Best and Worst U.S. License Plates

[wisvishr0]

Why is everyone hating on the DC license plate? Just because it's not a state doesn't mean it's not entitled to democratic rights. Real people live in DC as well! Not just politicians! And we're upset! I like the colors and its simplistic design.

Anyways, I must say I hate the War of 1812 Maryland license plate.

From plateshack.com:



It's too crowded and I can't see the 2 smaller letters from a distance of more than 5m. And, while, sure, the war was important for American history, it somehow still feels weird commemorating an event that killed people (even if it was to strengthen our independence). I don't know. But the main thing I hate is the legibility.

I also think the old Maryland plate is a bit too bland, but it's still nice, simple and legible. It works.

[Scott5114]

The current NJ plate reminds me of pee.

[signalman]

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.

Yes, as long as the registration didn't lapse and the plate is still legible, it's still legal. You still see some old black on straw plates around.  More common is the straw on blue, but even they are a dying ember. One can also get their old plates remade on the current base. It's just a matter of filling out a form and paying $11.

[6a]

Why is everyone hating on the DC license plate? Just because it's not a state doesn't mean it's not entitled to democratic rights. Real people live in DC as well! Not just politicians! And we're upset! I like the colors and its simplistic design.

This is one of the favorite plates in my collection:

[Doctor Whom]

Anyways, I must say I hate the War of 1812 Maryland license plate.

As do I.  Extending the standard registration serial from six characters to seven was good, as was merging the numbering sequences for classes A (passenger cars), E (trucks), and M (multipurpose vehicles, i.e., basically minivans and SUV's).  But why, oh why, did anyone think it was a good idea to extend the registration serial from six characters to seven while reducing the number of horizontal spaces from seven to six?  Even apart from that, the design, while not so bad as some of the previous Texas "everything but the kitchen sink" designs, is kitschy and cluttered.

[PurdueBill]

The current NJ plate reminds me of pee.

Yikes! I had a friend from NJ who said something similar about 20 years ago...something to the effect of Governor Whitman personally peeing on the plates.  YUCK! 

I'd almost forgotten that and then someone mentions pee here. 

[agentsteel53]

Anyways, I must say I hate the War of 1812 Maryland license plate.

yet another stupid website.

also, it looks like as a species we're running out of URLs.  what are we gonna do in 30 years?  is the main search engine of the Earth gonna be called something like SearchrButIHardlyKnowr12345-penis-v1agr0.ck.f9?

[Big John]

^^ SNL:  clownpenis.fart http://vimeo.com/82393638v

[ElPanaChevere]

The Virginia license plate (plain one, not the one that has the Jamestown 1607-2007 400 years). It has the state's name...then what? Why is it JUST that?  At least California's has the cool cursive signature font.

I really like New Mexico's (the one with the hot air balloons), Washington (Mount Rainier), Oregon's, Idaho's, and South Dakota's.

[1995hoo]

The Virginia license plate (plain one, not the one that has the Jamestown 1607-2007 400 years). It has the state's name...then what? Why is it JUST that?  At least California's has the cool cursive signature font.

I really like New Mexico's (the one with the hot air balloons), Washington (Mount Rainier), Oregon's, Idaho's, and South Dakota's.

The latest standard-issue Virginia plate now has the state slogan, "Virginia Is for Lovers," along the bottom edge. The "v" in "Lovers" is shaped like a heart. "virginia.org" appears below that slogan. I'd prefer plain white with just the state's name to that version if there were no other choice! (Of course, you can always paint over the slogan.)

[maplestar]

The Virginia license plate (plain one, not the one that has the Jamestown 1607-2007 400 years). It has the state's name...then what? Why is it JUST that?  At least California's has the cool cursive signature font.

I really like New Mexico's (the one with the hot air balloons), Washington (Mount Rainier), Oregon's, Idaho's, and South Dakota's.

The latest standard-issue Virginia plate now has the state slogan, "Virginia Is for Lovers," along the bottom edge. The "v" in "Lovers" is shaped like a heart. "virginia.org" appears below that slogan. I'd prefer plain white with just the state's name to that version if there were no other choice! (Of course, you can always paint over the slogan.)

I actually like the plain one (i.e., before the recent slogan addition). But I will have to figure out another design I like next time I need plates, because I can't stomach the slogan in the current political climate.

[ElPanaChevere]

The Virginia license plate (plain one, not the one that has the Jamestown 1607-2007 400 years). It has the state's name...then what? Why is it JUST that?  At least California's has the cool cursive signature font.

I really like New Mexico's (the one with the hot air balloons), Washington (Mount Rainier), Oregon's, Idaho's, and South Dakota's.

The latest standard-issue Virginia plate now has the state slogan, "Virginia Is for Lovers," along the bottom edge. The "v" in "Lovers" is shaped like a heart. "virginia.org" appears below that slogan. I'd prefer plain white with just the state's name to that version if there were no other choice! (Of course, you can always paint over the slogan.)

I actually like the plain one (i.e., before the recent slogan addition). But I will have to figure out another design I like next time I need plates, because I can't stomach the slogan in the current political climate.

I used to live in Virginia (Staunton to be exact) and I still have family there. I always wondered about that plain plate with the font and just saying "Virginia" at the top. I was actually quite happy when my relatives decided to ditch those plates (still hanging in their garage), and opt for one that has Virginia in cursive font with a autumn leaf border, Virginia with the Cape Henry and Cape Charles lighthouses, and the one that I mentioned before (the Jamestown 400 years 1607-2007).

I just feel like, imho, that a state has the right to put whatever they want on their license plates to represent them and their state. I felt like the plain Virginia plates were just someone not trying hard enough. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Jamestown, Assateague National Seashore, Monticello, something that instantly will instill an associated recognizable image with that state. Illinois has Abraham Lincoln. Washington has Mt. Rainier, North Carolina has the Wright Brothers' plane. See where I'm going with this? 

[cpzilliacus]

Why is everyone hating on the DC license plate? Just because it's not a state doesn't mean it's not entitled to democratic rights. Real people live in DC as well! Not just politicians! And we're upset! I like the colors and its simplistic design.

I am not always a fan of D.C., but I agree with you, and the tags are pretty easy to read.

Anyways, I must say I hate the War of 1812 Maryland license plate.

From plateshack.com:

As a lifelong Maryland resident, I agree with you.  The Fort McHenry series tags are gaudy and the alphabetic characters are hard to read.  The previous black-on-white tags were much better.

[Emma]

Hi all, newbie from Michigan here. 

Michigan's newest iteration of the Mackinac Bridge plate definitely belongs on the 'worst' list...



It's an attractive design on the surface, but the execution was botched. The reflective white characters against the yellow-orange background halate into a white blob and are impossible to read while driving at night - unless you're about 10 feet directly behind the vehicle in question, during perfect conditions. The state name has the same problem, due to the undersized, skinny black font on reflective white.

Both police and civilians have complained since it was introduced in 2013, but the MI Secretary of State hasn't issued a public statement I've been able to find (probably because they don't want to admit to or draw further attention to their mistake). Even if they did change the characters to a darker reflective color, I'm betting the heavily outlined artwork of the bridge would then cause additional legibility issues. A total redesign would be necessary.



The older Mackinac Bridge plates issued between 1997 and 2007 didn't have this issue, as the background was a faint salmon pink/white/light blue, and the characters were a higher contrast blue.

[mhh]

The older Mackinac Bridge plates issued between 1997 and 2007 didn't have this issue, as the background was a faint salmon pink/white/light blue, and the characters were a higher contrast blue.

This plate was definitely much better looking than the current orange monstrosity, but many of these plates have degraded with age to the point that the blue characters have become illegible.

[SSOWorld]

Add using "Pure Michigan" to their plate lineup. 

Minnesota has flat plates popping up now... No design change...

[The Nature Boy]

Add using "Pure Michigan" to their plate lineup. 

Minnesota has flat plates popping up now... No design change...

I'm not a big fan of states replacing state identification with tourist slogans on license plates. The State of Michigan is hellbent on shoving "Pure Michigan" down everyone's throats. Florida does the same with "MyFlorida.com."

I was always a big fan of the NH plate, I like the use of the Old Man on the Mountain in plates. It's a subtle but nice way to remind people of an important part of NH's history.

[SidS1045]

Displaying "Live Free or Die" on NH's plates isn't shoving something down everyone's throats?  Plenty of people do not necessarily value freedom over life.

[PurdueBill]

Displaying "Live Free or Die" on NH's plates isn't shoving something down everyone's throats?  Plenty of people do not necessarily value freedom over life.

It is the official state motto.  However, the Supreme Court did rule that one could not be prosecuted for covering it up on one's plate.

[Takumi]

I've mentioned my partiality to Texas' black-on-white plate in this thread before (although people mostly disagreed), but I finally got one. I'm keeping it on my project car while it isn't running. It came from the same model, either the same year (2001) or the year before.

[The Nature Boy]

Displaying "Live Free or Die" on NH's plates isn't shoving something down everyone's throats?  Plenty of people do not necessarily value freedom over life.

It is the official state motto.  However, the Supreme Court did rule that one could not be prosecuted for covering it up on one's plate.

Yeah, SCOTUS did say (and it's a pretty famous case, every law student has to read it) that you can cover your state's slogan if you so choose.

But big difference between "Live Free or Die" and "Pure Michigan." One is the official state slogan and the other is a tourism logo. I don't know if I've ever seen New Hampshire use "Live Free or Die" on a tourism ad. In fact, the New Hampshire tax code is designed to disproportionately tax tourists. The 9% tax on your hotel room is higher than you'd pay in Massachusetts or Vermont. Another difference is that you cannot cover up "Pure Michigan" on your plate because it's the state identifier and SCOTUS said that you can't cover that up.

I do think that the NH DOT should offer an alternative plate though. It wouldn't kill them to print "The Granite State" instead of "Live Free or Die" for a select few. Washington DC does it for those who don't want "Taxation Without Representation."

[DevalDragon]

You can cover up the word "Pure" though...most of us know it's a lie anyway.

Another difference is that you cannot cover up "Pure Michigan" on your plate because it's the state identifier and SCOTUS said that you can't cover that up.

[Brandon]

You can cover up the word "Pure" though...most of us know it's a lie anyway.

Another difference is that you cannot cover up "Pure Michigan" on your plate because it's the state identifier and SCOTUS said that you can't cover that up.

Does that mean I can put the word "Larceny" over "Lincoln" on my Illinois plates?  It's far more accurate.

[formulanone]

Mississippi uses some sort of bold serif font on its "flat plates" which is also compressed. It looks terrible, although it's just for specialty plates. They seem to still use embossed plates with a traditional sans-serif for their standard ones.

[mrsman]

Displaying "Live Free or Die" on NH's plates isn't shoving something down everyone's throats?  Plenty of people do not necessarily value freedom over life.

It is the official state motto.  However, the Supreme Court did rule that one could not be prosecuted for covering it up on one's plate.

Yeah, SCOTUS did say (and it's a pretty famous case, every law student has to read it) that you can cover your state's slogan if you so choose.

But big difference between "Live Free or Die" and "Pure Michigan." One is the official state slogan and the other is a tourism logo. I don't know if I've ever seen New Hampshire use "Live Free or Die" on a tourism ad. In fact, the New Hampshire tax code is designed to disproportionately tax tourists. The 9% tax on your hotel room is higher than you'd pay in Massachusetts or Vermont. Another difference is that you cannot cover up "Pure Michigan" on your plate because it's the state identifier and SCOTUS said that you can't cover that up.

I do think that the NH DOT should offer an alternative plate though. It wouldn't kill them to print "The Granite State" instead of "Live Free or Die" for a select few. Washington DC does it for those who don't want "Taxation Without Representation."

I see a difference though.  For NH, the phrase has been official for over 200 years as an official motto of the state.   It shouldn't be controversial anymore.

For DC, it is a recent purely political statement to advocate for DC statehood.  And (hopefully without spurring an off-topic discussion) IMO historically misappropriating a historical phrase from the Revolutionary War era.