are depleted.

[Mergingtraffic]

License plates should be made so it is easiest to read at high speeds.  ie: for police officers etc.
I believe white on blue backgrounds is the easiest. I think studies have been done saying white lettering on blue background is the easiest to read.

CT used to have that but stopped with a light sky blue and gray type lettering.  hard to read and if somebody has a license plate plastic protector on...it's impossible to read.

[thenetwork]

I tend to favor my now-home state of Colorado as my favorite plate state, but I'm not to crazy on the current green-on-white or older white-on-green standard issue plates.  But they do have a full-color plate which has the mountains in purple, but there is an extra $50 to buy and an extra $50 renewal fee for it.  

Now the Columbine "Respect Life" Plate is real nice (purple/blue/white) and there's only a one time special plate fee you have to pay for that one. I got that one for my wife's car since she likes purple and it matched well with the dark blue Dodge Caravan.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned how ugly the New Mexico standard plates are -- Bright Red on Bright Yellow is just too loud!!!

My favorite classic plate is the old "Blue/Gold" California standard.

The most creative state plate of the past was the Kentucky "Cloud" plates.

[shoptb1]

Maybe it's just me, but I am partial to the New Jersey standard issue plates.  I think they're easy to read, and I really like the black on transitional yellow color combo.  I think California and Louisiana have the most boring ones.