Best and Worst U.S. License Plates

[SP Cook]

I'd never seen one of these before!

Odd.  I knew a couple that moved to the USVI.  Empty nesters who both worked for the state here, pretty much just found the same jobs there.  From talking to them while one can move to or from the USVI at will, as it is part of the USA for citizenship purposes, it constitutes a seperate "customs zone" from the rest of the USA, meaning you would have to pay import duty on a car just like you were Toyota or VW.  And, of course, shipping costs would be very high as well.  (The couple thus decided to sell their cars here and buy new there).

Unless the individual you saw was in the military (where you pay no duty and shipping is on the house), this is very unusual.

[texaskdog]

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.

Great that the old plate played off the history of the state, when the state was founded by chasing all of the Native Americans out of their last official area.

[1995hoo]

I'd never seen one of these before!

Odd.  I knew a couple that moved to the USVI.  Empty nesters who both worked for the state here, pretty much just found the same jobs there.  From talking to them while one can move to or from the USVI at will, as it is part of the USA for citizenship purposes, it constitutes a seperate "customs zone" from the rest of the USA, meaning you would have to pay import duty on a car just like you were Toyota or VW.  And, of course, shipping costs would be very high as well.  (The couple thus decided to sell their cars here and buy new there).

Unless the individual you saw was in the military (where you pay no duty and shipping is on the house), this is very unusual.

I have no idea whether he was in the military, but it wouldn't surprise me at all given where I live (Northern Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon). We have a very high military presence. I've always thought it's one reason why a lot of drivers here won't cut someone a break when they see an out-of-state plate–a lot of the out-of-state plates are in fact local drivers who are just being dickish.

[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.

Great that the old plate played off the history of the state, when the state was founded by chasing all of the Native Americans out of their last official area.

They're still here. They have governments and run businesses.

[agentsteel53]

I have no idea whether he was in the military, but it wouldn't surprise me at all given where I live (Northern Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon). We have a very high military presence. I've always thought it's one reason why a lot of drivers here won't cut someone a break when they see an out-of-state plate–a lot of the out-of-state plates are in fact local drivers who are just being dickish.

you don't have to register your car locally?  is there a military exemption, or do people just not bother?

[Scott5114]

I'd imagine it's either that many military people change bases enough that it's simpler to just leave the car registered in the old state, or that their deployment is not legally considered their "permanent residence", so they still pay taxes and keep their car registered wherever that is.

[1995hoo]

I have no idea whether he was in the military, but it wouldn't surprise me at all given where I live (Northern Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon). We have a very high military presence. I've always thought it's one reason why a lot of drivers here won't cut someone a break when they see an out-of-state plate–a lot of the out-of-state plates are in fact local drivers who are just being dickish.

you don't have to register your car locally?  is there a military exemption, or do people just not bother?

I've never served in the Armed Forces and so don't know for certain, but it's always been my understanding that there's some sort of federal regulation that allows military members to keep their cars (and their driver's licenses and voting status) registered in their home states, although they can re-register everything each time if they wish. The reason is largely because of what Scott5114 notes.

[signalman]

I have no idea whether he was in the military, but it wouldn't surprise me at all given where I live (Northern Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon). We have a very high military presence. I've always thought it's one reason why a lot of drivers here won't cut someone a break when they see an out-of-state plate–a lot of the out-of-state plates are in fact local drivers who are just being dickish.

you don't have to register your car locally?  is there a military exemption, or do people just not bother?

No, those in the military don't have to re-register their car when they are sent to a new base.

[hotdogPi]

I love the lobster license plates in Maine.

[DBR96A]

To me, license plates with strong colors and simple designs are the best. They tend to be the most legible from a distance. The current New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois plates do this the best. The current California plates are a bit plainer, but still easily recognizable. The current New Mexico plates are instantly recognizable, but kind of LOUD too.

Also, I prefer the strong color contrast on the current Pennsylvania plates over those with the gradual color fade, which looked a bit too milquetoast from a distance. The only way you could tell they were Pennsylvania plates was by the character font. The current Pennsylvania plates are unmistakable.

Ohio used to have one of the best license plates with the strong red, white and blue color contrast and the stylized 'Ohio' on the left side, but now they have the absolute worst. The current Ohio plate is a case study of design by committee gone horribly wrong. It's just too damn busy, and you can't even read the state name at the top.

In general, I'm not a fan of license plates that try to be pieces of artwork. The current Georgia plate has grown on me a bit, but it's still not as good as the ones they had back in the 1990's with the green 'Georgia' across the top and the peach in place of the 'O,' with black characters on a background that transitioned from white at the top to peach at the bottom.

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

I stand behind my opinion that license plates should not have changed like they did since the '80s.  They should still be relentlessly basic; solid color background, contrasting foreground color, NO graphics, ALL embossed.  Alaska is currently the only state doing it right.

[roadman65]

I have to say that Florida is worse in this respect that it has too many different plate designs for the many different charities and organizations.  Add the fact that cops do not ticket people anymore for covering state names with those border covers and auto dealers ads and you do not know what state the vehicle is registered in.

All you need is a crime to take place, and remember the plate number, but then if you cannot know the state it is useless to authorities as its only a partial ID.

[Takumi]

I stand behind my opinion that license plates should not have changed like they did since the '80s.  They should still be relentlessly basic; solid color background, contrasting foreground color, NO graphics, ALL embossed.  Alaska is currently the only state doing it right.

Virginia's default plate is still basic blue on white embossed, but the dozens of alternate versions make that less obvious.

[cu2010]

I stand behind my opinion that license plates should not have changed like they did since the '80s.  They should still be relentlessly basic; solid color background, contrasting foreground color, NO graphics, ALL embossed.  Alaska is currently the only state doing it right.

The current New York plates are just like this. Solid color background, embossed numbers, no fancy graphics.

They're also butt-ugly.

The previous design, which was also fairly simple, remains in heavy circulation, primarily because said plates were not replaced. Only new registrations get the new plates.

[PurdueBill]

Ohio used to have one of the best license plates with the strong red, white and blue color contrast and the stylized 'Ohio' on the left side, but now they have the absolute worst. The current Ohio plate is a case study of design by committee gone horribly wrong. It's just too damn busy, and you can't even read the state name at the top.

The red-white-blue ones with the graphic at left were limited-run state bicentennial plates--not intended to be a forever general issue.  The current plates (the tag cloud looking ones) are relatively clean in design. Are you thinking about the previous Beautiful Ohio design?

[vdeane]

I stand behind my opinion that license plates should not have changed like they did since the '80s.  They should still be relentlessly basic; solid color background, contrasting foreground color, NO graphics, ALL embossed.  Alaska is currently the only state doing it right.

Why?  The fancy ones look nicer, which is pretty important considering how visible the plates are.  Aesthetics are important.

[thenetwork]

On my way to work today, I saw a license plate from the Cherokee Nation (blue lettering on white with some sort of CN logo).  I never knew an Indian Reservation/Indian Tribe could have their own license plates.

[Alps]

I stand behind my opinion that license plates should not have changed like they did since the '80s.  They should still be relentlessly basic; solid color background, contrasting foreground color, NO graphics, ALL embossed.  Alaska is currently the only state doing it right.

Delaware now does it more right with the historic-style plates coming back as an option, though I've heard they are made by a private company, such that you need to still have your official plate somewhere in your vehicle.

[rarnold]

I may be a bit old fashioned, but I liked the old plates that Iowa and Missouri had. Simple, informative, and easy to read. Just state, number, county name and/or a slogan (like famous potatoes or Land of Lincoln) Nothing else is needed.

[Scott5114]

On my way to work today, I saw a license plate from the Cherokee Nation (blue lettering on white with some sort of CN logo).  I never knew an Indian Reservation/Indian Tribe could have their own license plates.

There are lots floating around Oklahoma. States don't have the jurisidiction to require registration of tribal vehicles.

[signalman]

Delaware now does it more right with the historic-style plates coming back as an option, though I've heard they are made by a private company, such that you need to still have your official plate somewhere in your vehicle.

This is true.  The gold on blue plate must be in the vehicle.  Also, not all plates are eligible for this option.  Only plates numbers below 87000 for passenger and I believe C9999 for commercial are eligible.

[Alps]

Delaware now does it more right with the historic-style plates coming back as an option, though I've heard they are made by a private company, such that you need to still have your official plate somewhere in your vehicle.

This is true.  The gold on blue plate must be in the vehicle.  Also, not all plates are eligible for this option.  Only plates numbers below 87000 for passenger and I believe C9999 for commercial are eligible.

I've seen six-digit plates, so I dispute that.

[jdb1234]

"Sweet Home Alabama" license plates to be phased out on January 1.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/08/sweet_home_alabama_license_pla.html

[signalman]

Delaware now does it more right with the historic-style plates coming back as an option, though I've heard they are made by a private company, such that you need to still have your official plate somewhere in your vehicle.

This is true.  The gold on blue plate must be in the vehicle.  Also, not all plates are eligible for this option.  Only plates numbers below 87000 for passenger and I believe C9999 for commercial are eligible.

I've seen six-digit plates, so I dispute that.

You're talking about the white on black porcelain replicas, right?  If so, a six digit plate was made in error.  Porcelains were only made up to 87000, therefore only plates that were originally made as porcelains are eligible to be remade to look like the old plates.
If you're talking about the gold on black limited edition centennial plates, then a six digit plate is possible.  Any plate number could be remade on those.

[texaskdog]

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.

Great that the old plate played off the history of the state, when the state was founded by chasing all of the Native Americans out of their last official area.

yeah, second biggest reason I hate Oklahoma.  Very sad.